Kerala may be divided into three geographical regions
(1) high land
(2) mid land
(3) low land.
The high lands slope down from the Western Ghats, which rise to an average height of 900m, with a number of peaks over 1,800 m in height. This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other species.

The mid land lies between the mountains and the low lands. It is made up of undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation - cashew, coconut, areca nut, cassava, banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and vegetables of different varieties are grown in this area.

The 'Western Ghats' with their rich primeval forests having a high degree of rainfall, form the eastern boundary and extend from the north to Kanyakumari in the south. The entire western border is caressed by the Arabian sea. Between these natural boundaries lies the narrow strip of land extending from Kasarkode in the north to Parasala in the south.

The south-west and north-east monsoons with their accompanying downpour keep the land soaked, for a period of five to six months in a year. The 'western Ghats', which form the eastern ramparts of the state rise from very low altitudes of a few hundred metres upto about 2,000 metre on an average. The 'Anamudi' peak in the high ranges of Kottayam district rises to a height of 3,000 metres and represents the highest point in India, south of Himalayas. 'Agastyakutam' the southern most peak in the Ghats, is 2,044 metres. 'Ezhimala' is a rugged hill jutting into the sea in startling isolation on the Kannur coast. Ghats are served as an effective rampart. The range has many passes which have allowed a controlled interaction between Kerala, and the lands lying beyond the mountains. The 'Peranbadi Ghat' provides access to Coorg, the 'Periyar Ghat' to the Nilgiri district. The Palghat pass, 32 km broad, has played a bigger role in the alarums and excursions of history. In south, the Bodinaikannur pass connects Devikulam and Munnar in Kerala with the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. Other passes linking Kerala with Tamil Nadu are Thevaram, the Kambam, the Kumili and the Aramboly.

History
Legends speak of Kerala as Parasuramakshetram, 'the land of Parasurama'. The land of Kerala is believed to be a gift of the Arabian Sea. Owing to its favourable location this land fostered trade and established contacts with Egypt, Assyria, Greeks, Romans and the Chinese. The Malayalam era 'Kollavarsha' is believed to have started in the 9th century A.D. During this period of internal strife in Kerala, Cheraman Perumal founded the Chera dynasty (9th century AD). In about 1498 the Portuguese came to Calicut and in 1502 to Kochi. Kerala was then divided into the Kingdoms of Malabar, Kochi and Travancore. In 1776, Malabar was under the rule of Hyder Ali. In 1792 Tipu Sultan ceded it to the British. While Malabar witnessed the direct rule of the British, Travancore and Kochi were princely states owing allegiance to the British. It was in 1949 that the three territories were integrated and in 1956 the state of Kerala was formed, and joined the Indian Union.

People
Two to three thousand years ago, the life of the common people was not based on caste distinctions and prejudices. There was a broad division of the population on the basis of occupation, which was again based on the nature of the land they occupied. Kurinchi (mountain land), Palai (arid land), mullai (pastures), marutan (west land) and neytal (coastal land) were the divisions based on the nature of the land. The Kuravar (hunters) of Kurinchi, the maravar (fighting men) of Palai, the idayas (cowherds and shepherds ) of Mullai, the Uzhavas (agriculturists) of Marutam and the Paravas (fisher men) of the Neytal were all from the same race.

Most of these ancient tribes are of Negritto origin. The ancient Dravidian tribes following different occupations could be identified from their black colour. Kadars, the Muduvans and the Malayans belong to the early Dravidian race. The Kadars are said to be black, short and strongly built with flat nose and long black hair which they tie. They retain their primitive customs and manners.

The kadars, Ullatans, paniyans and malayans always kept themselves in hills and forests away from the later Aryan invaders. They live in groups and depended mostly on nature for all their needs. The religion of the Kadars was rude animism. They propitiated demons for sickness and calamities. Worship of Amman or Kali and Ayyan or Ayyappan was very common. Ancestor worship was also in vogue. They did a lot of dancing, singing and merry-making on festive occasions. The Malayas are taller than the Kadars, but they too have flat nose and thick lips.

Certain observances of pollution, are meticulously adhered to under strict discipline of the 'moopan' or head-man in religious and temporal matters. There is a belief which prevails among most of the hill tribes that if the pollution period for woman is not observed, the whole tribe will be exposed to disastrous consequences from the Maladaivangal or hill gods. They believe that the neglect of worship will lead to disease, failure of crop and other calamities. The touch of Malayan will pollute the Kadars and vice versa. Every tribe entertain such beliefs. The Parayan, Pulayan, Nayadi and Ullatan are all treated as Chandalas. But Nayadis are treated as superior to Ullatas. But no tribe will accept the superiority of the others.

Other forms of art are more religious or tribal in nature. These include chavittu nadakom, oppana (originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ishal vocalisations. However, many of these art forms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among most ordinary Keralites. These people look to more contemporary art and performance styles, including those employing mimicry and parody.

Kerala's music also has ancient roots. Carnatic music dominates Keralite traditional music. This was the result of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's popularisation of the genre in the 19th century. Raga-based renditions known as sopanam accompany kathakali performances. Melam (including the paandi and panchari variants) is a more percussive style of music; it is performed at Kshetram centered festivals using the chenda. Melam ensembles comprise up to 150 musicians, and performances may last up to four hours. Panchavadyam is a different form of percussion ensemble, in which up to 100 artists use five types of percussion instrument. Kerala has various styles of folk and tribal music. The popular music of Kerala is dominated by the filmi music of Indian cinema. Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter.

Kerala has its own Malayalam calendar, which is used to plan agricultural and religious activities. Kerala's cuisine is typically served as a sadhya on green banana leaves. Such dishes as idli, payasam, pulisherry, puttucuddla, puzhukku, rasam, and sambar are typical. Keralites—both men and women alike—traditionally don flowing and unstitched garments. These include the mundu, a loose piece of cloth wrapped around men's waists. Women typically wear the sari, a long and elaborately wrapped banner of cloth, wearable in various styles.

Language and literature
The predominant spoken language in Kerala is Malayalam, most of whose speakers live in Kerala.

Malayalam literature is ancient in origin, and includes such figures as the 14th century Niranam poets (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar), and the 17th century poet Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan whose works mark the dawn of both modern Malayalam language and indigenous Keralite poetry. The "triumvirate of poets" (Kavithrayam), Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, are recognised for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and towards a more lyrical mode.

In the second half of the 20th century, Jnanpith awardees like G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillaiand M. T. Vasudevan Nair have made valuable contributions to the Malayalam literature. Later, such Keralite writers as O. V. Vijayan, Kamaladas, M. Mukundan, and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, whose 1996 semi-autobiographical bestseller The God of Small Things is set in the Kottayam town of Ayemenem, have gained international recognition.

Tourism

Kerala, the land with its incredible natural beauty is a small coastline state of India. It is a homely state which respects the mythological concept of 'Athithi Devo Bhava' (guest is god).

As coconut trees dominate the landscape, Kerala is also known as 'the land of coconuts'. An epic belief to this state is that, Kerala is gifted by Arabian Sea when Parasurama threw his axe into the sea.

Kerala is deeply affected by the monsoons, which start in June and last till September. The best season to visit Kerala is from October to February.