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Kerala state

Kerala
Kēraḷaṁ
State
A houseboat in the Kerala backwaters
Coat of arms of Kerala
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): God's Own Country, Spice Garden of India, Land of Coconuts
Location of Kerala
Location of Kerala
Coordinates (Thiruvananthapuram): 8°30′N 77°00′E / 8.5°N 77°E / 8.5; 77Coordinates: 8°30′N 77°00′E / 8.5°N 77°E / 8.5; 77
Country  India
Statehood 1 November 1956
Capital Thiruvananthapuram
Districts 14
Government
 • Body Government of Kerala
 • Governor P. Sathasivam
 • Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (CPI(M))
 • Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand IAS
 • Director General of Police Lokanath Behera IPS
 • Legislature Unicameral (141 seats)
Area
 • Total 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi)
Area rank 22nd
Highest elevation 2,695 m (8,842 ft)
Lowest elevation −2.2 m (−7.2 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 33,387,677
 • Rank 13th
Demonym(s) Keralite, Malayali
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code IN-KL
HDI Increase 0.625 (Medium)
HDI rank 1st (2011)
Literacy 93.9% (1st) (2011)
Official language Malayalam
Website kerala.gov.in
140 elected, 1 nominated
State symbols of Kerala
Animal Guruvayoor Kesavan Statue.jpg Indian elephant
Bird വേഴാമ്പൽ-ബന്നാർക്കട്ട-പാർക്ക്.JPG Great hornbill
Fish Karimean.jpg Pearl spot
Flower Konnamaram.JPG Golden shower tree flower
Tree Coconut tree climbing DSCN0345.jpg Coconut tree

Kerala (/ˈkɛrələ/), historically known as Keralam, is an Indian state in South India on the Malabar coast. It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), it is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Kerala is the thirteenth-largest state by population and is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.

The region has been a prominent spice exporter since 3000 BCE. The Chera Dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala, though it frequently struggled against attacks by the neighbouring Cholas and Pandyas. In the 15th century, the spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, and paved the way for the European colonisation of India. After independence, Travancore and Cochin joined the Republic of India and Travancore-Cochin was given the status of a state in 1949. In 1956, Kerala state was formed by merging Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern taluks), and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara.


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