Kerala Facts and Information
General Information
| Additional Official Language | English |
|---|---|
| Area | 38,863 km² |
| Capital | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Formation Dates | 1 November 1956 |
| ISO Code | IN-KL |
| Largest City | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Official Language | Malayalam |
| Population | 34,630,192 (2018 estimate) |
| State Name | Kerala |
| Time Zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle Registration | KL |
| Website | https://kerala.gov.in |
Government and Administration
| Assembly Seats | 140 |
|---|---|
| Backward caste support | Various welfare schemes by the Department of Social Justice |
| Chief Minister | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Council Seats | Not Applicable |
| Deputy Chief Minister | Not Applicable |
| Governor | Rajendra Arlekar |
| Legislature Type | Unicameral |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 20 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 9 |
| Start-up company support and website | https://startupmission.kerala.gov.in |
Geography and Environment
| Average Annual Rainfall | 2,790 mm |
|---|---|
| Beaches | Kovalam, Varkala, Cherai |
| Borders | Karnataka (N & NE), Tamil Nadu (E & S), Arabian Sea (W) |
| Caves | Edakkal Caves |
| Climate | Tropical monsoon |
| Coastline | 595 km |
| Gorges | Meenmutty Gorge |
| Highest Point | Anamudi (2,695 m) |
| Hill Stations | Munnar, Wayanad, Thekkady |
| Major Hills | Western Ghats |
| Major Rivers | Periyar, Bharathapuzha, Pamba, Chaliyar |
| Scenic Drives | Thamarassery Ghat Pass, Wayanad Churam |
| Soil Types | Laterite, Alluvial, Red, Black |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries | Periyar, Wayanad, Silent Valley |
Demographics and Social Structure
| City/Town and Population | Thiruvananthapuram (957,730), Kochi (677,381), Kozhikode (609,224) |
|---|---|
| Human Development Index | 0.814 |
| Literacy Rate | 96.2% |
| Major Religions | Hinduism, Islam, Christianity |
| Population | 34,630,192 (2018 estimate) |
| Rural Population | 52.3% |
| Scheduled Castes | 9.1% |
| Scheduled Tribes | 1.5% |
| Sex Ratio | 1,084 females per 1,000 males |
| Urban Population | 47.7% |
Economy and Industry
| Agricultural Products | Rice, Coconut, Rubber, Spices |
|---|---|
| Fisheries | Significant contributor to state's economy |
| Gross State Domestic Product | ₹9.78 lakh crore (2023-24) |
| Major Industries | Information Technology, Tourism, Agriculture, Fishing |
| Major export | Marine products, Spices, Coir products |
| Major farming / crop | Rice |
| Mineral Resources | Ilmenite, Monazite, Thorium |
| Per Capita Income Rank | 11th among Indian states |
| Real estate hotspots | Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode |
| Top Employers | Kerala State Government, Infosys, UST Global |
Education and Research
| Any IIT or IIMs or REC | IIT Palakkad |
|---|---|
| Best Engineering College | National Institute of Technology Calicut |
| Best Medical College | Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Major IT Companies | Infosys, TCS, UST Global |
| Major Universities | University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University |
| Prominent scholars | E. Sreedharan, M. S. Swaminathan |
| Research Institutes | Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Healthcare Facilities | AIIMS Kochi, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences |
|---|---|
| Hydro power plants | Idukki Hydroelectric Project, Sabarigiri Hydroelectric Project |
| Major Airports | Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin International Airport |
| Major Ports | Cochin Port, Vizhinjam Port |
| Major Rail Junction | Ernakulam Junction |
| Major Road Junction | Edappally Junction |
| Mobile penetration | Approximately 95% |
| Power Generation | Primarily thermal and hydroelectric power |
| Thermal power plants | Brahmapuram Diesel Power Plant |
Culture and Heritage
| Buddhist Sites | Not prominent |
|---|---|
| Classical Dance | Kathakali |
| Classical Music | Carnatic |
| Freedom fighters | K. Kelappan, A. K. Gopalan |
| Geographical Indications | Kasaragod Sarees, Aranmula Kannadi |
| Historic reference in Mahabharat & Ramayan | Mentioned in various contexts |
| Influential personalities | Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali |
| Local Staple food | Rice with Sambar and Fish Curry |
| Major Festivals | Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram |
| Movie Industry Name | Mollywood |
| Notable Mosques / Churches / synagogues | Cheraman Juma Mosque, St. Francis Church |
| Notable Temples | Sabarimala, Guruvayur, Padmanabhaswamy |
| Popular Sweet or Dessert | Payasam |
| Popular actors | Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dulquer Salmaan |
| Traditional outfit of men | Mundu |
| Traditional outfit of women | Settu Saree |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Best time to visit | October to March |
|---|---|
| Crime areas to avoid | Exercise caution in isolated areas |
| Other interesting facts | Known as God's Own Country |
| Things to do | Backwater cruises, Ayurvedic treatments, Wildlife safaris |
| Top tourist spots | Munnar, Alleppey, Thekkady, Wayanad |
Fun facts
| Best time to visit | October to March |
|---|---|
| Crime areas to avoid | Be cautious in remote areas |
| Other interesting facts | Highest literacy rate among Indian states |
| Things to do | Explore backwaters, Enjoy traditional dance performances, Visit spice plantations |
| Top tourist spots | Munnar, Alleppey, Thekkady, Wayanad |