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| Kalaripayattu - Kerala's ancient martial art form is one of the world's first martial art forms |
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Rock carving from around 6000 BC
discovered in Wayanad, Kerala |
Kerala has a rich cultural and historical significance that has attracted travellers for centuries. Pictorial carvings on rocks discovered in Edakkal Caves in the Wayanad district of Kerala date back to at least 6000 BC, from the Neolithic age, indicating the presence human settlement in this region from prehistoric times. Dolmens from the same era can be seen in Marayur area of the Idukki district.
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Parashuram reclaiming land
from Lord Varuna |
In mythology, different versions of the same story abound regarding the origins of Kerala. The most popular legend maintains that Lord Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu asked Lord Varuna, God of the waters, to recede to make land known as Kerala from Kanyakumari to Gokarna for the Brahmins. There are number of myths and legends persist concerning the origin of Kerala. Another popular myth is the creation of Kerala by Parasurama, a warrior sage. The Brahminical myth proclaims that Parasurama, an avatar of Mahavishnu, threw his battle axe into the sea. As a result, the land of Kerala arose and was reclaimed from the waters. Whether Parasurama was a warrior sage or an avatar of Lord Vishnu may be debatable, but it is to him that the creation/formation of Kerala is accredited.
Kerala's fame as a major spice exporter has been mentioned in Sumerian records as early as 3000 BCE, and ancient Babylonians, Assyrians and Egyptians have been trading with the Malabar Coast in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. Kerala's heritage was deeply influenced during this period as many of the visiting traders took local wives and started families, leading to cross-cultural mixes that include Jewish-native, Arab-native and, later, even Christian-native mixing.
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Vasco da Gama
arriving in Calicut |
While India has historically been a major trade post for more than four millenia, it is important to note that the first sea route from Europe to India (which was then the holy grail of every seafarer that was pushing the boundaries of known ocean routes) successfully culminated in Vasco da Gama's landing at Kappad in Calicut, Kerala, as late as 1498. The advent of European traders-turned-colonialists marked the beginning of colonial rule in India that ended only in 1947. The Portuguese were succeeded by the Dutch colonialists, who were in turn succeeded by the British, all leaving significant paw prints in Kerala's history and culture.
All these and many more factors have influenced Kerala's heritage through the millenia, and travellers to Kerala have a host of sites to visit and witness for themselves the remains of these historical times. Places shown below are places of note for those who want to explore the heritage of Kerala -
