THE SPICE CAPITAL of the World, Kerala is one of the most romantic natural attractions of the world. It soothes a traveller with vast expanse of beaches, green shades of palm trees, lowlands, sky scraping mountains, placid lakes and some of the most picture- perfect locations of the world.

Kerala is an exciting story of the confluence of religions. Churches, Mosques and Temples stand shoulder to shoulder. Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully with the majority Hindu population. Religious tolerance is just one reason for Kerala's success.

Packed into this green patch are beaches, jungles, mountains, backwaters and natural attractions. And the latest branded attraction is health tourism, the attempt to rejuvenate body, mind and soul using the age-old resources of Ayurveda.

At morning one could wake up in a hill station, swim at the sea in the afternoon, and then glide through the backwaters in the evening enjoying the mundane life, as the day progresses. Religious and secular festivals abound this place year round. Caparisoned elephants, racing dragon boats, fairs, performances and rituals form the paraphernalia of Keralan life.

As for the cuisine of kerala, it is mildly flavored, gently cooked and has a certain genteel delicacy on the stomach. Art in Kerala has always been the expression of religious ideas and sentiments. The temples have been the center of its origin and growth.

Kerala has evolved from very ancient days its typical dance forms, which are highly expressive of the way of living and the outlook of its people. The traditional culture finds its biggest manifestation in the art forms, which are particularly associated with the temple rituals. Kathakali, the masked form of dance is the highest form of visual representation.

Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of kerala is one of the oldest and most scientific and comprehensive systems of martial training existing in this world today, and it has its own system of medicine called kalari marma chikitsa.

The state's architectural wealth is embodied in its nalukettu- the traditional kerala house and other temple structures. These buildings represent the art of wooden construction at its best. Today there are very few new structures that respect the traditions of Kerala architecture.

Forests cover 27 per cent of the whole of Kerala. Some of the forests are so dense that their flora and fauna, in places such as Silent Valley, have not yet been completely assessed and recorded. Medicinal herbs, abundant in these forests, are used in Ayurveda.

Land and water share an extraordinary kinship in Kerala. The lagoons and waterways act as vital links for the transport of goods, people and produce. Floating in these backwaters in a country craft kettuvallam to explore the unusual representation of Kerala through the intricate maze of canals conjures up a surreal existence devoid of any time sense.