Kerala Facts & Figures

KERALA STATE
Divided into 14 Districts, Kerala believed to be cleanest state in India, with the highest quality of physical life in the country and 100% literate people with India's highest life-expectancy rate

AREA
15,000 square miles, (38,863 square kilo meters)

BANKS
Banks are normally open 10 am - 2 pm Mondays- Fridays and 10 am - 12 noon Saturdays

CAPITAL
Thiruvanamthapuram

CLIMATE
Summer - February/May (24° - 33°C) Monsoon - June/September (22° - 28°C) Winter - October/January (22° - 32°C) Main High Season December/May

CLOTHING
Light cottons and loose clothing, hats, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, etc. Hill stations require warmer evening wear. (Traditional Kerala cloths include Sari Blouse, Churidar, Lunki, Shirt, and Kailies or Lungies)

CREDIT CARDS
All Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres accept credit cards like Visa, Master Card, and Amex. ( But it is better to keep some cash also in hand)

CURRENCY
Indian Rupee. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors may bring in. Current Exchange rate is about 1USD=INR45.00

ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 220/240 AC (plugs are 2 or 3-round pin and adaptors can be used) <keep one multi-pin adaptor for extra surety>

HEALTH
There are currently no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Kerala, although it is strongly recommended that you are protected against the following: Polio, tetanus, Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis A and Malaria.

LANGUAGE
Malayalam (English and Hindi are widely used)

LOCAL TIME GMT + 5.30

PASSPORTS/VISAS
Passport. valid for at least six months after your intended return date is required. Advance Visas are also required. You may contact Indian Embassy or your travel agent to arrange for the appropriate visa before your start.

POPULATION 29,011,237 (1991 census)

RELIGION
Hinduism, Christianity & Islam. You can see a very high degree of religious harmony in this place.
TRAVEL ADVICE For further information about Kerala please contact the Government of India Tourist Office (Tel 020 7734 3677 or visit www.indiatouristoffice.org) or Kerala Tourism at www.keralatourism.org

FLYING TO KERALA

Air India, Indian Airlines, Silk Air, Emirates, Sri Lankan Airways, Gulf Air, etc operates several flights from various countries to Kerala. Kerala has got three international airports at Thiruvanamthapuram, Cochin, and Kozhikode. Domestic flights link Kerala with other major Indian cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, etc.

MAJOR TOURIST ATRRACTIONS.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES.