For many travelers, Kerala is South India’s most serenely beautiful state. Let us set out on a voyage through the history and culture of this land that is inimitable. Kerala’s history is ancient, has centuries-old foreign trade links and a long tradition in art and literature. An epitome of religious harmony, it was through Kerala that Christianity and Islam made its entry to India. Enriched by Nature and abundance of water, Kerala can be reckoned as the land of rains. Its lifelines are the two rainy seasons of Idavappaathi and Thulavarsham. Traders from far flung lands reached Kerala in search of the spices. Later, European powers followed this spice route to reach Kerala. The watery coastal zones of Kerala are interspersed with coconut palm groves, while much of the Western Ghats and riverine areas are covered with rainforests and monsoon forests. The state has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, among which the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is the largest.