Aerial view of a boat in Kerala, India
Aerial view of a boat in Kerala, India (© Ebin Francis/Shutterstock)
Kerala, India
Kerala, India's southernmost state, has been the spice hotspot of the world since ancient times. This beautiful state is full of lush green landscapes and almost 600 kilometres of Arabian Sea shoreline. The name is derived from “kera”, the local Malayalam word for coconut, and there is certainly an abundance of palm trees across the state. The coconut doesn’t just lend its name to Kerala, but also acts as a ubiquitous and adaptable natural resource from which countless products, such as coir, a versatile fibre, and toddy, a famous – and potent – local brew, are derived.
© Ebin Francis/Shutterstock