Try and compare South India to the rest of India and see the difference. Incase you are yet to explore, do it once you are done. For this comparison and the resultant diversities, recorded in everything right from topography to cuisine, is just another instance of the ‘unity in diversity’ theme India echoes all the time, everywhere. Culturally very rich, Malayali flavors are truly special. Some terms to mug-up are - Onam (major harvest festival celebrated Aug/Sept); Idli-sambar-vada (cuisine delights); Kathakali (popular dance form); Kettuvalloms (houseboats). We have given their literal meanings for your understanding, but to discover the essence of what these means to the Malayalis, we leave it to you! Meanwhile, enjoy our cultural snapshot of God’s Own Country.

Kathakali Kerala’s insignia Kathakali is the classical dance-drama & a blend of Literature, Music, Painting, Acting & Dance. The headgear is wooden with intricate carvings.	Cuisine Coconut in all forms, lentils, yoghurt, yeasty rice, spices and chillies form the base for almost all palates. Order for a Malyali Indian Thali & you can taste it all!
Snake Boat Vallom Kallies (boat races) set the quite backwaters ablaze as 150-ft long snake-boats with 100 oarsmen each, race for the trophy amidst hysteric & cheering onlookers.	Tree House Erumadam (tree-houses) once saved the tribals from wild predators. Eco-tourism rediscovered it and replete with modern amenities who wouldn't love to stay on a tree!
Onam Festival The 10 days of the Onam Festival celebrated during harvest season is a frenzied fiesta of song, dance, boat-races, elephant parades, feasting, martial art shows and what not.	Coconut Coconut is a Kerala favorite. Juice is sipped fresh, flesh is grated & added to cuisines, oil is used for cooking.
Dance Class Almost every household produces a classical singer or a dancer. Mohiniattam, based on the myth of Mohini - the enchantress - is a poignant dance form.	Spices in Kerala Kerala’s hills are carpeted with spice plantations and apart from the regular one’s, it produces the vanilla, oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, bay leaf and sage.