FAQ

What are Malabar, Kochi and Travancore?

Malabar is the northern region of Kerala and is well known for its coastal areas along the Arabian Sea. The history and culture of Malabar have been influenced over centuries by the Arab, Portuguese and Dutch settlers who arrived on these shores. Malabar was famous for spice trade and cultural exchanges with merchants from other countries. Malabar is also famous for ritual art forms like Theyyam.

Kochi, also known as Cochin, forms the central part of Kerala. Kochi has a rich history of maritime trade and has been influenced by various foreign powers, including the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. The city houses diverse communities and over the years Kochi has emerged as an economic hub known for trade and commerce.

The southern region of Kerala was known as Travancore, an erstwhile princely state. It was ruled by the Travancore royal family until the integration of the princely states with the Indian Union. Thiruvananthapuram, forming the southern tip of Travancore, has a unique cultural identity to this day.

The state of Kerala was formed in the year 1956 by combining Malabar, Travancore-Cochin and Kasargod taluk, as a part of the reorganization of states. The two princely states, Travancore and Cochin, had been merged to form Travancore-Cochin in the year 1949.