Kerala, a coastal state in southern India, covers 38,863 square kilometers, roughly 1.18% of India’s landmass. Bordering Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and the Arabian Sea, it had a population of 33,406,061 per the 2011 Census, with an estimated 2024 figure of around 35 million. The capital, Thiruvananthapuram, is a cultural and administrative hub. Kerala’s economy, known for tourism, remittances, and agriculture, recorded a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹11,32,000 crore (approximately US$140 billion) in 2023-24, ranking among India’s top states. The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). Famed for its backwaters, beaches, and lush greenery, Kerala is a global tourism hotspot. Top places to visit include: