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Kerala envelops Mahé, a
coastal exclave of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of the four states
in South India.The etymology of Kerala is widely disputed, and
is a matter of conjecture. It may derive from Sanskrit keralam,
which means 'the land added on,' with reference to its mythical
and geographical origins. During Neolithic times, humans largely
avoided Kerala's malarial rainforests and wetlands; though,
earliest specific mention of the Kerala is in Sanskrit epic
Aitareya Aranyaka.
Much of Kerala's notable biodiversity is concentrated and
protected in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the eastern
hills. Eastern Kerala’s windward mountains shelter tropical
moist forests and tropical dry forests, which are common in the
Western Ghats. |
