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God's own country - Kerala

That's the tourism industry's slogan. I would add more - a mile away from heaven, gateway to paradise and heaven on earth.

Beautiful and lushy landscape brimming with tall coconut trees, calm and soothing backwaters, the grand Arabian coastline, bustling countryside, rich culture....I could go on and on. Loved every minute of it. Spending the night on a houseboat cruising through the paddy fields, watching the golden sunset, waking up to birds chirping in the morning...... a unique experience to be cherished for a long time. Cleanliness was another feature that strikes you wherever you go, even in the tiniest of hamlets and fishing villages.
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One thing that I have always found interesting is that Kerala has a "matrilinear" society because of the fact that descent and inheritance are traced through women instead of men. For e.g, children take their last names from their mothers and not fathers. Which is kind of rare of its kind.

But, it's not the same as "matriarchial" which would also give women power to take primary responsibility for the welfare of the community as a whole, and also act as representatives via public office. It is believed that no society in the world has ever had a matriarchial system. Fascinating fact, isn't it?
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