Kerala Basic Facts

• Kerala state was formed on November 1, 1956 as per the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
• The five districts at the time of formation were: Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malabar. 
• National festival of Kerala : Onam
• Staple Food : Rice
• Total Coastal area : 580 km
• Districts : 14
• Taluks : 75
• Villages : 1635
• Grama panchayats : 1011
• Block Panchayats : 152
• District Panchayats : 14
• Census Towns : 461
• Municipalities : 87
• Municipal Corporations : 6
• Legislative Constituencies : 140
• Loksabha Constituencies : 20
• Assembly Seats : 140 + 1 Anglo Indian Nominee
• Lok Sabha Seats : 20 + 1 Anglo Indian Nominee
• Rajyasabha seats : 9
• Cantonments : 1 (Kannur)
• Townships : 1 (Guruvayoor)
• Largest District : Palakkad
• Smallest District : Alappuzha
• Highest Peak : Anamudi
• Seat of High Court : Kochi
• Total Number of Rivers : 44
• Longest River : Periyar
• Total Number of Lakes : 34
• Largest Lake : Vembanadu Lake
• Largest fresh water lake : Sasthamcotta
• State Animal : Elephant (Elephas Maximus Indicus)
• State Bird : Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
• State Tree : Coconut Tree (Cocos nucifera)
• State Flower : Kanikkonna (Cassia fistula)
• State Fish : Pearl Spot/ Karimeen (Etroplus suratensis)
• State Fruit : Jack Fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 
• Sex ratio : 1080/1000
• National parks : 5
• Wild life sancturies : 18
• First national park : Eravikulam
• Largest national park : Eravikulam