Kerala is a state in southern India formed on November 1, 1956. The capital is Thiruvananthapuram and the official language is Malayalam, though English is also widely spoken. Kerala has 14 districts and major cities include Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, and Calicut. Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India at 93.91% and is known for its education system including 5 government medical colleges, 5 universities, and institutions like IIM, NIT, IIT, and IISER. The primary religions are Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Popular festivals are Onam and Vishu and Kerala is renowned for its cuisine and tourism.