The Chera dynasty, was a Sangam age Tamil dynasty who unified various regions of the western coast and western ghats in southern India to form the early Chera empire. The dynasty, known as one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam alongside the Chola and Pandya, has been documented as early as the 4th to 3rd centuries BCE. Their governance extended over diverse territories until the 12th century CE.
Image: Chera emblem
Image: Chera country (early historic south India)
Brahmi inscription from Pugalur, near Karur
A Chera coin with legend "Makkotai"
The Malabar Coast is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regions of the subcontinent, which includes the Kanara region of Karnataka and all of Kerala.
Ponnani Lighthouse near Ponnani
Anamudi, the highest peak in India outside the Himalayas, lies parallel to the Malabar Coast, in Western Ghats.
Bekal Fort Beach in Kerala
Vembanad, the largest lake in India, is a portion of the Kerala Backwaters