India Travel and Holiday Guide

Overview:

Kozhikode is one of the most important cities of Malabar region of Kerala, and is situated on the southwest coast of India. It was a leading trading centre for spices on the West Coast of India during the medieval period.

Ruled by the Zamorin dynasty, Kozhikode found a place in history with the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498 by the Portuguese navigator Vasco Da Gama. The landing of Gama at Kapat near Kozhikode changed the political scene of India, and ultimately ended with the colonisation of the country by the British. Kozhikode remained under the Madras presidency till the formation of Kerala in 1956 after independence.

An industrially developed district, Kozhikode has several large, medium and small-scale and traditional industries. Some of the more important large and medium scale industries are textiles, rayon, grade pulp, soap and cosmetics, oil, wheat flour, steel products, tiles, sea food processing, allopathic medicines etc. The timber industry has a great influence on the economy of this district. Agriculture, however is the mainstay of district's economy. The main crops grown are coffee, tea, rubber, pepper, coconut, arecanut, tapioca, sugar cane etc.

With the rich culture and glances into history that the city offers, Kozhikode is an ideal holiday getaway. The Kozhikode district has a fair share of greenery and natural beauty. And with the Arabian sea on its west and the impressive peaks of the Wayanad hills on the east, Kozhikode offers a perfectly idyllic setting, guaranteed to fascinate a visitor.

Calicut has gone back to being referred to as Kozhikode.


Population: Approx 4,50,000

Climate: Kozhikode enjoys a tropical climate. Summers are warm, monsoons humid, and winters are pleasantly cool. The monsoon season starts early June and goes on till the beginning of October.


Main Language(s): Malayam and English

Time Zone: GMT + 05:30

Phone Area Code: 0495

Best Time To Visit: Between September and May.


Airport Distance from City Center: 28 kms

Taxi Rates from Airport to City: Pre-paid taxis available for Rs. 350 to city centre

Places To Visit:

Pazhassi Raja Museum
Located on East Hill, 5 km from the city, this museum contains copies of ancient mural paintings, antiques, old coins, models of temples, megalithic monuments like dolmonoid cysts, umbrella stones etc.

Art Gallery & Krishna Menon Museum
Situated near the Pazhassi Raja Museum, the art gallery houses paintings of Raja Ravi Varma among other collections. The museum has a section dedicated to the great Indian leader V.K. Krishna Menon, whose personal belongings are displayed here.

CVN Kalari Centre
Kalaripayattu, the popular Kerala martial art is performed at the CVN Centre. Special demonstrations can be arranged on request.

Dolphin Point
If you are an early riser, you can watch dolphins at play from this picturesque spot.

Mananchira Square
Located in the heart of the city is the Manachira Maidan, a historic ground that has been converted into an arcadia with beautiful trees and plants, artificial hills, sculptures, an open air theatre and musical fountain.

Planetarium
Kozhikode holds a place in the Planetarium map of the World Regional Science Centre. Kozhikode houses a 250-seat Planetarium fitted with a sophisticated Zeiss projector. The projector is a highly sophisticated and intricately complex instrument that projects images onto the centre of a hemispherical dome under which the visitors sit.

Vadakara
The ancient town of Vadakara is famous for its ruined fort. It was the scene of many exploits of Tacholi Othenan, the hero of ballads of North Malabar.

Beypore
Situated at the mouth of the Beypore river, this is one of the important ports and trading centres of Kerala. It is about 10 km from Calicut. Beypore is known for it's boat building yard where mammoth country crafts known as Urus are built by traditional shipbuilders.

Cheliya
Located on the Kozhikode-Quilandi route, the town is a famous training centre for the Kathakali dance form. Kathakali classes are held on weekends and special performances are arranged on request.

Feroke
This town is the cradle of the tile industry in the district and has more than a dozen tile factories. The rapid rivers from the Western Ghats carry clay, which is used to make tiles, pottery and ceramics.

Kappad
This historical beach town is located 16 km from north Kozhikode. In 1498, Vasco da Gama landed here with three vessels and 170 men. A monument is erected here to commemorate the historical landing. An ancient temple on a hillock, facing the deep sea, is an added attraction.

Kadalundi
A treat for bird watchers. Thousands of migratory birds gather here during the season, which starts from November.

Pookkot Lake
This natural fresh water lake is surrounded by evergreen forests and rolling hills. A fresh water aquarium attracts tourists, as do the boating facilities, children's park and a shopping centre for handicrafts and spices.