There are lot’s of places to visit in Calicut but the most Famous is the Kapad Beach where in 1498 the Portuguese Marchant (First European come into India by water ways ) Vasco- Da gama come to India . This is the second biggest city in Kerala . In 2023 It was declared the first UNESCO City of Literature in India . It was probably established in the 2nd century and may be Tali Temple is behind name of the city . Arabs , chines , and persian marchants come to this place in search of spices in between 7th – 9th century . After that Europeans comes around 14th – 15 th century . It was one of the oldest port in India which is famous for spice and timber trade . It also export timber , spices , fish , pearl , cotton fabric , silk , sandelwood , coconut product , bronze items and many more . It was also long been the capital of Zamorin Kingdom between 12th – 18 th century . .
The city calicut was called Kozikode in Malaylam and after independence kozikode got more prominance . Some of the best place to visit in kozhikode are Tali Temple , Kapad beach , Kozikode Beach , Mishkal Masjid , Mother of God Roman Catholic Cathedral , SM Street , Kadalundi Bird sanctuary, kallai timber trade center , KIRTADS Ethnological Museum and many more . Some of the best beaches in Kozhikode are Kapad beach , Kozikode beach , Beypore Beach , Vellayil Beach , Marad Beach and many more . This all places are situated in between 10-15 km from the city centre .
Kozikode beach :
Kozikode beach is situated in the heart of the city near to the busy market SM Street . This golden sand beach is perfect for your sunset view . Here the waves are mild so there is no danger In swimming . In the end of the beach there is a Dolphin point where in the morning you can spot some dolphins .
In the sea you can see the long array of piers inside the sea which is the symbol that once it was the thriving port . The Zaromins traded with European merchant with this port .
SM Street:
You can say SM street as hub for food (kerala halwa , banana chips and many street foods ) , Cultural centre (where in the festival times artists make painting in the street ), Renowned Cloth shop centre , jewellery shopping center , and the main spot of the night life in Kozikode .
In the evening if you go there you can see there people sell balloons for the children . some spread soap bubbles in the air to attract children . lots of street vendors are selling popcorn , samosa and different food items . In the night it becomes the heart of the city .
Here people gathers for sweet meat (calicut halwa) from the time of Zaromine kingdom . The Maharaja invited some Gujrati sweet makers. With them also comes some persi merchants who runs multiple shops in this region . Still a 160 years old persi fire temple Anjuman Baug is defined the persi’s presence in the city .
Mishkal Masjidh:
Mishkal Mosque is unique in architecture for Islamic mosque . It has no Domes and no minerates . It is partially build by stones and mostly woods . In 14 the century a wealthy arab merchants Nakhuda Mishkal build this mosque . Can you imagine this wooden mosque was five-storied and the foundation was built by 100 wooden pillars . You can see beautiful design on this wooden pillars .
It was partially damaged during the war with Portuguese in 16 the century . This mosque are the combination of the traditional Kerala, Arabian and persian architecture. It is one of the first mosque build in India and still in use .
Mother of God Roman Catholic Cathedral:
Mother of God Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the holy place for catholic Christians. It was the head church of all catholic churches in Malabar . This church was build by Portuguese in 1599 under the co-operation with Zamorins kings . You can see that it has Italian architecture design as at that time one Italian architect was called upon to build this church .
Inside the church, there is a 200 years old painting of St Mary and amazing colorful glasses works in the window . In 1724 It was renovated again and given the current shape .
It opens from 6:00 AM to 6 :30 PM . but you should confirm before coming as when I gone there it was closed . After one hour it opens .
Tali Maha Shiva Temple:
Tali shiva temple is one of the oldest shiva temple established by the zaromin king Swamy Thirumulapad in the 14 the century but people belive that the shiva linga was much older and worshipped by Parasuram(mythological belief ) . It is a two storied kerala style temple which has beautiful brass relief , mural painting and granite sculpture inside the temple . The whole temple is surrounded by thick wall .
The main deity of the temple is the shiva but there are also ganapathi , bhagawati , ayappa , vishnu and nagas . In 18 th century another zaromin king renovated the temple and give it the present shape .
The biggest festivals in this temple are Maha Shiva Ratri , Ravathi Pattathanam and Otsavghosam . This temple is opened from morning 4:30am -11:30am and in the evening 17:00 pm – 20:30 pm .
kapad Beach :
This beach is some of the blue flagged beach in Kerala which means cleanliness and the safety of the beach is in high standard . Here sea is good for swimming . korapuzha river Estuaryis at one end of the beach . You can have a look there . You can also enjoy beautiful sunset in the Arabian sea from this beach .
This beach is situated 16 km from the kozikode city centre . Where the bus drops you from that place you can take a auto or walk to reach this beach . But I must say that the walking is fruitfully as both the side you can see coconut farming . Big land by fencing full of coconut trees .
Kapad beach is one of the beach which is not only famous as a Historical beach in India but also for the whole world . It is the beach where the first European merchant and explorer Vasco – da – gama arrived on 1498 by the sea route . There is a small pillar beside the beach which described that incident . That time this beach was called Kappakadavu . First they mainly traded spices, but later it led to colonisation by the British .
Kadalundi Bird santuary :
Kalundi bird sanctuary is situated in the estuary of river kalundi , 9 km from the kozikode . This are small collection of islands which all group together made Kalundi Bird sanctuary .
In this bird sanctuary there are all together 100 local birds and 60 migratory birds from siberia , Europe and Australia .Some of the birds you may see here , are malabar hornbills, wood peaker . king fisher , terns , gullas and herons .
You can also make the boat rides through this mangrove forest
Pazhassi Raja Museum:
If you are a History lover and art enthusiast then this is the perfect place for you . This museum was dedicated to one of the earliest freedom fighter in India Pazhassi Raja , who was very successful against the British in Gorilla warfare . He died in a encounter in 1805 .
In 1812 this building was build as British collector’s office but after independence it was declared as museum in 1976 in the respect of Pazhassi Raja . There is one portion of the museum where megalithic human civilization items were kept from 1000 BC to 200 AD where as in the other section there was painting of Raja Ravi Verma and Raja Raja Verma .
Beypore :
Beypore is a locality which is under the Kozikode Municipal corporation and it is 10 km from the city center of Kozikode . It was famous port for 1500 years , made business with arabs , chines and persia with the urus boat . This wooden boats are made in Bypore Kerala . Now a days this are like the museum of the old Naval Jorney . Now the modern port in the mouth of Chaliyar River is the second biggest port in Kerala .
Traditional urus shipward still produces wooden boats for fisherman . For long distance commercial purpose it was used in older days .
The another attraction to this place is the 100 meter floating bridge in the arabian sea . This is made of hollow plastic boxes . when the waves comes it also rides the wave . It is the fun factor with the bridge . People enjoy this with their family .
Canolly canal :
There was two theory of canolly canal among them one was that , It was made by the Henry V conolly in the year 1848 which connects two river Korapuzha River and kallayi River connecting two cities Vadakara and Bypore . It was a 11 km long canal . Once it was used to trade timber and coconut by the kettuvallam Boats . Now a days it is clogged by silt or garbage . Some small wooden boats tour people by this cannal .
Another theory was that there is a canal which connects chettuvu and Kodungallore cities. This canal was once called the Chettuva River. This was once an important port in the Kingdom of Zaromins .
kallai timber trade:
You can see some timber logs that float on the side of the river kallyi in the village of Kozikode . It was once the biggest timber market in the world . Craftsman belive the salty water of the river make seasoning of the woods . This woods are transported by this river from the farther upstream.
Different timbers were traded with arabs , chines and Japanes marchants . This timber trade was continuing from the time of Zaromine kingdom . The wood mills are situated just beside the river bank .
Now a days they shifted their business in plywood and other timber related product . In the golden period of the business there was almost 150 mills in this area . It is a interesting place to see in Kozikode District .
KIRTADS Ethnological Museum:
KIRTADS is a institute which help to educate schedule casts and schedule tribes of the state and also help them in their career building . It is also a museum where there are miniature huts which are used by the Kerala tribal people . It was established in the year 1970 by the Kerala Government . It also has weapons like arrow , bows and traps , agricultural tools , and musical instruments which are used by the tribal people .
It also has library and and documents which describes tribal lifestyle . It also includes tribal medicine practise .
CVN Kalari :
CVN Kalari is an institute in Kozhikode which teaches kalaripoyuttu in the city . This institute also provide Ayurvedic treatments. Kalaripoyuttu is an ancient martial art that originates back in the 3 rd century BCE in Kerala.
In this institute they train different techniques of kalaripayattu martial art like Meythari , Kolthari , Angathari and Verumkai .
They also make show on kalaripottu on certain days . If you want to see that you have to contact them before .
Krishna Menon Museum:
Krishna menon Museum is dedicated to the life and work of free India’s one of the most influential diplomat and former defence Minister of India between 1957 – 1962 V. K. Krishna Menon . This museum was build in 1975 in East Hills .
This museum has the collection of his personal belongings , Paint gallery of famous painters .
Payyoli :
If you like crystal clear and less crowded beach to enjoy then Payyoli may be a better choice . This is a small city with 50000 people famous for beautiful golden sand beaches . It is also famous for the conservation place for the Turtle .
Near by the Moorad river estury is another attraction in this place where you can see lots of different types birds .
From the Thikkodi Lighthouse you can have a good view of the near by places . Local sea food and local fried chicken is famous here .
Vadakara :
Vadakara city is situated 58 km in the north of the Kozikode city . It has one scenic and magical island beach where the Kottakkal river meets the sea . This beach is called Sand Banks & Silent Beach .
Lokanarkavu Temple is situated from the 5 km of the vadakara city which was the oldest Durga (Locanarkavilamma) temple in this region is one of the main attraction of the city . Rather than durga there is the shrine of vishnu (which is supposed to be 2000 years old ) , Durga (This is 1500 years old ) and Shiva (which is more than 400 years old ).
Rather than this there is a Craftman’s village where local people shows their hand crafted items in this place .
Mananchira square:
Manachira square is a park which is surrounds a square water pool . It is a fact that once it was the swimming pool of Zaromin Kingdom . Now it is the recreation place in the evening for the people of Kozikode . In the evening there is a fountain show in this pool .
There is a open air theatre , a colonial style textile factory building , public library and some colonial style building which shows it’s rich culture .
Summary :
Kozikode is a Historical town where the first European Vasco Da Gama landed . It is famous for the Timber and Spice trade . From the first century It traded goods through sea route with Arabs , Chines and Persian people and later with Europeans . It is also the place where you learn traditonal martial art Kalaripoyuttu . Zaromin Kingdom ruled this place for almost 600 years . They make life long impression by introducing the kerala Halwa in the kerala’s food and make the most famous Tali Temple .
