Kozhikode was also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom, and later of the erstwhile Malabar District.
The word Calicut is the anglicized version of the persian name kozhikooth-means 'hen of Truth'. Traditionally Calicut was a world famous port for trading and it has a long time relationship with Arabian peninsula. As is common with several place names in Kerala, most non-native speakers find it difficult to pronounce the retroflex approximant (IPA symbol: ?) in local name 'Kozhikode', hence its called Calicut in ouside world. Tipu Sultan, during the conquest of Malabar, unsuccessfully attempted to change the name of the city to Ferozabad.
Malabar Coast have participated in the Indian Ocean trade in spices, silk, and other goods for over two millennia. There are documented visits in as early as the 14th century, by Chinese travellers such as Zheng He. Kozhikode had emerged as the centre of an independent kingdom by the 14th century, whose ruler was known as the Samoothirippadu (often anglicised as Zamorin). Thus Calicut came to be called the City of Zamorins
In the year 1498 Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at 'Kappad', about 25 km from Calicut city.
During the 16th century, the Portuguese set up trading posts to the north in Kannur
and to the south in Kochi, but the Zamorin resisted the establishment of a
permanent Portuguese presence in the city. In 1509 though, the kingdom was forced
to accept a Portuguese trading post in Chaliyar. The
Samoothirippadu later allied with Portuguese's rivals, the Dutch, and by the mid-17th
century the Dutch had captured the Malabar Coast spice trade from the Portuguese.
In 1766 Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikode and much of the northern Malabar
Coast and came into conflict with the British based in Madras, which resulted in four
Anglo-Mysore Wars. Kozhikode and the surrounding districts were among the
territories ceded to the British by Tipu Sultan of Mysore at the conclusion of the Third
Anglo-Mysore War in 1792. The newly acquired possessions on the Malabar Coast
were organized into the Malabar District of Madras Presidency, and Calicut became
the district capital.
PLACE TO VISIT
Mananchira Square - named after the pond Mananchira about a square- kilometre in area situated in the heart of the city. It is named after Manadevan the erstwhile ruler of Zamoothiri Kingdom, known as Mana-devan's Chira(Pond) and later transformed to Mana-an-Chira.
Beypore - is a port city situated 10 km south of Calicut at the mouth of chaliyar river. Beypore is famous for its ancient shipbuilding industry, which constructed uru, the traditional trading vessels of Arabs. The 2km break-water made of stone is another attraction.
Kappad - Kappad see shore is famous because Vasco Da Gamma landed here in 1498 from Europe.
Kozhikode Beach - hundred years old lighthouse and the two crumbling pier
Pazhassiraja Museum - copies of ancient mural paintings, antique bronzes, coins, temple models and megalithic monuments.
Tusharagiri - Famous for trekking tracks, with waterfall, evergreen dense forests with exotic birds and wild animals on the way.
Tali Temple - 14th century temple build by Swami Thirumulpad, the Zamorian.
Vadakara - A city on bank of Kuttiyadi river, famous 1500 year old Lokanarkavu
Bhagavathi Temple, rock cut caves with murals and carvings.
Kozhippara Water Falls - Ideal location for trekking and swimming ,with
river side forests ,situated in Kakkadampoyil on the Malappuram -Calicut District
border,can reach there by road.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Kozhikode has an International airport and most airlines in India has flights. Air-India also operates some flights from Middle East countries to Kozhikode.
Calicut (Kozhikode) is well-connected to Bombay (Mumbai) by daily flights operated
by Jet Airways and Indian Airlines / Air India.
You can also land at Kochi International Airport and catch train or flight to Kozhikode.
Recently, Kingfisher Airlines has introduced daily flights between Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) / Cochin (Kochi) and Calicut (Kozhikode).
Other options are Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Chennai,Coimbatore, Bangalore, Bombay airports and catch train or flight to Kozhikode.
By train - Kozhikode to Chennai
You can also reach Kozhikode from other cities like Kochi (Cochin),
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Chennai, Mangalore, Bangalore, Bombay, New
Delhi, Kolkata by train.
There are four direct trains between Calicut (Kozhikode) and Madras (Chennai),
each taking about twelve to eighteen hours for one-way travel.
Kozhikode to Mumbai
There are a handful of direct trains connecting Bombay (Mumbai) with Calicut
(Kozhikode) via the picturesque Konkan Railway route. Typically, these trains take
about 24 hours to cover around 1200 kilometres between Bombay (Mumbai) and
Calicut (Kozhikode).
Other
There are plenty of trains between Calicut (Kozhikode) and Cochin (Kochi) and
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). Keep in mind that unless you reserve your seats,
you may end up traveling in unreserved compartments and it can be a tiring
experience because these trains can get very crowded.
By bus - There are bus services operating from cities like Mangalore, Kochi,
Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore to Kozhikode.
By Road - Kozhikode is well connected to other cities Mangalore, Kochi,
Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore by road. It is actually a
pleasure to drive from Bangalore to Calicut through Gundulpet and Sulthan Battery.
But be cautioned that the small stretch of jungle you have to pass through may have
wild elephants and moving in late hours along in small vehicle is not advised.
