Once the capital of the powerful
Zamorins and a prominent trade and commerce center, Calicut (Kozhikode)
was the most important region of Malabar in the days gone by. Today,
lush green country sides, serene beaches, historic sites, wildlife
sanctuaries, rivers, hills, a unique culture and a warm, friendly
ambience make Calicut (Kozhikode) a popular destination.
The Past: In northern Kerala lies the area,
which the legendary traveller Marco Polo described in 1320 A.D.
as the ‘‘great
province
of Malabar.’’ Much of this richness today lies buried in the
glory of a past grandeur, a past replete with the trading visits of European
voyagers calling on the ancient port of Calicut (Kozhikode) on their regular
journeys of commerce, lured by timber, ivory, pepper, ginger, cinnamon
and other spices.
The Arab Traveller Abdur Razzak also praised Calicut (Kozhikode) commercial
glory in 1443 A.D.: ‘‘Calicut (Kozhikode) is a perfectly secured
harbour, which, like that of Ormuz, brings together merchants from every
city and from every country.’’ Interestingly, Calicut has
also lent its name to ‘calico’, the fine variety of handwoven
cotton clothe said to have originated in this place.
How to get there:
Air: Calicut Airport, at karipur, 23
km from the city.
Rail: Calicut Railway Station in linked
by rail to major cities.
Road: Government-run and private bus
services connect Calicut to several tourist and business centres in South
India.
Tusharagiri Waterfalls:
As the name suggests, land and water have struck an extraordinary kinship at
Thusharagiri (mist capped peaks). The plantation destination that abounds in
rubber, arecanut, pepper, ginger and spices, is also a trekker’s delight.
Trekkers start early morning from the second waterfall on the hills and climb
up through the pristine dense evergreen forests teeming with exotic birds and
animals to reach Vythiri in Wayanad district by evening.
Peruvannamuzhi:
The Peruvannamuzhi damsite set amid hills is a beautiful picnic spot. The
reservoirs here provide facilities for speed and slowboat cruises.
Uninhabited islands, a bird sanctuary and a crocodile farm add to the charm
of the place.
Tali Temple:
Built in the 14th century by Swamy Thirumulpad, the Zamorin, within his
palace complex, this temple was the venue of Revathy Pattathanam, the annual
cultural and intellectual event. The Tali Temple is a fine example of the
total integration that can exist between wood and laterite, which is a remarkable
feature of the Kerala style of architecture
Pazhassiraja Museum:
A veritable treasure trove for historians and connoisseurs of art, the
Pazhassiraja Museum is located in Kozhikode - the land of spices, which lured
navigators from time immemorial down to the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama
in 1498. The Art Gallery adjacent to the museum displays the acclaimed
paintings of Kerala's cherished artists, Raja Ravi Varma (1848 - 1906) whose
works brought international repute to the State and his uncle Raja Raja
Varma.
The museum is managed by the State Archaeology Department and has on display
mural paintings, antique bronzes, ancient coins, models of temples, umbrella
stones, dolmenoid cists (quadrangular burial chambers with capstones), and
similar megalithic monuments. The art gallery has the oil paintings and other
works of Raja Ravi Varma. For more information on Ravi Varma's works, refer
'The prince among painters and a painter among princes’.
The museum and the art gallery are named after the great Pazhassiraja Kerala
Varma of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam royal family. Pazhassiraja
led the famous ‘Pazhassi Revolt’ (against the British East India Company
during the second half of the 1700s). Nicknamed the Lion of Kerala, Pazhassiraja is also credited with introducing
guerilla warfare in the hills of Wayanad to resist the increasingly
intolerable British colonialism. This great freedom fighter was shot dead in
an encounter on 30 November 1805.
Krishna Menon Museum:
Krishna Menon Museum situated at East Hill is five km by bus from the Railway
station / city bus station. Lying adjacent to pazhassi raja Museum, a
storehouse of knowledge
Beypore:
Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala, was
an important trade and maritime centre Beypore was much sought after by
merchants from Western Asia for its ship building industry. The boat building
yard here is famous for the construction of the Uru (the Arabian trading
vessel), which boasts a tradition of over1500 years.
S M Street:
Sweet Meat Street is the busiest street in Calicut (Kozhikode) and derives its name from the times
when the street was lined with sweetmeat stalls. Kozhikode is famous for its
'Halwa' and Sweets.
Kappad Beach:
Situated 16 km from the city.
For the people of Calicut (Kozhikode), this pleasant stretch of rock studded
beach is Kappakkadavu. To the tourist it is one of the most charming of
Kerala's beaches. Kappad finds mention in history and geography texts as the gateway
to the Malabar Coast. Here, 501 years ago, 170 men led by the Portuguese
navigator Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed in and stepped into Kerala to
create a new chapter in history.
The story of
a long and tumultuous socio-political relationship between India and Europe.
It was the spices and wealth of Malabar that first brought the Arabs, the
Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the
English to Kerala. Kappad has witnessed many such landings. Calicut
(Kozhikode) was then the most
important trade center of the Malabar region and the Zamorins who ruled this
mighty land were powerful and shrewd.
Though the
Portuguese were welcomed in Kozhikode they were not too well encouraged or
entertained for long by the Zamorins, which might be the reason they shifted
their base to Kochi and Kollam down south. Today only a little stone monument
is left at the Kappad beach to speak of its great historic importance.
On the rocks
nearby is a temple believed to be 800 years old. To the tourist, however,
this little sea faring town is a haven. The best route to Kappad is along the
backwaters. Unspoiled and uncrowned, the picturesque backwaters of Kozhikode
offer a bewitching experience. A ride down the backwaters through the
Korappuzha River brings you to the beach.
Dolphin point:
Here one can see in the early hours of the morning dolphins playing in the
sea. The beach, 2 km from Calicut (Kozhikode) town centre is along stretch of
tree lined sand popular with the local people because of the Lions Club park,
the Light House and the two piers - and, of course, the opportunity to enjoy
in the evening breeze.
Malabar Houseboats:
For luxury boating and exploring pristine back waters of Calicut (Kozhikode),
House Boats can be availed. The novel concept and excellent hospitality in
this floating palace is worth enjoying, with family and friends. These are
the first fully newly built HouseBoats of Kerala. These are stationed at
Purakkattiri, close to Purakkattiri Bridge on Ullery - Perambra road. 10 kms.
from Kozhikode
Kadalundi
Bird Sanctuary:
The sanctuary at Kadalundi is a Haven for migratory birds. Terns, Gulls,
Herons, Sand pipers, Whim brels .
Other such
migratory birds flock from the month of November and returns only by the end
of April. It is 25 kms. from Kozhikode. The ideal season to visit is from
December to April in the early hours of the day. BEYPORE It is one of the
important ports and fishing harbor. Ancient Beypore had been the centre of ship
building industry where merchants from West Asia and Middle East regularly
placed orders for huge wooden crafts, locally called as URU's. This art is a
mnemonic tradition of almost 1500 yrs old. It is 15 kms. from Kozhikode, City
buses are available.
Thusharagiri
water falls:
68 km from calicut(Kozhikode) city via kodancheri brilliant for the famous
eye catching water falls which exhilarates you. Accommodation not available.
Buses to kodancheri are available from Calicut (Kozhikode) bus station.
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