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Calicut or Kozhikode is a place like none other. Kissed by the waves of the Arabian sea and embraced by the lush green Western ghats, Calicut is an ideal destination to relax and rejuvenate.
Calicut’s name is etched in the books of India’s ancient history due to the many arrivals of foreigners to this land through its ports in search of trade and business.. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama is said to have stepped on the shores of Kappad near Kozhikode in 1498 that led to the opening of spice trade between India and Europe. The merging of several cultures from the then-ruling Samoothiris to Arabs, Chinese, and Europeans added several layers of character to Malabar, which binds the entire region including Calicut.
Modern-day Calicut has a magical mix of metropolitan and traditional population. Here you can find the best possible new age facilities such as ultra modern hospitals, internationally acclaimed educational institutions, shopping malls, and IT parks among others. At the same time, Calicut is known world over for its beautiful beaches, historical heritage sites, mouth-watering local delicacies and dense greenery.
More than anything else, Kozhikode has a Big Heart! The people here are known for their profound hospitality and their mesmerizing spread of succulent food!
Malabar food is among the most popular cuisines globally. If the flavor from the indigenous spices were not enough, the cuisine was also deeply influenced by the advent of various cultures to this land including Arab and European. The people of Kozhikode present their famous Biriyanis and hundreds of varieties of seafood to the guests and visitors to the city with immense pride, and rightly so.
It is one of the favorite places of the locals and tourists. The beach is well paved for you to take a leisurely stroll in the morning or evening. By evening, the place is busy with children playing all around, local street vendors, and people who just want to watch the beautiful evening sun set in the Arabian sea. You can feel the true essence of Calicut here.
One of the best things to do in Calicut on a relaxed day is to visit Kappad beach. Famed for being the beach where Vasco da Gama arrived in the 15th century, this beach is now a go to destination for tourists. The place also has some rock formations, making it a distinct beach experience. The serenity is apt for a peaceful, yet fun day of outing.
Are you a lover of art and history? Then Pazhassi Raja Museum and Art Gallery must be on your list! A wealth of mural paintings, antiques, historical coins, and several anecdotes of famous as well as forgotten local freedom fighters can be found here. Paintings of the great Raja Ravi Varma are also on display here.
About 50 km from Kozhikode town, Thusharagiri waterfall is a sight to admire. Streams and waterfalls gushing down the magnificent Western ghats give a mystic feel to the rocks and lush green backdrops. Especially if you like trekking, you would not want to miss this place.
The Muchunthi Mosque at Kuttichira is one of the earliest mosques in Kerala and has stone inscriptions which reveal the patronage of Islam in Kerala by the Zamorins of Kozhikode. The Architecture of this old Mosque has decorative features like floral carvings and geometric designs.
Sweet Meat street or ‘Mittai theruvu’, as it is known locally, is historically known as the trade and business center of the city. Popular for ‘Kozhikodan Halwa’ (a sweet delicacy) and banana chips among other street foods, this local market is a must-go place for tourists and visitors. Apart from the lip-smacking food, here you also get a taste of the local culture. Take a walk through this pedestrian-friendly street and shop for a variety of pocket-friendly goods from clothes to utensils to art pieces, and almost anything that you are looking for!
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