KOZHIKODE
Location: Northern Part of Kerala
Main Attractions: Dolphin's Point
Formed on: Calicut
Best Season: September to May
THE HISTORICAL TOWN OF PROMINENCE: The busy coastal city of Kozhikode, located to the north of Kerala and 225 kms from Kochi holds an important position in the legend and history of Kerala.
The place is historically famous as the Portuguese led by Vasco da Gama first landed in India, at Kappad near Kozhikode in 1498 AD. He was the first European to reach India via the sea route, around the southern cape of Africa. Later the Dutch, French and British came to its shores.
Thus, began a period of conflict of foreign powers for domination of trade in Malabar. Kozhikode was the capital of the powerful Zamorins. This age-old town still maintains its commercial traditions.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Pazhassi Raja Museum: Located at East Hill, the Pazhassiraja Museum, run by the State Archaeological Department, displays ancient murals, antique bronzes and old coins, as well as models of temples, megalithic monuments like dolminoid cysts and umbrella stones.
Timings are 10 am to 5 PM. (Closed on Mondays) Situated next to the Pazhassiraja Museum; the Art Gallery contains paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Varma.
Krishnan Menon Museum: The Krishna Menon Museum has a section in honour of the great Indian leader V.K. Krishna Menon, whose personal belongings and souvenirs gifted by world leaders are exhibited here. Timings are 10 am to 5 PM. (Closed on Mondays and Wednesday forenoons).
Dolphin's Point: Just 15 minutes from the city center is a place called Dolphin's Point, where one can see dolphins playing in the sea of an early morning.
The long tree-lined beach, about 2 km away, is popular with the local people because of the Lions Club Park, the lighthouse, and two piers - and of course, the opportunity to soak in the evening breeze.
Mananchira: Mananchira is the heart of the city and sites important institutions like the Town Hall and the Public Library. One of Kozhikode's oldest institutions, the Commonwealth Trust's office is located here. The large pond and park are well-known landmarks.
Kallai: Six kms away is Kallai, once the bustling nerve center of Kozhikode's timber trade, said to have been the largest such trading center in Asia. Today, though some business does take place, hard times have fallen on the timber trade and Kallai is just a shadow of its busy past.
Beypore Beach: Beypore 11 km from Kozhikode is a small coastal town famous for centuries as a shipbuilding center and still is known today for its country crafts called `Uru' built by traditional shipbuilders known as `khalasis'.
Beypore is still a favored destination for Arabs shopping for large boats. A commercial center also famous for the ancient Kerala style of martial arts, 'Kalaripayattu' is also the birthplace of Tacholi Othenan, whose heroic deeds have been immortalized in the ballads of North Malabar.
Kappad Beach: Kappad, the historic beach. It is the beach where Vasco da Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498 with 170 men in three vessels, thus discovering a sea route to India.
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary: Kalalundi bird sanctuary, 19 kms from Kozhikode is home to more than a hundred varieties of native birds and over 60 species of migratory birds flock here in large numbers.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1973, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipore of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil-Nadu.
Lokanarkavu Temple: The Lokanarkavu Bhagavathi Temple is a temple frequently alluded to in the Northern Ballads or the Vadakkanpattu of Kerala. The main deity is Goddess Durga, with two adjacent shrines dedicated to Vishnu and Siva.
Thali Temple: Thali temple, located downtown is an important temple of the erstwhile Zamorin Kingdom of Kozhikode. The temple is famous for the 'Revathi Pattathanam', an annual competition of pedagogic skills.
Mananthavadi: The panoramic Mananthavadi is situated 32 kms from north east of Kalpetta. Perched on the Western Ghats at an altitude of around 500m above sea level.
Lakkidi: Lakkidi, the gateway of Wayanad, is situated 700 m above mean sea level, at the crest of the Thamaraserri ghat pass. Lofty peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant forests add magic to the journey up the winding roads to this hill station
Peruvannamuzhi Dam: 60 kms from Kozhikode, it is picturesque dam with a crocodile farm, bird sanctuary and boating facilities. The dam is a famous picnic spot.
Thikkoti Lighthouse: The lighthouse, which overlooks Velliyamkallu - the rock much dreaded by mariners - off Moodadi coast, was built after a shipwreck, the remains of which can still be seen here. The region around the Velliyamkallu rock is the transit home of migratory birds.
Thusharagiri Waterfalls: Snuggled cosily in the Western Ghats, are the gurgling waterfalls of Thusharagiri. Meaning the snow capped mountains; Thushargiri exhibits a unique kinship between the land and water.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Kozhikode has an airport at Karipur.
Rail: Kozhikode is served by a handful of coastal expresses and several passenger trains.
Road: A well-built network of roads connects Kozhikode to the other parts of the state.
Local Transport: Auto Rickshaws, Deluxe Buses.
NEARBY CITIES
Thrissur102 km
Kochi181 km
Coimbatore186 km
Mysore216 km
GENERAL INFORMATION
District Area:2,345 sq.km.
City Area:30.61 sq.km.
District Population:2,612,897.
City Population:419,531.
Altitude:Sea level.
Temperature:
Mean Max:32.0 °C; Mean Min: 22.5°C
Climate:Tropical.
Rainfall:254 cm (Annual).
Clothing:Tropical Cottons.
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