Kozhikode

Kozhikode aka Calicut (as formerly called) is a coastal city in the state of Kerala, India. The place has important mentioning in the history of the country as the famed Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first landed here and the flourishing Spice Route made its way. The most revered and the popular area here is its Kozhikode Beach that looks at an old lighthouse. Things not to miss at Kozhikode are a walk in the pristine Kozhikode beach, sightseeing Dolphins at Dolphin point, watching the sunset at the beach, watching musical fountains at the Mananchira Tank, gobbling the fresh seafood, tasting lip-smacking Kallumekaya (mussels), enjoying at the Lions Park and the marine water aquarium, etc. The city of Calicut came into existence in the 13th century when Udaiyavar, the king of Ernad, conquered the area around Ponniankar and built a fort at a place called Velapuram, now known as Calicut. Interestingly, the name Calicut is derived from ‘calico,’ the fine variety of hand-woven cotton cloth said to have originated from this place. The outer world came to know about India in 1498 when Vasco da Gama came to Calicut and obtained permission to carry out trade from here. Quickly in succession came the English and Dutch. Disputes over the control of Calicut continued for a long time until 1792, when the East India Company went into an agreement with the local Zamori rulers to directly administer this area. Kerala was declared a state in 1956, and Calicut today is one of the most important centers of trade and business in this progressive state.