Calicut or Kozhikode is situated in the south Indian state of Kerala on the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. The busy coastal city of Kozhikode / Calicut, holds an important place 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 for trade to the shores of Calicut. Kozhikode (Calicut) was the capital of the powerful Zamorins. This ancient commercial town of Kerala still maintains its commercial traditions.
Major Tourist Attractions in Calicut / Kozhikode
Pazhassirajah Museum
This rich museum displays the historic past of Kozhikode. Located on the East Hill, at a distance of 5 kms from the city, the museum is run by the State Archeological Department. Ancient mural paintings, antique bronzes, old coins, models of temples, and megalithic structures are on display here.
Art Gallery
Known for its treasured collection of paintings made by Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Raja Varma, the gallery pulls in the art connoisseurs the most. This gallery holds an important position in the Indian art circle because of its association with Raja Ravi Varma, the first Indian painter to make use of oil colours. The paintings of this great artist generally revolve around the portrayal of mythological events, royal portraits and day-to-day life.
Kozhikode Beach
Located on the eastern part of the city, the beach at Calicut offers the leisure-seekers a long stretch of endless sandy beach. The glorious spectacle of the setting sun from this beach is most glorious to see. The Lighthouse, the Lions Park (children's park) and the Aquarium (a good collection of marine life and freshwater fish) are interesting spots to visit on this beach.
Dolphin's Point
Dolphin's Point is the place 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.
Thikkoti Lighthouse
The lighthouse which overlooks Velliyamkallu of 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 to migratory birds.
Getting There
Air : Kozhikode airport is located at a distance of about 25 km from the center of the city. Kozhikode is well connected by air to Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Goa, Madurai and Chennai.
Rail : Calicut is connected to all the major cities of India through rail link. The station is around 2 km south of Mananchira Square. The city is well connected by train with important places like Mangalore, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Coimbatore, Goa and Mumbai.
Road : Calicut is well linked with various destinations in Kerala and beyond. National Highway-17 links Calicut with the rest of the cities in Kerala and neighboring states.
Accommodation
You won't have any accommodation problem here, as there are plenty of them at Calicut. The accommodation ranges between luxury and budget and you can pick the one which best suites your requirement. |
