Kozhikode

For the former kingdom ruled by Zamorins, see Samoothiri (Zamorin), for the district with the same name, see Kozhikode District.

Kozhikode (Malayalam: കോഴിക്കോട്)[koːɻikːoːɖ] , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The city is situated about 410 kilometres (255 mi) north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district. During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Calicut was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District.

Kozhikode has a population of 436,556 as per 2001 census, with an extended metropolitan population of about 0.9 million, making it the third largest urban agglomeration and the third largest city in Kerala. According to data compiled by economics research firm Indicus Analytics on residences, earnings and investments, Kozhikode ranked as the second best city in India to reside in. Indicus considered six parameters – health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment. Kozhikode was ranked eleventh among Tier-II Indian cities in job creation by a study conducted by ASSOCHAM in 2007. Kozhikode was declared the first litter- free city in India in 2004 A 'Hunger-Free Kozhikode' project was initiated in January 2009 following which Kozhikode was declared the country's first hunger-free city. Kozhikode is expected to come under the radar of the IT industry with the development of Cyberpark by the Kerala government. This will be the third IT 'Hub' in the state developed on the lines of Thiruvananthapuram Technopark and Kochi InfoPark, Kochi and is expected to take off by mid 2011.

Etymology

The name Kozhikode is thought to be derived, according to Prof. K.V.Krishna Ayyer, from Koyil (Palace) + Kota (Fort) meaning 'Fortified Palace'. The place was also referred to as Chullikkad meaning 'shrubby jungle' probably referring to the marshy nature of the land. Linguistically, ya and zha are interchangeable in Malayalam, and Kode stands for fort (kotta). Others have called the city by different names. The Arabs called it Kalikooth, Tamils called the city Kallikkottai, for the Chinese it was Kalifo and all the while, it has been Kozhikode for the Malayalees. The word Calicut is also thought to have derived from a fine variety of hand- woven cotton cloth that was exported from the port of Kozhikode. Now, although the city's official name is Kozhikode, it is also very commonly called by its Anglicized version, Calicut.

History

Main article: History of Kozhikode

Vasco da Gama lands in Calicut on May 20th 1498.

Vasco da Gama delivers the letter of King Manuel I of Portugal to the Zamorin of Calicut

The city of Kozhikode was founded on a marshy tract along the Arabian coast in 1034 AD. Following the collapse of the powerful Chera Kingdom, several of its chieftains proclaimed independence. One of the more powerful of these chieftains was the Eradis of Nediyirippu. The city was established by the Eradis after a prolonged battle with the Porlathiris of Polanad. Access to the sea helped the Eradi chief, who was by now called the Saamoothiri (Zamorin), develop the city into one of the major trading centres of the Eastern world abounding in a wide variety of goods like pepper, textiles, lac, ginger, cinnamon, myrobalans, and zedoary. Vessels of various sizes from around the world, like the junk, arrived on the shores of Calicut. About two centuries later, a Portuguese naval fleet arrived in Calicut in May 1498 led by Vasco da Gama, no different from the thousands that had arrrived before. The Portuguese failed to secure any valuable treaty with the Zamorin and came into direct conflict with the Arab merchants and the Zamorin himself. A Dutch fleet led by Steven van der Hagen arrived in Calicut in November 1604 and marked the beginning of the Dutch presence on the Indian coast. The Dutch had a more favourable relation with the Calicut and were provided greater participation in the ongoing trade. The British reached Calicut in 1615, led by Captain William Keeling.

By 1663, the power of the Portuguese dwindled, shifting their interests to thriving Goa. The Dutch saw their final days in 1795 when the British forces attacked the Dutch at Cochin as part of the larger Napoleonic wars. A brief period of attacks emerged from the Mysore state under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan from February 1766 as they desperately sought to capture the flourishing trading ports of Malabar for strategic interests. The Mysorean interlude ended in 1792 following their defeat by British forces. Kozhikode remained the headquarters of the Malabar district under Madras state. After Indian Independence in 1947, Madras Presidency became the Madras State. In 1956 when the Indian states were reorganized along linguistic lines, Malabar District was combined with the state of Travancore-Cochin to form the new state of Kerala on 1 November 1956. Malabar District was split into the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad on 1 January 1957.

Early Calicut in foreign accounts

Image of Calicut, India from Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg's atlas Civitates orbis terrarum, 1572

Very interesting accounts of the city and the conditions prevailing then can be gleaned from the chronicles of various travellers who visited the port city. Ibn Battuta(1342–1347), who visited the place six times, gives us the earliest glimpses of life in the city. He describes Calicut as "one of the great ports of the district of Malabar" where "merchants of all parts of the world are found". The King of this place, he says "is an infidel who shaves his chin just as the Haidari Fakeers of Rome do...The greater part of the Muhammedan merchants of this place are so wealthy that one of them can purchase the whole freightage of such vessels put here and fit out others like them". Ma Huang (1403 AD), the Chinese Muslim sailor part of the Imperial Chinese fleet under Cheng Ho (Zheng He) lauds the city as a great emporium of trade frequented by merchants from around the world. He makes note of the 20 or 30 mosques built to cater to the religious needs of the Muslims, unique system of calculation by the merchants using their fingers and toes (followed to this day) and the matrilineal system of succession. Abdur Razzak (1442–43) the ambassador of Persian Emperor Sha-Rohk finds the city harbour perfectly secured and notices precious articles from several maritime countries especially from Abyssinia, Zirbad and Zanzibar. The Italian Niccolò de' Conti (1445), perhaps the first Christian traveller who noticed Calicut describes the city as abounding in pepper, lac, ginger, a larger kind of Cinnamon, myrobalans and Zedary. He calls it a noble emporium for all India, with a circumference of eight miles (13 km). The Russian traveller Athanasius Nikitn or Afanasy Nikitin(1468–74) calls 'Calecut' a port for the whole Indian sea and describes Calicut as having a "big bazaar". Other travellers who visited Calicut include the Italian Ludovico di Varthema (1503–1508) and Duarte Barbosa.

Geography & Climate

Geography

View of Kallai river

Kozhikode is located at approx. 11.25°N 75.77°E / 11.25; 75.77. It has an elevation of 1 metre (3 ft)along the coast with the city's eastern edges rising to at least 15 metre, with a sandy coastal belt and a lateritic midland. The city has a 15 km long shore line and small hills dot the terrain in the eastern and central regions. Kozhikode is one the five Municipal Corporations in Kerala. It became a Municipality on 3 July 1866. The regions' population was then 36,602 inhabiting an area of 28.48 km². It was later made a Municipal Corporation in 1962. Currently, the Corporation is spread over an area of 84.232 km². To the city's west is the Arabian Sea and from apprx. 60 km to east rises the Sahyadri Mountains.

A deep network of lakes, canals, estuaries and wetlands runs through the city. Prominent among these is the Canoli Canal built in 1848 to connect the Korapuzha river in the north to Kallayi river in the south. A vast system of wetland(mangrove) forests pervade the city from Kallai river to Eranjikkal in the north forming the most crucial lifeline of the city. The Kotooli wetlands are notable in this respect. In spite of the wetlands crucial role in maintenance of biodiversity, climatology balance, ground water table and in flood management, they have come under increasing threat due to callous management and self-serving commercial interests, compounded by an ignorance of their significance by the local population.

A number of rivers originating from the Sahyadri runs along the outer reaches of the city of Kozhikode. These include the Chaliyar puzha, Kallayi Puzha, Korapuzha river, Poonoor puzha(river), and Iravanjhi puzha. Of these, Kallai river that runs through the southern part of the city has been the most important culturally and historically for Kozhikode.

Climate

The rainy season allows for abundant growth of beautiful vegetation

Kozhikode features a tropical monsoon climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city has a highly humid tropical climate with high temperatures recorded from March to May. A brief spell of pre-monsoon Mango showers hits the city sometime during April. However, the primary source of rain is the South-west monsoon that sets in the first week of June and continues till September. The city also receives significant precipitation from the North-East Monsoon that sets in from the second half of October through November. The average annual rainfall is 3,266 mm. The weather is ideal towards the end of the year from December and January until March when the skies are clear and the air is crisp. Winters are seldom cold. According to Climate Charts, 12 locations in India are cooler, 26 are warmer, 37 are dryer and only 1 is wetter than Kozhikode. The highest temperature recorded was 39.4 °C in March 1975. The lowest was 14 °C recorded on 26 December 1975.

Climate data for Kozhikode
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31.6 (88.9)	32 (90)	32.7 (90.9)	33.1 (91.6)	32.4 (90.3)	29.4 (84.9)	28.4 (83.1)	28.3 (82.9)	29.5 (85.1)	30.6 (87.1)	31.3 (88.3)	31.6 (88.9)	30.9 (87.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	23.4 (74.1)	25 (77)	26.1 (79.0)	25.8 (78.4)	24 (75)	23.5 (74.3)	23.5 (74.3)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23.6 (74.5)	22.7 (72.9)	23.8 (74.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	2.7 (0.11)	3.4 (0.13)	21.4 (0.84)	90.2 (3.55)	310.9 (12.24)	818.2 (32.21)	902.5 (35.53)	447.3 (17.61)	233.4 (9.19)	263.5 (10.37)	136.6 (5.38)	35 (1.4)	3,284.6 (129.31)
Source:

Civic administration

The city is administered by the Kozhikode Corporation, headed by a mayor, and with its headquarters in Kozhikode.

Kozhikode City officials Mayor A. K. Premajam District collector Mr.P.B. Salim

Kozhikode has two assembly constituencies: Kozhikode North and Kozhikode South, both of which are part of Kozhikode (Lok Sabha constituency).

Transport

The city has a reasonably well- developed infrastructure for intra- city, inter- city, national and international travel. Intra- city transport is managed by private bus operators. These so-called 'City Buses' are painted green and regular services exist throughout the corporation area. Major routes converge at Mananchira from Medical College, Beypore, Feroke, Elathur, Kakkodi etc. There is no stand for city buses. However, the city has three bus stands. All private buses to the peri- urban and nearby towns ply from the Palayam Bus Stand. Private buses to adjoining districts and cities including Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur, Kasargod, Ernakulam, Sulthan Bathery, Malappuram , Vatakara etc. are stationed at the Mofussil Bus Stand (New Bus Stand) on the Indira Gandhi Road (Mavoor Road). Buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ply from the KSRTC Bus Stand on the Indira Gandhi Road. Regular KSRTC bus services exist to nearby towns and cities and also to Ernakulam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Ooty, Madurai, Bangalore, Mysore etc. Private tour operators maintain regular luxury bus services to Bangalore, Ooty, Madurai etc. and mainly operate from the Palayam area.

File:Calicut railstation choosetocount.JPG

A view of Kozhikode railway station

The history of railways in Malabar dates back to 1861 when the first tracks were laid between Tirur and Beypore. Kozhikode is presently connected by rail to important cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Coimbatore, Chennai to the south and Mangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi to the north.

Calicut International Airport is located 22 km from the city at Karipur near Kondotty. Regular domestic services are operated to major Indian cities. Almost all international flights are to the Gulf.

Economy

Calicut is one of the main commercial cities of Kerala. The economy is mainly business oriented.

A large proportion of the male population are employed in the Middle Eastern countries, and their remittances home are an important part of the local economy.

Calicut has witnessed a building boom in recent years. This is particularly evident in the number of malls built in recent years. Other planned projects include the Birla IT park (at Mavoor), Cyber park and Malaysian satellite city (at Kinaloor). KINFRA has plans to set up a 400-acre (1.6 km²) industrial park.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kozhikode had a population of 436,530 and is the third largest Urban agglomeration in Kerala. The city is projected to have a population of 440,367 by 2010. Kozhikode has an average sex ratio of 1,055 females for every 1000 male. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kozhikode has an average literacy rate of 92.24% (National Avg.: 59.5%) wherein male literacy rate is 96.6% and female literacy rate is 90.6%. 11% of the total city population is under 6 years of age.

People

Kozhikode has been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious town since the early medieval period. Hindus form the largest religious group, followed by Muslims and Christians.

The Hindus engage in beliefs spanning all forms of theism as well as atheism. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon are worshipped. Many places have temples with local deities, more often a Goddess (Devi). Festivities like Theyyam, Thira and art forms like Ottamthullal, Kathakali are performed in stages attested to temple estates. Many temples have associated oracles called Velichappad. Serpent worship and Ancestral worship are also practiced. The Muslims of Kozhikode are known as Mappilas, and according to the official Kozhikode website "the great majority of them are Sunnis following the Shafi school of thought. There are also some smaller communities among the Muslims such as Dawoodi Bohras. Many of the Muslims living in the historic part of the city follow matriliny and are noted for their piety. Though Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Kerala in 52 CE, the size of community in Malabar (northern Kerala) began to rise only after the arrival of the Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century. A few Christians of Travancore and Cochin have lately migrated to the hilly regions of the district and are settled there.

Pre-modern Kozhikode was already teeming with people of several communities and regional groups. Most of these communities continued to follow their traditional occupations and customs till the 20th century. These included Kosavan(potter), Vannan(washerman), Pulayan(agricultural worker), Chaliyan(weaver), Chetti(merchant), Thiyya(physicians, militia and toddy tappers), Ganaka(astrologer), Vettuvan(salt-maker), Paanan(sorcerer), Eravallan(firewood and grass carrier), Kammalas, Parayan etc. A number of Brahmins too lived in the city mostly around the Hindu temples. Regional groups like the Tamil Brahmins, Gujaratis and Marwari Jains became part of the city at various periods and lived around their shrines. The story of Kozhikode is the story of all the communities. However, the social groups that exerted the greatest influence in the history of Calicut has been the Nairs and the Mappilas.

The Nairs formed the rulers, warriors and landed gentry of Calicut. The Zamorin had a ten thousand strong Nair bodyguard called the Kozhikkottu pathinaayiram (The 10,000 of Kozhikode) who defended the capital and supported the administration within the city. He also had a larger force of 30,000 Nairs in his capacity as the Prince of Eranadu, called the Kozhikkottu Muppatinaayiram(The 30,000 of Kozhikode). The Nairs also formed the members of the suicide squad(chaver). The aristocratic Nairs had their Taravad houses in and around the capital. Several Nairs in the city were traders too. The Nairs could not be imprisoned or fettered except for serious crimes like cow slaughter, criticizing the King etc. The Mappila community of Kozhikode acted as an important support base for the city's military, economic and political affairs. They were settled primarily in Kuttichira and Idiyangara. Their aristocratic dwelling houses were similar to the tharavad houses of the Nairs and the Thiyyas. Two Ghazi's were recognized as their spiritual leaders. Travellers like Barbosa were intrigued by the extent to which the Mapillas blended into the local society, who spoke the same language and looked like any other Nair(except for the round caps and long beards).

The Thiyyas formed the vaidyars(Physicians), local militia and traders of Kozhikode. Several aristocratic thiyya families such as 'Kallingal madom' were settled in and around the city.

The Tamil Brahmins are primarily settled around the Tali Siva temple. They arrived in Calicut as Dependants of chieftains, working as cooks, cloth merchants and moneylenders. They have retained their Tamil language and dialects s well as caste rituals. The Gujarati community is settled mostly around the Jain temple in and around the Valliyangadi. They owned a large number of establishments, especially textile and sweat meat shops. They must have arrived in calicut at least from the beginning of the 14th century. They belong to either the Hindu or the Jain community. A few Marwari families are also found in calicut who were basically moneylenders.

Places of interest and historical significance

Kozhikode Beach

A view of Calicut beach from the southern end

The beach is the most popular retreat for locals. In spite of beautification works and lax coastal management, it remains unexploited and visually pleasing. This shore has been a witness to many historic events, including pitched naval battles and the arrival of ships from distant lands. Uddanda, the Sanskrit poet in Zamorin's court, said: "The ocean, the father of the goddess of riches [Indira is a synonym of Lakshmi] seeing that his daughter has settled down in Kukkatakroda [Sanskrit for Kozhikode], is embracing the place, presenting it with shipful of jewels". Several national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Indira Gandhi and Krishna Menon have addressed people here. The 'Beach Road' was renamed Gandhi Road from Evan's Road after Mahatma Gandhi's visit in January 1934. Two dilapidated piers can be seen extending into the sea. The 'Iron Screw-pile' pier to the north was built in 1871, 400 ft long (120 m) with a 'T' end. Numerous cranes on these piers once loaded spices and other goods destined to foreign ports like Aden, Genoa, Oslo, London, Bremen, Hamburg, New York etc. Near the northern pier is a park maintained by the Lions club, a children's park, the lighthouse with a seafarer's memorial and a marine aquarium. Further north to the Lions' Park is a dirty fishing area where once was located a French Loge with factories and French settlements. Near the south pier is a place called 'Horse's Jumping Point' where horses brought from Gujarat and Arabia were made to jump into the water, swim and would gallop along the shore and be displayed for sale. The beach offers a pleasant view at times of fishermen entering the sea with their tiny boats, fighting the waves and returning with their catch.

Veliyangadi (big bazaar)

Veliyangadi is not a typical 'place of interest' one would want to visit. The noise, rush and heat of this narrow lane would test any visitors' mettle. Nevertheless, not many streets can boast a 600-year-old history and still be functioning as one of the main commercial centre of a city. In spite of creeping signs of modernity over hundreds of years, this crowded part of the city offers the best chance to visualize daily life at a commercial hub in medieval Calicut. Muslim, Jain and Hindu seths, Gujarathi and Marwari moneylenders and Tamil and Andhra Chettis can be seen busy with their businesses, as they did for centuries. Merchants and accountants still use a unique system of finger-code language as noted by Ma Huang of Zheng He's fleet in 1403. The legend has it that the First Secretary of the Zamorin, Mangat Achan, after a long penance had the goddess of wealth Lakshmi appear before him. He then made her promise to wait until he returned but went home and committed suicide. Unable to break her promise, it is said, Lakshmi stayed permanently in Veliyangadi.

Mananchira and nearby institutions

Main gate of Mananchira Square

View of Mananchira from ComTrust

Mananchira is a large tank in the heart of the city. Mananchira or Mana Vikraman Tank (Manan or Mana Vikraman being the Coronation name of the Zamorins) seems to have been the drinking water source for the entire Palace complex (previously located at the Kottaparambu Women and Children Hospital). Surrounding the Mananchira are several important institutions. The Town Hall was constructed in 1891 by the salt merchants (previously called Salt Abkari Town Hall) and has been an important stage for several popular agitations and ceremonies during the freedom movement and thereafter. The Pattalapalli or 'Military Mosque' was originally built for the Mysore soldiers who had surrounded the Palace during the 'Mysore invasion'. The Comtrust Textile Factory (previously the Commonwealth Weaving Factory) was established in 1884 by the Basel Mission from Germany. To the western side of Mananchira is located the C.S.I. Church, Basel Mission Complex and the BEM (Basel Evangelical Mission) Girls' School (1848). Once the main courtyard of the Zamorin Ruler's palace, the Mananchira ground along with the older Ansari Park (named after the freedom fighter Ansari) has been developed into a well- maintained park called 'Mananchira Square'. It has a green carpet lawn fenced with laterite- sculpted walls. The entire complex is circled by 250 lamp posts designed in 'colonial' style. The 'Square' has an artificial stream, a musical fountain, an open-air theatre and a music stage.

SM Street

S.M. Street is a buzzing shopping and commercial lane immediately north of Mananchira Square. The name Sweetmeat is thought to have been derived from a kind of sweet (locally called 'Halwa') which was called 'Sweetmeat' by European traders. S.M. street, like the lanes of Veliyangadi, is about 600 years old and was most likely occupied by the residences and shops of sweet manufacturers from Gujarath. A now-abandoned Parsi cemetery called Anjuman, most likely built in the 17th century, is located here and finds mention in William Logan's Malabar.

Sarovaram Park

Sarovaram is an eco-friendly development adjacent to Canoly Canal. The project has been developed with an eco-friendly theme and the construction has been done in traditional Kerala style. It is one of the more popular spots in the city to spend an evening.

Tali Siva Temple

The entrance to the Tali Siva temple at Calicut

The Tali Siva temple was one of the two Brahmanical royal temples patronized by the Zamorin (the other being the Valayanaattu Kavu) and to this day remains one of the most important spiritual and cultural centres in Kozhikode. The temple's date of origin is uncertain but was most likely built during the foundation of the city itself in the 12th century or before. The temple is surrounded by gigantic walls of 'elephant belly' (aana palla) type with broad base and narrower neck at the top. One of the two tanks attached to the temple can be seen to the right. The temple hosts the annual 'competition for scholars' called Revathi Pattathanam attended by eminent scholars and philophers of Bharatiya Mimamsa, Prabhakara Mimamsa, Vedanta Mimamsa and Vyakarana. The temple was also the site for the famous anti-caste agitation of 1911 organized by Krishna Vakil (editor of Mitavadi) and advocate Manjeri Rama Ayyar for the rights of 'low-caste' people to use the road between the tank and the temple.

Panniyankara Bhagavati Temple

The Bhagavaty temple on a hillock on the southern side of Kallayi river is one of the two pre-Calicut temples known to historians, built at least two centuries before the foundation of the city. This area must have come under the territory of Porlathiri during the reign of Ceraman Perumal. It is a typical Chera period structure with a square garbhagriha and mandapa and probably had a currambalam and prakara (outer walls) that are no more. Two granite slabs dating to the 10-11th century AD were recovered recently carrying three inscriptions in Vattezhuthu, an old Malayalam language. One is a record of a land grant of the Chera king Ravi Kota, who was coronated in 1021 AD. Mentioned in the inscription are functionaries like Adhikarar (officials), Alkoyil (king's representative) and Poduval (temple secretary) and avirodham (a system of unanimous resolution), kalam (an old measure), etc. The second inscription dating back to 883-913 AD records a decision by the Taliyar and Tali Adhikarikal of 'Panriyankarai' to conduct seven Tiruvakkiram (sacred feast) at the shrine of Patari (female deity). The third inscription records a unanimous decision to transfer some land belonging to the daughter of the Chief Queen of Cheraman Perumal for the conduct of Tiru amritu (sacred feast).

Thiruvannur Siva Temple

This ancient and beautiful Siva temple has an apsidal garbhagriha, decorated with typical Chola pillars and pilasters, panjaras and vyalimukhas. The central shrine has escaped any repair or change and is relatively well preserved. An inscription unearthed records a land grant given to Tirumannur Patarakar in the eighth regnal year of Raja Raja Chera. The record has been dated to 1044 AD. The deity appears to have been a Jain Tirthankara (since the rules of Thirukkunavaye, the premier Jain shrine of Kerala in Kodungalloor, are cited in the punitive clauses). The Jain temple must have been converted into a Siva temples sometime in the 11th century before the arrival of the Zamorins. The apsidal shrine and other features are attributable to this period.

Kappad Beach

Kappad Beach

Vasco da Gama landed here at Kappad in 1498

Kappad (Kappakkadavu) Beach is located 16 km to the north of Kozhikode along the Kannur road at Tiruvangoor. Apart from the fact that it is a beautiful rocky beach with high potential for tourism, it is the site where Vasco Da Gama landed on 27 May 1498 with three vessels and 170 men. A monument erected here commemorates this 'historic landing'. However, many authors have questioned the emphasis given to the Portuguese sailor who was one amongst hundreds of traders who reached the shores of Calicut and was guided by a Portuguese-speaking Arab. An ancient temple on a hillock, facing the sea, is an added attraction.

Beypore

File:Ship building.jpg

An Uru under construction

Beypore is a small port town situated 10 km south of Calicut at the mouth of Chaliyar river. Beypore is famous for its ancient shipbuilding industry that constructed the Uru, trading vessels more popular during the medieval periods and still used by the Arabs and others for commerce and tours. The place was formerly known as Vaypura and Vadaparappanad. Tippu Sultan named the town "Sultan Pattanam". It is one of the important ports of Kerala and has been an major trading centre for centuries. The dilapidated Kovilakam (palace) of the Parappanad Rajas and a small Basheer Museum (former house of the writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) can be found here. Towards the sea shore is a big complex that includes a port, a boat yard, a fish landing platform, breakwater project, marine ware shop, ship- breaking unit, etc. There are two man-made extensions to the sea to facilitate easy access for fishing boats. The 2 km breakwater made of stone is another attraction. The Beypore lighthouse is located to the south of the Chaliyar.

Other places of interest

• Art gallery and Krishna Menon Museum at East Hill, Kozhikode
• Kadalundi Bio Reserve, home to various migratory birds
• Lalitha Kala Academy, behind town hall, Kozhikode
• Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
• Mishkal Mosque, a historic Mosque built 650 years ago
• Lokanarkavu Temple, a temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, is situated at Memunda. The temple is 4 km from vadakara. It is often associated with the martial art Kalarippayattu.
• Thusharagiri Falls: A waterfall situated about 55 km from Calicut Railway Station
• Kozhippara waterfalls is located at the eastern side of the district and offers a good trekking experience
• Sultan Battery: The major hill station of Malabar. Distance to Sultan Battery 98 km.
• Peruvannamuzhi dam : There are boat services and a crocodile sanctuary. The Experimental Farm of the Indian Institute of Spices Research which maintains large collections of black pepper, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and garcinia is also located here.
• Kakkayam dam and hydroelectric power station. Also an ideal location for treks.

Culture

In the field of Malayalam language and literature, Kozhikode has made many significant contributions. The district is famous for folk songs or ballads known as Vadakkan Pattukal. The most popular songs among them are those which celebrate the exploits of Thacholi Othenan and Unniyarcha. One of the favourite past times of the Muslims of the district is singing Mappila pattu and Oppana. The songs are composed in a composite language of Arabic and Malayalam. The famous intellectual debate for Vedic scholars to win the coveted position of Pattathanam takes place at Thali temple during the month of Thulam. Kozhikode also has strong associations with ghazals and football.

The city has a strong mercantile streak to it. The main area of business was once 'Valiyangadi' (Big Bazaar) near the railway station. As time progressed, it shifted to other parts of the city. These days, the commercial heart has moved to Mittai Theruvu (Sweet Meat Street), a long street crammed with shops that sell everything from saris to cosmetics. It also houses restaurants and sweetmeat shops. The name Mittai Theruvu or S.M. Street comes from the famous Kozhikode Halwa which was often called Sweet Meat. The multicultural mix of Kozhikode ensures that Onam, Christmas and Id-ul-Fitr (the festivals of the Hindus, Christians, and Muslims respectively) are celebrated with equal pomp.

Cuisine

Kozhikode offers fare to suit every palate. Vegetarian fare includes the sadya. The non-vegetarian food offered in the city is a unique mix of Muslim and Hindu preparations. Some popular dishes include the Biriyani, ghee rice with meat curry, seafood (prawns, mussels, mackerel) and paper-thin Pathiris to provide accompaniment to spicy gravy. Another well-known Kozhikode specialty is banana chips, which are made crisp and wafer-thin. The 'Kozhikode Halwa' is very popular, even overseas.

Media

Film industry

Calicut is not only the place of writers and food but also of versatile actors. Mammukoya and the late Kuthiravattam Pappu are two of the most popular Malayalam actors who made a great impact in the Malayalam film industry. The late Gireesh Puthenchery, arguably one of the best lyricists ever produced in Malayalam film industry, hails from Calicut too.

Print Media

Kozhikode occupies a prominent position in the history of Malayalam journalism. The origin of journalism in the district can be traced back to 1880. The Kerala Pathrika is likely the earliest newspaper published from Kozhikode. Keralam, Kerala Sanchari and Bharath Vilasam are among the other newspapers that were published from Kozhikode pre- 1893. Kozhikode is the 'birthplace' of the widely circulated Malayalam dailies Mathrubhumi and Madhyamam.

Writers

Many prominent writers of Malayalam literature hail from Kozhikode. Among them are M. T. Vasudevan Nair, S. K. Pottekkatt, and Thikkodiyan. Other noted writers who made Kozhikode their second home include Sukumar Azhikode, N P Muhammed and Uroob. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer lived in Beypore on the outskirts of the city for long and is affectionatly known as the 'Beypore Sultan'.

A model of Fathima's goat at Mananchira commemorates Basheer's masterpiece Paaththummaayude aadu in Kozhikode

Radio

The Kozhikode station of All India Radio was commissioned on 14 May 1950. It presently has two transmitters- Kozhikode AM (100 kilowatt) and Kozhikode FM [Vividh Bharathi] (10 kilowatt).

Private FM radio stations: Radio Mango 91.9 operated by Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd. and Sun FM 93.5 of the SUN Network.

AIR FM Radio Stations: Kozhikode - 103.6 MHz; AIR MW Radio Stations: Kozhikode - 684 kHz

Television

A television transmitter has been functioning in Kozhikode from 3 July 1984, relaying programmes from Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Doordarshan. Doordarshan has its broadcasting centre in Calicut located at Medical College.

Asianet Cable Vision popularly known as ACV telecasts daily city news. Spidernet is another local channel. Other local operators include KCL and Citinet.

All major channels in malayalam viz. Asianet, Surya TV, Kairali TV, Amrita TV, Jeevan TV, Indiavision and Jaihind have their studios and news bureaus in the city.

Education

Main article: Educational institutions in Kozhikode district

Kozhikode is home to two premier educational institutions of national importance- the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, and the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC). Some of the other major institutes in Kozhikode are the University of Calicut, Calicut Medical College, College of Nursing, Calicut, (CUIET), Government Engineering College (GEC), Malabar Christian College, Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College, St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Farook College, Government Arts and Science College, Providence Women's College, Government Homeopathic Medical College, Government Law College, Government College of Teacher Education, Kerala School of Mathematics, DOEACC Calicut, formerly known as CEDTI, AWH Engineering College, Kozhikode, KMCT College of Engineering,Markaz industriai training center karanthur.

Research institutes

There are a few research institutes located in or around the city. These include the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Western Ghats Field Research Station (Zoological Survey of India) and the Regional Filaria Training and Research Centre (a centre of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases).

See also

• Mananchira Square
• Sarovaram
• Kozhikode (Lok Sabha constituency)
• List of people from Kozhikode

External links

• Kozhikode District official website
• Calicut (Kozhikode) City Map
• Massacre by the Portuguese forces in Calicut
• Memories about Kozhikode by MT Vasudevan Nair
• Calicut IT Initiative
• Kozhikode Corporation elections
• MSN Map