Travel Kozhikode, the Spice City

Kozhikode: It is also known as Calicut. It has long been dubbed the “City of Spices” from the time immortal, for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. It has a population of about 0.9 million, making it the third largest urban agglomeration and the third largest city. It ranked as the second best city in India as per the six parameters – health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment. It was ranked eleventh among Tier-II Indian cities in job creation. It is declared India’s first hunger-free city. It is expected to come under the radar of the IT industry soon with the development of Cyberpark by the government. This will be the third IT ‘Hub’ in Kerala developed on the lines of Thiruvananthapuram Technopark and Kochi InfoPark and is expected to take off by mid 2011. Kozhikode city has been a multiethnic and multi-religious town since early medieval period. Hindus form the largest religious group, followed by Muslims and Christians.

Kozhikode Sightseeing Places

Kozhikode Beach: The beach is the most popular retreat for locals. It is an unexploited and visually pleasing beach. 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.

Veliyangadi (big bazaar): This bazaar has 600 years old history and it is a typical ‘place of interest’ you might like to visit as it has noise, rush and heat on this narrow lane that would test your mettle. Nevertheless, this ancient market is flourishing and functioning as one of the main commercial center of the city. You may get the best chance to visualize daily life at this commercial hub in medieval Calicut.

Mananchira: It is a large tank in the heart of the city. It has been the drinking water source for the entire Palace complex. There are many important institutions, which surround the Mananchira. The Town Hall was constructed in 1891 by the salt merchants and has been an important stage for agitations and ceremonies during the freedom movement and thereafter. The Pattalapalli or ‘Military Mosque’ was built for the Mysore soldiers who surrounded the Palace during the ‘Mysore invasion’. The Basel Mission from Germany established the Comtrust Textile Factory in 1884. 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). There is a well-maintained park called ‘Mananchira Square’. The entire complex is circled by 250 lampposts designed in ‘colonial’ style. The ‘Square’ has an artificial stream, a musical fountain, an open-air theatre and a music stage.

SM Street: It is a happening shopping and commercial lane north of Mananchira Square. The name Sweetmeat is thought to have been derived from a kind of sweet which European traders called ‘Sweetmeat’. S.M. Street is also about 600 years old and mostly occupied by the sweet manufacturers from Gujarat. An abandoned Parsi cemetery named Anjuman was built in the 17th century.

Sarovaram Park: It 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 most popular spots in the city.

Tali Siva Temple: This temple was one of the two Brahmanical royal temples patronized by the Zamorin till today remains one of the most important spiritual and cultural centers in Kozhikode. The temple’s date of origin is uncertain but was most likely built during the foundation of the city in 12th century. The temple is surrounded by gigantic walls of ‘elephant belly’ with broad base and narrower neck at the top. The temple hosts the annual ‘competition for scholars’ called Revathi Pattathanam.

Panniyankara Bhagavati Temple: The Bhagavaty temple on a hillock on the southern side of Kallayi river is one of the two pre-Calicut temples built at least two centuries before the foundation of the city.

Thiruvannur Siva Temple: This ancient and beautiful Siva temple is 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 record has been dated to 1044 A.D. The deity appears to have been a Jain Tirthankara . The Jain temple must have been converted into a Siva temple sometime in the 11th century.

Kappad Beach: Vasco de Gama landed here at Kappad in 1498. It is located 16 km to the north of Kozhikode along the Kannur road at Tiruvangoor. It has high potential for tourism. A monument erected here commemorates this ‘historic landing’ of vasco De Gama. 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: It is a small port town situated 10 km south of Calicut at the mouth of Chaliyar River. It 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. It is one of the important ports of Kerala and has been a major trading center for centuries. The dilapidated Kovilakam (palace) of the Parappanad Rajas and a small Basheer Museum (former house of the writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) are situated here. There is a big complex that includes a port, a boat yard, a fish landing platform, breakwater project, marine ware shop and ship- breaking unit etc near the sea. 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.

 

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Anil Baree
Email : anil@travinfoindia.com

 

 

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