Calicut Information
Calicut or Kozhikode is situated in the south Indian state of Kerala
on the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. The district extends from
latitude 11°15' N to 75°49' E. Basking in the idyllic
setting of the serene Arabian Sea on the west and mesmeric peaks of
the Wayanad hills on the east, this district has all the required
ingredients to fascinate a tourist.
Due to its nearness to sea, the place has a hot and humid climate.
Summer starts from March and continues until May. Maximum
temperature recorded in the month of May is 36°C and minimum
temperature recorded in the month of December is 14°C.
Southwest monsoon arrives in the first week of June and average
annual rainfall is 254 cm.
Reaching Calicut
By Air
Calicut airport 29 Km from Calicut (Kozhikode) city. Regular
transport services, like KTDC's taxi and auto-rickshaws are
available at airport to move to the citycentre.
By Rail
Kozhikode Railway station. All Kerala-bound trains on Konkan line
stops in Kozhikode. Services to Chennai, Coimbathore also. Vadakara,
Koilandi are other stops in the district.
By Road
Three National Highways connect Kozhikode with destinations
elsewhere in the country. N H 17 on Western coast connects the city
with Mumbai, Mangalore and Goa. N H 213 (Kozhikode-Palakkad) gives a
fast track to Tamilnadu. N H 212( Kozhikode- Kollegal, Mysore) winds
its way through Wayanad district before entering the stipulated
Mysore- Bangalore Express Highway in Mysore. KSRTC operates round-
the-clock services to Southern Kerala, Wayanad district, Mysore and
Bangalore. A few services to Kannur, Kasargode, Mangalore,
Coimbathore and Ootty. Private buses are on all the village routes
in the district, besides operating to Palakkad, Kannur, Thrissur,
Malappuram districts. However, they ply during the daytime only.
City buses run within Kozhikode city.
Tourist Attractions
Dolphin's Point
Dolphin's Point 15 minutes from the city centre is an ideal place
to see dolphins playing in the sea early in the 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.
Kirtads
(7 km frm Kozhikode): This unique museum houses the tools and
devices used by the ancient tribal communities of Kerala. A good
library with books on Anthropology and Sociology is an added
attraction.
Beypore Beach
Situated at the mouth of the Chaliyar River in Kozhikode district,
Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient
Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre. Ancient Beypore
was famous among the merchants from Western Asia, for its ship
building industry. The boat building yard here is famous for the
construction of the Uru, the traditional Arabian trading vessel. The
Beypore Beach has a bridge built nearly 2 km into the sea. It is
actually made up of huge stones piled together for nearly 2 km
making a pathway into the sea.
Kallai
This was once the second largest timber trading center in Asia. A
steel bridge built by the British is still intact here.
Pazhassi Raja Museum
The Pazhassi Raja Museum, houses a veritable treasure trove for
historians and connoisseurs of art, located at a distance of 5 km
from Kozhikode at East Hill. The museum is under the surveillance of
the Archaeological Deparment of the State. The museum and the art
gallery are named after the great Pazhassiraja Kerala Varma of the
Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam Royal Family.
The famous 'Pazhassi Revolt' (against the British East India
Company during the second half of the 1700s) was led by
Pazhassiraja. On display in the museum are ancient murals, antique
bronzes and coins, megalithic relics such as diamond cysts, temple
miniatures and umbrella stones.
Kalipolika
(2 km from Kozhikode): One can leisurely cruise on the dappled
waters at Kalipolika in both pedal and row boats.
S M Street
Sweet Meat Street is the busiest street in Kozhikode and derives
its name from the times when the street was lined with sweetmeat
stalls.
