Calicut Travel Guide

Calicut or Kozhikode is situated in the South Indian state of Kerala on the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. Basking in the idyllic setting of the pristine Arabian on the south and mesmeric peaks of the Wayanad hills on the east, this district has all the required ingredients to fascinate a tourist. 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. Places to Visit

• There are a number of places worth visiting in Calicut. Kappad is the place where Vasco da Gama set foot for the first time when he came to India on May 27, 1498. There is a small stone monument at the beach to commemorate that event.
• Situated next to Pazhassirajah Museum is an art gallery displaying paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.
• While in Calicut, Dolphin's Point is a good place to watch dolphins playing in the sea early in the morning. On this beach are also situated Calicut Town Center, Lions Club, and a lighthouse.
• Two crumbling piers, more than hundred years old, stand out into sea at Calicut beach. The Calicut beach is easily accessible from Calicut city and provides a good view of the setting sun. Calicut beach also has a Marine Life Aquarium open whole day.
• The Science Planetarium at Jaffarkhan Colony is the best place to unravel the mysteries of universe and enlightens about the planets and stars in Calicut.
• Calicut's planetarium has an interesting array of games, puzzles, and scientific gadgetry, which can keep a person busy for the whole day. The planetarium and Science Center are in the same complex of Calicut.
• Mananchira, which was the palace tank of King Mana Vikrama, has been now turned into a traditional architectural splendor with carpeted green grass and surrounded by ethnic buildings. The place also has a musical fountain and worth visiting in Calicut.

Excursions from Calicut

• There are a number of excursion options from Calicut which includes:
• Beypore is 11 km from Calicut. It is a small coastal town known for its shipbuilding industry for centuries.
• Vadakara, 48 km from Calicut is a commercial center of martial arts and the birthplace of Tacholi Othenan, a legendry hero of North Malabar.
• 98 km from Calicut is Tellicherry and Sultan Battery famous for their breathtaking scenery.
• Thusharagiri is famous for its waterfalls and lush green forests. It is at a distance of 11 km from Kodenchery, a place abounding in rubber plantations, coconut, pepper, ginger, and spices of all sorts, a must visit from Calicut.
• There is a dam at located around 45 km from Calicut. This excursion from Calicut offers challenging trekking and rock-climbing through river path and numerous waterfalls.
• There is another dam at 60 km from Calicut. It is a place of beauty, calm, and serenity and boasts of a crocodile farm run by the state forest department.
• Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, 25 km from Calicut is a heaven for migratory birds. Terns, gulls, herons, sandpipers, whimbrels, and other migratory birds flock the place from the month of November and returns only by the end of April.
• Other places worth visiting near Calicut are Velleri Mala, a beautiful location for trekking and Velliyamkallu.

Climate
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.

Things to see