Kozhikode (Calicut) travel guide

Best time

October to March

Nearest airport

Calicut International Airport, Karipur (about 29 km)

Nearest railway station

Kozhikode (about 2 km from centre)

Also known as

City of Spices

What to see

Start at Kozhikode Beach, where locals gather at sunset and the Malabar Mahotsavam cultural festival is held. Mananchira Square, around a large tank in the old centre, is surrounded by temples, churches and mosques. The Pazhassi Raja Museum, with its attached gallery named after the Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, displays coins, murals and works by Raja Ravi Varma.

• Kappad Beach
• Kozhikode Beach
• Mananchira Square
• Beypore and its uru boatyards
• Pazhassi Raja Museum
• Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
• Thali Temple
• Mishkal Mosque
• Thusharagiri Falls
• Sweet Street (SM Street)

History and heritage

The Zamorins ruled Calicut and grew rich from the spice trade. The 14th-century Mishkal Mosque, built by an Arab merchant of that name, is a wooden multi-storey mosque in the Kuttichira quarter. The Thali Temple is known for the Revathi Pattathanam, an old gathering of scholars. At Beypore, craftsmen still build the large wooden dhows called uru by hand.

Food and shopping

Kozhikode is a food city. Try the local biryani, Malabar parotta, pathiri, mussel dishes known as kallummakkaya and the famous Kozhikode halwa sold on SM Street, also called Mithai Theruvu. The same street is also the city's main shopping bazaar, while the spice market and Comtrust handloom store are good for gifts.

Best time to visit

The city can be visited all year, but October to March is the most comfortable period, with temperatures roughly between 19°C and 29°C. April and May are hot and humid. The south-west monsoon from June brings heavy rain, so carry an umbrella and light cotton clothing.

How to reach

Calicut International Airport at Karipur is about 29 km from the city. Kozhikode railway station, close to the centre, lies on the main west coast line with trains to Mangaluru, Kochi, Chennai and beyond. KSRTC and private buses connect the city with most of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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