Calicut

Understand

Kozhikode was the capital of Zamorin kings until the British made it part of the Madras Presidency. The city was a major port on the Maritime Silk Road, frequented by traders from Arabia, Persia and later Europe. The English word calico, a cotton textile, originated from this city's old name.

Kozhikode used to be a romantic location with the charm of centuries-old streets and the smell of local sweets in the air. Today, Kozhikode is a developed city with high tech malls and modern cafes. The city is a center of commerce and trade.

Kozhikode has many important educational institutions including Calicut Medical College, Government Engineering College Kozhikode, Indian Institute of Management, National Institute of Technology and Nielt.

Kozhikode has a rich tradition in the folk arts. Thirayattam is one of the most outstanding ethnic performing art of Kozhikode district. This ritualistic annual celebration enacted in courtyards of sacred groves and village shrine of Kozhikode and Malappuram district. Thirayattam annual festival in between January and April. thumbnail|Thirayattam - Mother of Ethnic Dances

See

thumb|Christian church at Mananchira pond, Kozhikode CVN Kalari, a traditional Kalarippayattu institution for martial arts and marma chikitsa practiced and performed since 1945, Nadakkavu, Kozhikode.

Do

thumbnail|Classical building in Annie Hall Road near Railway Station, Kozhikode thumbnail|Nochikkad Bridge, Mavoor thumbnail|Kalari Martial Art

Buy

The biggest shopping malls are and . The biggest malls in the city center are , and . The Space Mall is not air-conditioned and is only for wholesale, not for retail.

The biggest grocery store in town is . The biggest grocery store in the city center is . The biggest grocery store in the wider beach area near the train station is .

Sleep

Traffic snarls make day time travel very difficult in most parts of the Kozhikode city. It is advisable to take a room in a hotel near the beach where there are no traffic issues. The 18 km road between Beypore and Pavangad lies entirely on the beach and has very light traffic.