Kappad beach
If you
are looking for a relaxing evening, Kappad beach would be an ideal choice.
However, the waters here are a bit deep and it is safer not to venture out too
much. The stretch of sand is not so wide but clean and lined with a canopy of
coconut palms. The sight of the coconut palms silhouetted against the evening
sky is bound to bring out the photographer in any tourist. Kappad also has a
stone monument installed on the spot where Vasco Da Gama landed.
Kozhikode beach
The
beach might be a bit crowded in the evenings, but is well-worth a visit. A spot
not to be missed here is the two piers which are reputed to be more than a
century old. There is an aquarium, a towering light house as well as a lion’s
park in the beach.
Kozhikode planetarium
The
Kozhikode planetarium and the science centre attached to it can keep you
occupied for a whole day with its range of games, puzzles and gadgets. If you
are not interested in what is inside, you can take a walk around the park
surrounding the area. The planetarium conducts regular shows daily at 2,
4 and 6 PM.
Mananchira
The
Mananchira square is more or less the icon of Kozhikode. The royal chira (tank)
originally belonged to King Mana Vikrama. Today, there is a whole
complex outside the tank in which there are buildings like the Commonwealth
Trust Factory, Town Hall, Lalitakala Academy Hall, the Jama’atpalli Mosque, the
Mucchandipalli Mosque, the Kuttichera tank etc. The Jama’atpalli Mosque is
reputed to be the one with the largest floor area in Kerala. The
Kuttichera tank has the distinction of being holy to both Hindus and Muslims.
The ‘Manamchira Maidanam’ or ground is still used today for various
festivals.
Sweet Meat Street (Midhayitheruvu)
The
Midhayitheruvu is also a part of the identity of the city. As the name
suggests, rows of shops displaying halwa (a sweet) of different colors-red,
yellow, black and green and other sweetmeats can be found here, besides many
others.
The Pazhassi Raja Museum
History
buffs are bound to enjoy a visit to this museum which has on display prints of
age-old murals, other antique artifacts and coins made of bronze, megalithic
relics etc. Nearby is the V.K. Krishna Menon art gallery, which showcases
paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Raja Varma. Both the artists belonged to
the Travancore royal family. The paintings, done in oil, depict scenes from the
day to day life of the royal family, from Hindu mythology etc. The gallery also
has on display a set of items which were used by V.K Krishna Menon, national
leader and former Defense Minister.
CVN Kalari Sangam
The
centre, located at Nadakavu, is dedicated to one of the most spectacular of
martial art forms of Kerala, Kalaripayattu. The centre has produced some
very famous Kalari exponents. Tourists can watch live demonstrations of the
art, which involves the sword and supreme
agility.
The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
Bird
lovers can have a blast at the Kadalundi Sanctuary, which is home to a host of
local as well as migratory birds. The feathered visitors include
terns, gulls, herons, sandpipers and more.
Thusharagiri waterfalls
The
Thusharagiri Waterfalls is as beautiful as its name. Nearby the waterfall are
plantations of spices, ginger and pepper. A drive through one of these is bound
to be an exhilarating experience. The Peruvannamuzhi dam and its surrounding
areas also make for a good picnic spot; fresh air, greenery, walks through the
forests, you can have all this and more here. The best way to drink in the
beauty around would be to take a slow boat cruise along the reservoir. The area
also has a bird sanctuary and a crocodile farm. If you want to do something a
bit more ‘wild,’ you can make a visit to one of the uninhabited islands here.
Kakkayam also has a dam; the site around the dam is ideal for trekking and rock
climbing.
Kunjali Marakkar’s residence
Kunjali
Murakkar was a naval captain of the kings of yore and is known for his valor.
He led and won many battles against the Portuguese. Infuriated by his
consistent victories, the Portuguese played a devious trick on him and had him
beheaded in Goa. After the killing, they did something even more gruesome; they
brought the head over to Kozhikode and displayed it on a pole. The house today
contains the sword, cannon etc. used by Marakakar.
Beypore
Beypore
was once one of the most prominent port and fishing centre of Kozhikode.
It was also a major ship building centre visited by merchants from all over the
world. Even today, the boat building yard can be seen where Urus (Arabian trade
vessel) are still manufactured.
Mishkal Masjid
The
Masjid, located at Kuttichira, is one of the oldest mosques in the whole of
Kerala. The structure was originally a splendid affair, with four storeys
supported by wooden pillars. It was built by a trader named
Mishkal, after whom it has been named. The mosque however was burned down by
the Portugese; the only thing standing today is the charred remains.
Things To Do
•
Take a walk along the streets of Thekkeppuram, the western part of Kozhikode,
which is not a tourist spot per se. The area is one of the oldest in the city;
some of the houses here are nearly 500 years old. These houses are also simply
huge, containing antique furniture and 30-40 rooms inside, each with a specific
purpose. You might be able to learn more about traditional Kerala architecture,
customs and traditions from one of these houses than from a
museum.
•
Drive along the road by the beach by the fishermen’s houses. The air will smell
of fish, but the road is entirely traffic free; you can also watch the
fishermen at their jobs with their nets.
•
Watch the frolicking dolphins at dolphin’s point, near the Kozhikode beach. The
sight of the dolphins jumping and playing about in the early morning sun is
just wonderful.
•
Take a houseboat cruise down the network of backwaters of the Kallai river and
the Canoli Canal.
•
Watch the sunset from the bridge over the Kallai River. You can also catch
glimpses of rafts passing by, made of timber logs tied together.
Local Festivals
The
month long Malabar Shopping Festival,
very popular with tourists, is more or less modeled on the Dubai shopping
festival. Besides the shopping, the festival offers a range of events like
water sports, para-gliding, bungee jumping etc. There will also be performances
of traditional dance, music and other art forms. A flower show, handicraft
exhibition, a marine aquarium stall, film festival, and a food festival are
some of the other attractions of the festival.
Shopping
Look
out for the wafer-thin banana chips and halwa seasoned with dry fruits in
Midhayitheruvu. Court road is the ideal destination for buying spices. If you
are looking for souvenirs and knick knacks, head for the Chemnotti Theruvu
which has a range of bell metal artifacts for sale.