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Glorious Past of Calicut(Kozhikode)

In North Kerala lies the area which the legendary traveller Marco Polo described in 1320 A.D. as the "great province of Malabar". Much of this richness today lies buried in the glory of a past grandeur, a past replete with the trading visits of European voyagers calling on the ancient port of Kozhikode (/kOzhikOd/) on their regular journeys of commerce, lured by timber, ivory, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and other spices.

The great traveller Ibn Batuta, who visited Kozhikode at least six times in the mid-13th c. wrote ofthe prosperity he saw: "The greater part of the Mohammadan merchants are so wealthy that one of them can purchase the whole freightage of such vessels as put in here and fit out others like them".

Vasco recieved by Zamorin

After the 13th c. Kozhikode grew in importance as a port and the capital of the powerful kingdom of the Samoothiris or the Zamorins, as they were called by the Portugese. In fact, some historians say that Kozhikode derives its name from the fortified palace (`koyil kotta') built by a Samoothiri ruler.

Kozhikode's commercial glory was also praised by the Arab traveller Abdur Razzak in 1443 A.D.: "Kozhikode is a perfectly secured harbour, which, like that of Ormuz, brings together merchants from every city and from every country". Interestingly, Kozhikode has lent its English name, Calicut, to `calico', the fine variety of handwoven cotton cloth said to have originated from this place.

Vasco Memorial at kappad

Kozhikode was also Vasco da Gama's first halt in India. He set foot on the sands of Kappad (/kAppAd/) beach, north of today's city, on 27 May 1498 A.D., a landing commerated by a small stone monument at the beach. This event marked the beginning of a new epoch in world history and specifically in the history of Kerala. Against the backdrop of bitter rivalries between local rulers began a period of unbroken strife among foreign powers for the domination of the trade in Malabar.

Today, Kozhikode is an important trading centre for timber and tiles, and other moderns buisness establishments and hunting ground for that famous delicacy `Calicut halwa'.

SOME FACTS
District Area : 2,345 sq. km (as per Mal. Manorama, 1994)
City Area : 30.61 sq. km
District Pop. : 2,612,897 (as per Mal. Manorama, 1994)
City Pop. : 419, 531
Climate : Tropical
Altitude : 0 ft. (Sea level)
Temperature : Mean Max. Mean Min. (in degrees Celsius)
Summer : 35 22.5
Winter : 32 22
Rainfall : 254 cm. (ann.)
Clothing : Tropical cottons
Tourist season : September to May

SOME DISTANCES (in km)

Bangalore : 354
Guruvayoor : 129
Kanyakumari : 534
Kasargod : 208
Kochi : 224
Kottakal : 48
Mananthavady : 110
Mangalore : 74
Silent Valley : 138
Sultanbatheri : 98
Thekkady : 356
Tvm. : 445

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