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Calicut: Definition from Answers.com

  ?Kozhikode
Kerala • India

Map indicating the location of Kozhikode

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Location of Kozhikode
Coordinates: 11°′N 75°′E / 11.25, 75.77
Time zone IST ([[UTC+5:30]])
Area
• Elevation
•  m ( ft)
District(s) Kozhikode
Population  (2001)
Mayor M. Bhaskaran
Website: kozhikode.nic.in

Coordinates: 11°′N 75°′E / 11.25, 75.77

For the district with the same name, see Kozhikode District.

Kozhikode Sound pronunciation? in (Malayalam കോഴിക്കോട് ; IPA: [ko:ɹikko:ɖ]), was also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom, and later of the erstwhile Malabar District.

Name

The word Calicut is the anglicized version of the persian name kozhikooth-means 'hen of Truth'. Traditionally Calicut was a world famous port for trading and it has a long time relationship with Amercan peninsula. As is common with several place names in Kerala, most non-native speakers find it difficult to pronounce the retroflex approximant (IPA symbol: ɻ) in local name 'Kozhikode', hence its called Calicut in ouside world. Tipu Sultan, during the conquest of Malabar, unsuccessfully attempted to change the name of the city to Ferozabad.

History

Zheng He's navigation chart from Hormuz to Calicut, 1430

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Zheng He's navigation chart from Hormuz to Calicut, 1430

The ports of the Malabar Coast have participated in the Indian Ocean trade in spices, silk, and other goods for over two millennia. There are documented visits in as early as the 14th century, by Chinese travellers such as Zheng He[1]. Kozhikode had emerged as the centre of an independent kingdom by the 14th century, whose ruler was known as the Samoothirippadu (often anglicised as Zamorin). Thus Calicut came to be called the City of Zamorins

In the year 1498 Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at 'Kappad', about 25 km from Calicut city.

During the 16th century, the Portuguese set up trading posts to the north in Kannur and to the south in Kochi, but the Zamorin resisted the establishment of a permanent Portuguese presence in the city. In 1509 though, the kingdom was forced to accept a Portuguese trading post in Chaliyar[citation needed]. The Samoothirippadu later allied with Portuguese's rivals, the Dutch, and by the mid-17th century the Dutch had captured the Malabar Coast spice trade from the Portuguese. In 1766 Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikode and much of the northern Malabar Coast and came into conflict with the British based in Madras, which resulted in four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Kozhikode and the surrounding districts were among the territories ceded to the British by Tipu Sultan of Mysore at the conclusion of the Third Anglo-Mysore War in 1792. The newly acquired possessions on the Malabar Coast were organized into the Malabar District of Madras Presidency, and Calicut became the district capital.

After Indian Independence in 1947, Madras Presidency became the Madras State. In 1956, the Indian states were reorganized along linguistic lines. Malabar District was combined with the state of Travancore-Cochin to form the new state of Kerala on November 1 1956. Malabar District was split into the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad on January 1 1957.

Geography

Kozhikode is located at 11.25° N 75.77° E[2]. It has an average elevation of 1 metre (3 feet). There are many number of rivers and lakes in the district. Chaliyar puzha,Kallayi Puzha Poonoor puzha and Iravanjhi puzha are some amongst them.

Climate

The district has a generally humid climate with a very hot season extending from March to May. The main rainy season is during the South West Monsoon, which sets in the first week of June and extends up to September. The North East Monsoon extends from the second half of October through November. The average annual rainfall is 3266 mm. The best weather is found towards the end of the year, in December and January—the skies are clear, and the air is crisp. The highest temperature recorded was 39.4 °C in March 1975. The lowest was 14 °C recorded on 26 December 1975.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census[1], Kozhikode had a population of 436,530. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kozhikode has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 82%. In Kozhikode, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

People

Hindus constitute the majority of the population, followed by the Muslim and a few Christian communities respectively. Most of the Muslim population of Kozhikode District are known as Mappilas. Here we find a great tradition of Mappila cuisine developed over centuries. The famous "Malabar biriyani" is only one among them. Compared to other parts of Kerala , Calicut's cuisine is very tasty and unique. Local people are very nice and helping in nature.

More than anything they love football. There are a number of fan clubs of Argentina and Brazil and all other major international teams are very much active in this small western coast city of India. There also exist a few hundred Gujaratis who are predominantly merchants and traders.

Media

Kozhikode occupies a prominent place in the history of Malayalam journalism. The origin of journalism in this district can be traced back to 1880. The Kerala Pathrika is likely to be the earliest newspaper published from Kozhikode. Keralam, Kerala Sanchari and Bharath Vilasam are among the other newspapers that were published from Kozhikode before 1893. Kozhikode is the birth place of one of the top Malayalam dailies "Mathrubhumi".

Many prominent writers of Malayalam literature are from this city. Among them are M T Vasudevan Nair, S K Pottekkadu and Thikkodian.

The Kozhikode station of All India Radio was commissioned on 14 May 1950. It has two transmitters, Kozhikode AM of 100 kilowatt power and Kozhikode FM (Vividh Bharathi) of 10 kilowatt power. A television transmitter has been functioning in Kozhikode from 3 July 1984, relaying programmes from Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Doordarshan.

Places of interest

  • Kozhikode Beach
  • Mananchira Square named after the pond Mananchira about a square-kilometre in area situated in the heart of the city. It is named after Manadevan the erstwhile ruler of Zamoothiri Kingdom, known as Mana-devan's Chira(Pond) and later transformed to Mana-an-Chira.
  • Art gallery and Krishna Menon Museum at East Hill in Kozhikode
  • Lalitha Kala Academy: An art gallery adjacent to the Kozhikode town hall
  • Planetarium
  • Thusharagiri: A waterfall situated about 55 km from Calicut Railway Station
  • Kozhippara waterfalls is located at the eastern side of the district and offers a good trekking experience.
  • Pavayil Cheerpu-a wonder land
  • Kappad Beach: 17 km from Calicut city, this is where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498
  • Peruvannamuzhi[1]

Beypore

View of Kallai river

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View of Kallai river

Beypore is a port city situated 10 km south of Calicut at the mouth of chaliyar river. Beypore is famous for its ancient shipbuilding industry, which constructed uru, the traditional trading vessels of Arabs. The 2km break-water made of stone is another attraction.

Major Temples in Kozhikode

Culture and cuisine

In the field of Malayalam language and literature, Kozhikode has made many significant contributions. The district is famous for folk songs or ballads known as Vadakkan Pattukal. The most popular songs among them are those which celebrate the exploits of Thacholi Othenan. One of the favourite past times of the Muslims of the district is singing Mappila pattu and Oppana. The songs are composed in a composite language of Arabic and Malayalam. The famous intellectual debate for Vedic scholars to win the coveted position of Pattathanam takes place at Thali temple during the month of Thulam. Kozhikode also has strong associations with ghazals and football.

The city also has a strong mercantile streak to it. The main area of business was once the Valiyangadi (Big Bazaar) near the Calicut railway station and as time progressed it shifted to other parts of the city. Now the major vein of commerce is the Mittai Theruvu, a long street crammed with shops that sell everything from sarees to cosmetics, and house restaurants to sweetmeat shops. The name Mithai Theruvu or S M Street comes from the famous Kozhikode Halwa which was often called the Sweet Meat by European traders. The multicultural mix of Kozhikode ensures that Onam, Christmas and Id-ul-Fitr (the festivals of the Hindus, Christians and Muslims) are celebrated with equal pomp.

Kozhikode offers fare for every palate. Vegetarian fare includes the sadya. However, the non-vegetarian food offered in the city is a unique mix of Muslim and Hindu preparations. Some popular dishes include the Biriyani, Ghee Rice with meat curry, sea-food (prawns, mussels, mackerel) and paper thin Pathiris to provide accompaniment to spicy gravy. Another well known Kozhikode speciality is banana chips, which are made crisp and wafer thin.

See also

Educational institutions in Kozhikode district

Notables

Trivia

The name Calico is derived from the name of the city of Calicut. It is a type of cotton that is used a lot in soft furnishing. It was one of the first export commodities to the European nations. Calico was made by the traditional weavers of calicut called 'chaliyans'. Peruvayal panchayat is the largest panchayat in Calicut district.

External links

References

  1. ^ India
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Topics

History | Economy | Geography | Flora and Fauna | Culture | Arts | Tourism
Districts

Alappuzha | Ernakulam | Idukki | Kannur | Kasaragod | Kollam | Kottayam | Kozhikode | Malappuram | Palakkad | Pathanamthitta | Thiruvananthapuram | Thrissur | Wayanad
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