Kerala
Kozhikode: Explore The Coastal Paradise Of Flavors!
Kozhikode is a culturally and naturally scenic city in the south Indian state of Kerala. The historical prominence of the city is also quite remarkable talking about its tourism aspect of it. During colonial times, the spice trade was extensive in the region.
The markets that developed around the same spice trade are quite active even today. Kappad Beach is another important landmark location in the territory of Kozhikode often mentioned in our history textbooks while talking about the Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama.
The city of Kozhikode is also known as Calicut and this is the anglicized version of the same. Beach tourism in the city is the most happening one right now attracting domestic and international tourists around the year. Below we have listed a few best Kozhikode tourist places.
Table of Contents
S.M. Street
S.M. Street is a commercial street in the heart of the city of Kozhikode. The full form of this abbreviation is ‘Sweetmeat Street’. The city of Kozhikode is quite popular for its dessert called ‘Halva’. In the local version, this particular street is also known as ‘Mittayi Theruvu’.
No vehicles are allowed on the street so that the tourists can enjoy the sights and indulge in shopping without the honking and disturbances of traffic. A Hindu temple located inside the street is also another attraction of the same.
This particular temple is believed to have an ancientness of around 160 years. It is popularly known as the Fire Temple of SM Street. Trying Halva from the stores on the street would be one of the most delicious experiences you can have by visiting the city of Calicut.
Kozhikode Beach
This is one of the major tourist hubs in the city of Kozhikode. People from neighboring districts and international tourists make it a point to visit this particular location while they are on a vacation in the city.
For domestic tourists, this beach is the most preferred weekend hang-out spot in the city. The street foods and pickled items available on the beach attract quite a lot of foodies from different parts of the nation.
The statues found in the lanes of the beach are also quite attractive and impressive for history and aesthetic buffs. You can also indulge in the cultural paintings done on the walls of the beach. These paintings give you the perfect picturesque location to click some pictures for your social media handles. The Lions Park is set nearby the beach make sure that your kids are also engaged during the visit.
Mananchira Square
Mananchira Square is an ideal hang-out spot during the evenings while exploring the city of Kozhikode. You would be able to see a lot of old age people sitting in groups here and discussing multitudes of topics such as cinema, literature, politics and also some silly talks.
This place would give you the perfect cultural vibes of the city. It is located in the heart of the city and it also lies adjacent to the SM Street mentioned above. The pond of Mananchira inside the Square is also quite popular since it is the main source of water for the people living in the city.
Even in the scorching sun, visiting this square would be a great relief since it is filled with a lot of trees and shades.
Thusharagiri Waterfalls
Even though this picturesque waterfall comes under the city of Kozhikode, it is quite far away from the city center of the same. This waterfall is located on the Kozhikode – Wayanad route and can be accessed through road transport.
Chalippuzha River is where we can spot this particular waterfall. A bunch of tourists can be seen in the surroundings of the fall. People hit this location to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. 75 meters is the cascading measurement of the waterfall.
The snowy spray-like appearance of the waterfall is also quite mesmerizing. If you would like to indulge in some natural goodness, this would be an ideal location to add to your itinerary while visiting the city of Kozhikode.
Kappad Beach
Even though extremely significant in the historical aspect of the city of Kozhikode, this particular beach lies quite far away from the city center of Kozhikode. It is located in the Koyilandi region of the district. ‘Kappakadav’ is the regional name of Kappad.
It is a rural area on the outskirts of the city. However, tourists are seen visiting this particular beach respecting its historical aspect of it. High-end beach resorts and spas are also seen in the location of this particular beach.
This would be an off-beat destination catering to you with some refreshing and relaxing vibes. To remark on the landing of Vasco da Gama, a stone monument is also built on the beach which is an attraction and photo spot for the tourists visiting the location.
Beypore Beach And Dolphin Point
Beypore Beach is also located a few kilometers away from the heart of the city. However, the tourism initiatives taken by the government have started attracting a significant crowd of visitors to this particular beach also.
This particular beach is also a confluence region of the river Chaliyar and the Arabian Sea. The presence of this estuary makes this beach much more attractive. A bridge constructed across the sea for tourist hang out is also one of the prominent features of the beach. You can also spot a lot of fishermen tribes in the location of the beach.
If you would like to explore their lifestyle and culture, visiting this beach would be a great choice. Dolphin’s Point is also another attraction that you can visit during the early morning hours to see the dolphins playing in the water.
Kozhikode Planetarium / Regional Science Center
This is another important tourist destination you can consider visiting while you are on a vacation in the city of Kozhikode. This center attracts a big bunch of science enthusiasts to the location. You can hit the location of the science center anytime between 10:30 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening.
3D shows are also shown in the center and if you would like to watch the show, make sure you are there in the location during the particular time slots. Planetarium would not be open on Mondays so plan your visits accordingly.
There is also an entry fee to access the location. If you are taking your kids along with you, there are a lot of things to excite them in the location.
Thali Temple
This is a Hindu pilgrim destination in the city of Kozhikode. Hindu believers of the city are seen visiting this temple quite often to pay their respects. The pond nearby the temple is quite picturesque and perfect for clicking some photos of your Kozhikode vacation.
Lord Shiva is the main deity worshipped inside the shrine of the temple. A greater footfall is witnessed in the temple during auspicious occasions such as Mahasivaratri. The ancientness of the temple is also attractive and is also one of the important reasons why tourists make it a point to visit this particular temple during their Kozhikode visit.
According to the records available, this temple was built in the 14th century. If you are traveling from Kozhikode Railway Station, you can easily get to the location of the temple at a distance of 1 km.
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
This is another tourist attraction in the territory of the city of Kozhikode. This would be perfect if you are fond of nature, biodiversity, and some peaceful vibes. Migratory birds are the major attraction of this particular location.
This bird sanctuary is formed by a group of islands and there are chances to enjoy island tourism by visiting the location. You can also have access to boat rides which would help you indulge in the visuals of lush green mangrove forests and a wide variety of migratory birds.
According to the records, a total of 60 different species of migratory birds are found in the location. November to April would be the best season for you if you would like to explore the birds and indulge in their lovely living.
Pazhassi Raja Museum & Krishnan Menon Art Gallery
This would be an ideal destination for those history buffs visiting the city of Kozhikode. You can explore and understand the history and heritage of the city of Kozhikode by having a visit to the destination.
More than that, the surroundings of the museum and art gallery are quite quaint so that you can have some quality time with yourself. The royal past, the colonial history, and a lot of other things are also displayed in the territory of this museum.
This particular museum is located on the East Hill side of the city. 1976 is the year that this particular museum and art gallery got established in the territory of Kozhikode.
Best Time To Visit Kozhikode
October – February
How To Reach Kozhikode?
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode Railway Station (CLT)
Conclusion
Coastal vacation with elements of culture, heritage, pilgrimage, and more.
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