CALICUT - KOZHIKODE
The Glory of past grandeur
In northern 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 the European voyagers calling on
the ancient port of Calicut on their regular journeys of
commerce,lured by timber,ivory, pepper, ginger, cinnamom and
other species.
The great traveller Ibn Batuta, who visited Calicut (known
as Kozhikode in Malayalam) at least six times in the mid
13th century, wrote the prosperity he saw: "The greater part
of the Mohammedan merchants of this place are so wealthy
that one of them can purchase the whole freightage of
such vessels put in here and fit out others like them".
After the 13th Century Calicut 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 Portuguese.
In fact, some historians say Calicut derives it name from
the fortified palace ('koyil kota') built by a Samoothiri
ruler.
Calicut's commercial glory was also praised by the Arab
traveller Abdur Razzak in 1443 A.D.: "Calicut is a perfectly
secured harbour, which, like that of Ormuz, brings together
merchants from every city and from every country."
Interestingly, Calicut has also lent its name to 'calico'
the fine variety of handwoven cottoncloth said to have
originated in this place.
Calicut was also Vasco da Gama's first stop in India, He set
foot on the sands of Kappad beach, north of today's city, on
27 May 1498 A.D., a landing commemorated by a small stone
monument at the beach. This even marked the beginning of a
new epoch in world 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
trade in Malabar.
Today, Calicut is an important trading centre for timber and
tiles and the shopping ground for that famous delicacy among
sweets, 'Calicut Halwa'.
Just 15 minutes drive from the city centre is a placed
called Dolphin's Point, where one can see in the early hours
of the morning dolphins playing in the sea. The beach, 2 km
from Calicut town centre, is a long stretch of tree-lined
sand popular with the local people because of the Lions Club
Park, the light house and the two piers - and of course, the
the opportunity to soadk in the evening breeze.
Located at East Hill, the Pazhassirajah Museum, run by the
State Archaeological Department, displays ancient mural
paintings, antique bronzes and old coins as well as models
of temples, megalithic monuments like dolmonoid cysts and
umbrella stones. (Timings: 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Closed on
Mondays).
Situated next to the Pazhassirajah Museum, the Art Gallery
contains paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Raja Varma.
The Krishna Menon Museum has a section in honour of the
great Indian leader V.K. Krishna Menon, whose personal
belongings and souvenirs gifted by world leaders are
exhibited here. (Timings 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Closed on Mondays
and Wednesday forenoons).
Mananchira is the heart of the city which sites important
institutions like the Town Hall and the Public Library.
One of Calicut's oldest buildings the Commonwealth Trust
Office is situated here. The large pond and the park are
well-known landmarks.
Six km away is Kallai, once the busting nerve-point of
Calicut's timber trade, said to have been the largest such
trading centre in Asia. Today, though some business take
place, hard times have fallen on the timber trade and
Kallai is just a shadow of the past.
Beypore, 11 km from Calicut, is a small coastal town known
for centuries as a ship building centre and still famous
for its country crafts called 'uru' built by the traditional
shipbuilders known as khalasis. Beypore is still a favourite
destination among Arabs shopping for large boats.
Compiled By Prasad (23rd October, 1997)
Source : Business Data India Pvt. Ltd.
