Kozhikode

Kozhikode first came into being when it was visited by Vasco de Gama in 1498 AD. The thrilling land is the amalgamation of golden coasts, verdant jungles and a rich historical heritage. Each street, fort and the beach at present bears its unspeakable stories and memory of the past. Kozhikode was a center of international trade of spices during the medieval period. The area was the apple of many eyes of invaders namely the Dutch, French and later British. In order to get control of this territory and authority over it, these foreign traders fought fierce wars in sea and on land.

According to historians, the name was derived from two words - koyil (the palace) and kotta (the fort). The neighborhood was once surrounded by the fort built by its ruler Zamorin, who encouraged trade with the Arabs by giving special concessions. It was then Kozhikode captured the imagination of many invaders. The Arabs used to call it by the name Kalikat. For the Chinese it was Kalifo and for Europeans, Calicut (Kozhikode).