Velleri Mala Waterfalls

Verdant, rolling landscape, with numerous brooks, cascades and breathtaking waterfalls, Vellari Mala offers is a true abode for you to unwind and to immerse in the whiff of its limitless fresh air. River Kanjirapuzha, a tributary of the River Chaliyar, meanders through the rocky terrain, creating cascades and breathtaking waterfalls at many points. The land's beauty and topography is truly a trekker's paradise and is also an ideal picnic spot for people of all age group to have a good time. Vellari Mala is situated near Thusharagiri is in Kozhikode district. Scintillating waterfalls and velvet green landscapes make this an ideal spot for trekking.

Nearest railway station: Nilambur, about 26 km

Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport, about 40 km

Peruvannamoozhy Dam

Peruvannamoozhy, a scenic village located 60 km from Perambra in Kozhikode, Kerala has been included in the list of eco-tourism destinations in Kerala with the Tourism Minister inaugurating the eco-tourism project here on August 10, 2008. This 130.70 million rupee project at Peruvannamoozhy site being implemented by Pannikkottur Vana Samrakshana Samiti and is funded by Kerala Tourism. There is a dam at Peruvannamoozhy. The Peruvannamoozhy dam site set amid hills is a beautiful picnic spot.The region offers immense scope for picnicking. Janakikadu near Peruvannamoozhy is a thick forest which attracts thousands of tourists every year.There is a wide variety of birds in this forest.

An ecological hotspot in the Western Ghats, the eco tourism destination of Peruvannamoozhy is home to over 680 species of rare plants. The facilities available here include wild animal rehabilitation centre, bird sanctuary, crocodile farm, Snake Park, spice garden, trekking and boating. The reservoir here provides facilities for speedboat and rowboat cruises. There is a beautiful garden called Smaraka Thottam,which is built in the memory of the freedom fighters of the region. Uninhabited islands add to the charm of the place.

Peruvannamoozhy is a fascinating eco tourism centre is the water spread area of Peruvannamuoozhy reservoir in Kozhikode district. It is an excellent area for understanding the conservation benefits provided by forests.Rich in wildlife, birdlife and butterfly population, the area is an ideal location for nature enthusiasts. The irrigation dam and the garden nearby are added attractions. As part of eco tourism initiatives; the following facilities have been created:

As such, the dams and water reservoirs of Kerala are being planned to be turned into tourist hotspots under the eco-tourism initiatives of Kerala Tourism. A committee has been formed for this purpose with the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources, in the lead. The plan proposes to execute the development of basic facilities in fifty odd eco tourism centres in Kerala including Peruvannamoozhy. The quarters near such reservoirs and dams will be modified into hotels with all modern amenities.

Kakkayam Dam

Kakkayam is a dam site located in Kozhikode of Kerala state surrounded by lush greenery.The distance is about 15 km from Kakkayam Bus stop. 'Orakkuzhi' is a waterfall located just after the Dam. Near the dam location, different animals including elephants can be seen.

There is a forest office at top of the dam. You need to take permission from the Forest authorities before going ahead. Cameras are not allowed near Dam area. It is a scenic place which offers a serene environment with a lot of recreational activities to the visitors. Near the dam location, elephants, bisons and other animals can be seen roaming around. The conservation of this place comes under the forest police.

Boating is provided at the Kakkayam dam to give the visitors a lively experience the boat safari is of 15-minutes. Through boating, people can view the two waterfalls which cannot be accessed by road.

Outdoor activities like trekking are provided here for the visitors. Trekkers whether young or old visit this place and enjoy trekking near this dam. Another activity performed here is rock climbing as the surrounding area is very suitable for the activity.

Thusharagiri waterfalls

Caressed in the folds of the Western Ghats is the picturesque Thusharagiri Waterfalls. Lying 50 km from Kozhikode, the Thusharagiri Waterfalls comprises Erattumukku, Mazhavil Chattom, and Thumbithullum Para which can be reached through trekking. Thusharagiri or 'mist capped peaks' gets its name from the beautiful silvery crown formed at the mountain top due to the waterfalls. The nature here will transport to a different dimension where time itself comes to a standstill.

Having a dip in the cool water here is highly recommended as well, to revive one’s body and mind. The atmosphere on the way to waterfalls is filled with the aroma of various plantations that are on every traveller’s wishlist like arecanut, pepper, ginger and spices.

Mist capped peaks, ebullient streams, boisterous waterfalls, dramatic backdrops of lush woods and plantations makes it is a wonderful destination to enjoy nature at its finest.

Nearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 50 km

Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport, about 23 km from Kozhikode town

Vatakara

Vatakara (also spelled Badagara or Vadakara) is a coastal town in the Kozhikode district, state of Kerala, India; spread over an area of 21.32 km2. It is the headquarters of Vatakara taluk. This place is erstwhile Kadathanadu and was part of North Malabar province of Malabar District, state of Madras during British Raj. Vatakara is the second biggest town in the Kozhikode.The Lokanaarkav temple is situated in vatakara.

Vatakara is located at 11.60°N 75.58°E. It has an average elevation of 15 m (49 ft). Geographically, Vatakara is situated about 45 km to the north of Kozhikode City, approximately 44 km to the south of Kannur City and it is proximate to Mahe (Mahe district). This is the third largest town of North Malabar. The town lies by the side of a river known by different names as Moorad river, Kuttiady river or Kotakkal river. Originally known as Vadakkekara (north shore) due to its position with respect to the Kottakkal puzha, the place came to be called as Vatakara by popular usage later. This city name was also spelled as Badagara in English. Vatakara is also one of the most famous city in the district of Kozhikode. It has a good beach called Sand Banks that's near Vatakara municipality, mosques and traditional homes, giving the entire area a quaint charm. The entire square is bordered by a laterite-sculpted wall. The Square houses many important buildings including the Public Library, Town Hall and Commonwealth Trust office.

Mananchira Square

Mananchira Square is a pretty park in the heart of Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala. This maidan (expansive green) is a lovely spot with an artificial hill, open air theater and a musical fountain; the verdant landscape with trees and plants adds to its appeal.

Mananchira Square has been named after an artificial freshwater lake, Mananchira. The lake itself takes its name from Manadevan Samoothri, a former ruler of Kozhikode. It was initially called Mana-vedan Chira (pond) and later changed to Mana-an-Chira. The rectangular lake sprawls across an area of 3.49 acres (14,120 m2) and is fed by a natural spring.

Mananchira Square attracts locals and tourists alike as this leafy park is a great spot to spend a relaxed evening. The park, being in the center of the city, is easily accessible. It is close to the Central Library and the Police Commissioner’s office.

Mananchira Square is an idyllic spot in the heart of Kozhikode. Its landscaped lawns, musical fountain and the charming ambience make it an ideal place to relax and enjoy some fresh air. There is an imposing arch at the entrance guarded by Tipu Sultan’s canons. The park is surrounded by traditional Kerala style buildings including temples churches, mosques and traditional homes, giving the entire area a quaint charm. The entire square is bordered by a laterite-sculpted wall. The Square houses many important buildings including the Public Library, Town Hall and Commonwealth Trust office.

Dolphin's Point Park

Dolphin’s Point is a beautiful, lengthy tree-lined beach. Its major attraction, of course, is the sighting of dolphins, something that delights kids and adults alike. This apart, the beach has two piers, a Lion’s Club Park and a lighthouse. If you are lucky, you could spot frolicking dolphins not just in the early mornings but in the evenings too. Sunset views from Dolphin’s Point are truly magical.

Pazhassiraja Museum

A veritable treasure trove for historians and connoisseurs of art, the Pazhassiraja Museum is located in Kozhikode. The Pazhassi Raja Museum & Art Gallery adjacent to the museum displays the acclaimed paintings of Kerala's cherished artists, Raja Ravi Varma (1848 - 1906) whose works brought international repute to the State and his uncle Raja Raja Varma.

The museum is managed by the State Archaeology Department and has on display mural paintings, antique bronzes, ancient coins, models of temples, umbrella stones, dolmenoid cists (quadrangular burial chambers with capstones), and similar megalithic monuments. For more information on Ravi Varma's works, refer 'The prince among painters and a painter among princes'.

The museum and the art gallery are named after the great Pazhassiraja Kerala Varma of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam royal family. The famous 'Pazhassi Revolt' (against the British East India Company during the second half of the 1700s) was led by Pazhassiraja. Nicknamed the Lion of Kerala, Pazhassiraja is also credited with introducing guerilla warfare in the hills of Wayanad to resist the increasingly intolerable British colonialism. This great freedom fighter was shot dead in an encounter on 30 November 1805.

Visiting Hours: 0900 - 1630 hrs; Break 1300 - 1400 hrs. Closed on Mondays and other public holidays.

Nearest railway station: Kozhikode

Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport, about 23 km from Kozhikode town

Kozhikode Beach

Kozhikode will always have a special place in the history of Kerala as it is here that Vasco Da Gama first landed and the legendary Spice Route came into existence. This region still has a historic charm to it. Kozhikode Beach is the personification of the numerous characteristics that make Kozhikode so unique.

People flock in large numbers to view the sunset from the beach. One gets a fresh supply of seafood in the shacks that surround the place. Kallumakaya (mussels) is a local favourite. A walk to Dolphins Point at dawn ensures a meeting with playful dolphins. You are also greeted by a majestic lighthouse and two piers opening into the sea. Both have been here for over a hundred years. Children flock to Lions Park and the nearby marine water aquarium which is open on all days from 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs.

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 3 km

Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport, about 29 km

Kappad

Kappad, or Kappakadavu locally, is a beach near Kozhikode, in the district of the same name, Kerala, India. Kappakkadavu - A stone monument installed by government commemorates the "landing" by Vasco da Gama with the inscription, 'Vasco da Gama landed here, Kappakadavu, in the year 1498'.

In 2007 a Rs. 1.5 crore program to beautify the beach was launched by [Kerala] Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. It is now completed and Kappad beach has a corniche and park. The park includes a restroom, restaurant and seating.

The nearest major railway station is Koyilandy, about 10 km away from Kappad. The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport (CCJ), which is about 25 km from the town of Kozhikode. Private transport buses are available from the main bus stand, or visitors can reach the beach by stopping at Thiruvangoor on National Highway 66 between Kozhikode and Vadakara.

Beypore

Beypore or Beypur is an ancient port town and a locality town in Kozhikode district in the state of Kerala, India. The place was formerly known as Vaypura / Vadaparappanad. Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, named the town "Sultan Pattanam". There is a marina and a beach while Beypore port is one of the oldest ports in Kerala, which historically traded with the Middle East. Beypore is noted for building wooden ships, known as dhows or urus in the Malayalam language. These ships were usually bought by Arab merchants for trading and fishing but are now used as tourist ships. According to Captain Iwata, founder member of the Association of Sumerian ships in Japan, Sumerian ships might have been built in Beypore. There is evidence to prove that Beypore had direct trade links with Mesopotamia and was a prominent link on the maritime silk route.

Beypore was ruled by four Kovilakams - Karippa Puthiyakovilakam, Manayat Kovilakam, Nediyaal Kovilakam and Panagad Kovilakam. As the Gazetteers explain, the Beypore amsam itself had four Kovilakams called - Manayatt kovilakam, Nediyal kovilakom, Puthiya kovilakom and the Panangat kovilakom belonging to the family of the Beypore branch of the Parappanad family. So we have North and South Parappanad factions to start with, branching off the Parappur lordship. The North faction was further split into Beypore, Cheruvannor and Panniyankara Kovilakoms. Considering that Ravi Varma and his brother mentioned Beypore and the specific Manayyat location, let us for a moment assume Raja Ravi Varma hailed from the forerunners of the present Manayyat kovilakom.

Raja Raja Varma in his diary states - Near this ‘Beypore’ Kovilakam or house is a temple of Vettakaruman or the Hunter God which it is said and acknowledged by its present owners, the Manayam Rajahs, once belonged to us of the Tattari Kovilakam house, by which our family was known. Based on all the above, I would assume that the original Parappanad rajas named their home the Tattari Kovilakom. It is from this home, which incidentally is further linked to the Kolathunad Rajas (Kolathiris) that various rulers (such as Marthanda Varma) and consorts as well as adoptees to the Travancore kingdom originated. Of course as we see, the ruling kind usually reserved the right on the name raja and took affront to another cousin using the title while a raja was in power and complained, but then again, Ravi Varma in reality had some self-projection in mind, as we note. Now let us study the relations between the Parappanad Kovilakoms and the Travancore royal family to see where and how Ravi Varma fits in.

It is believed that the Beypore Siva Temple protects the whole kingdom. Beypore was thronged first by Romans and afterwards by Chinese, Syrians, Arabs and in recent centuries by Europeans for trade. Beypore has long history of being a centre for shipbuilding since the first century AD, and it was further expanded under the East India Company during the early nineteenth century. The Indian Ocean trade started from ancient times and strengthened during the medieval times. While in the old days Malabar directly traded with the Greeks and Romans, it concentrated on exchanges with the Middle Eastern ports in the medieval times. This exchange of goods resulted also in transfer of people from their abodes. While it is mentioned that Malabari’s were found along African ports and even Egypt’s, it was mostly Arabs who migrated to the Malabar coasts, mainly to administer, control and conduct the trade with their brethren in Yemen, Basra and Egyptian ports. Beypore was virtually free port with only an export import duty imposed by the ruling Zamorins. The intermediaries between the Arabs and the Nairs were the Moplah’s (themselves a community started by the intermingling Arab men and local women from ancient times). Also the south east Malay ports sent ships to Malabar for the cloth from Kerala, until British cloth took its place later in the 19th century. It was also a stop over for Hajj pilgrims from south east Asia. The Arab settlers in Malabar even had African slaves during that period. The internationally well known Tasara Creative Weaving Centre which attracts textile artists and designers from all over the world is situated in North Beypore which is just one Km away from the Boat building yard.

Kozhikode

Calicut or Kozhikode is situated in the south Indian state of Kerala on the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. It was a significant spice trade center and is close to Kappad Beach, where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. The central Kozhikode Beach, overlooked by an old lighthouse, is a popular spot for watching the sunset. Inland, tree-lined Mananchira Square, with its musical fountain, surrounds the massive Mananchira Tank, an artificial pond.

History

There is not much known of the early history of Calicut except for some prehistoric rock-cut caves that have been found at many places of the district. During the Sangam age, the district was under the Chera administration until AD 1122. This was the time when this region was a major center of trade between Kerala and the outside world. The city of Calicut came into existence in the 13th century when Udaiyavar, the king of Ernad, conquered the area around Ponniankar and built a fort at a place called Velapuram, now known as Calicut. Interestingly, the name Calicut is derived from 'calico,' the fine variety of hand-woven cotton cloth said to have originated from this place.

The outer world came to know about India in 1498 when Vasco da Gama came to Calicut and obtained permission to carry out trade from here. Quickly in succession came the English and Dutch. Disputes over the control of Calicut continued for a long time until 1792, when the East India Company went into an agreement with the local Zamori rulers to directly administer this area. Kerala was declared a state in 1956, and Calicut today is one of the most important centers of trade and business in this progressive state.

Fairs & Festivals

The most important festivals of the district are Pooram Festival (March/April), Memunda (March/April), Vadakara (November/December), Kaliatta Mahotasavam (March), and Shivratri (February/March).

Best Time to Visit

Due to its nearness to sea, the place has a hot and humid climate. Summer starts from March and continues until May. Maximum temperature recorded in the month of May is 36°C and minimum temperature recorded in the month of December is 14°C. Southwest monsoon arrives in the first week of June and average annual rainfall is 254 cm.

Tourist Attractions

Kappad is the place where Vasco da Gama set foot for the first time when he came to India on May 27, 1498. There is a small stone monument at the beach to commemorate that event.

Pazhassirajah Museum is located on the East Hill. It is run by the State Archeological Department. Ancient mural paintings, antique bronzes, old coins, models of temples, and megalithic structures are on display here. Situated next to Pazhassirajah Museum is an art gallery displaying paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.

Dolphin's Point is a good place to watch dolphins playing in the sea early in the morning. On this beach are also situated Calicut Town Center, Lions Club, and a lighthouse.

Two crumbling piers, more than hundred years old, stand out into sea at Kozhikode beach. The beach is easily accessible from the city and provides a good view of the setting sun. The place also has a Marine Life Aquarium open whole day.

The Science Planetarium at Jaffarkhan Colony is the best place to unravel the mysteries of universe and enlightens about the planets and stars.

The Science Center has an interesting array of games, puzzles, and scientific gadgetry, which can keep a person busy for the whole day. The planetarium and Science Center are in the same complex.

Mananchira, which was the palace tank of King Mana Vikrama, has been now turned into a traditional architectural splendor with carpeted green grass and surrounded by ethnic buildings. The place also has a musical fountain.

Places around Calicut

Beypore (11 km) is a small coastal town known for its shipbuilding industry for centuries. It is still a favorite destination to buy large boats.

Vadakara (48 km) is a commercial center of martial arts and the birthplace of Tacholi Othenan, a legendry hero of North Malabar.

Ninety-eight kilometers away from Calicut is Tellicherry and Sultan Battery famous for their breathtaking scenery.

Thusharagiri is famous for its waterfalls and lush green forests. It is at a distance of 11 km from Kodenchery, a place abounding in rubber plantations, coconut, pepper, ginger, and spices of all sorts.

There is a dam at Kakkayam, located around 45 km from Calicut. The place offers challenging trekking and rock-climbing through river path and numerous waterfalls.

There is another dam at Peruvannamoozhy, 60 km from Calicut. It is a place of beauty, calm, and serenity. The place has a crocodile farm run by the state forest department.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary (25 km) is a heaven for migratory birds. Terns, gulls, herons, sandpipers, whimbrels, and other migratory birds flock the place from the month of November and returns only by the end of April. The ideal season to visit is from December to April in the early hours of the day.

Other places worth visiting are Velleri Mala, a beautiful location for trekking and Velliyamkallu.

Lokanarkavu Uthsavam

The Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy temple is situated at Memunda in North Kerala. It celebrates two festivals annually in the months of Vrischikam (November-December) and Meenam (March-April). The festival in Vrischikam is called Mandalavilakku and is the more important of the two.