Beaches, Sarees and More in Kozhikode

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Distance from Bengaluru:  275 kilometres

On one of our trips, my hubby and I decided to explore the Malabar Coast with Kozhikode, or what the colonizers formerly called Calicut, as our first destination. Our favourite traveller, Ibn Battuta is said to have visited it back in the 14C. So, you can only imagine our level of excitement!

Hitting the Road

It was a tough day on the road for us. Searching on Google Maps gives you 167.8 kms between Bekal and Kozhikode. But do not let that fool you! The narrow highway traversing through the busiest of villages, towns and cities that fall in between, combined with the notoriously rash style of driving by the bus pilots will make sure you do not reach your destination before 5 hours. Neither did we and that made us a tad grumpy. Thank heavens for the savoury breakfast we had of appam, idiyappam and puttu that put a smile back on our faces. We also had an interesting chai concoction of Ramacham which looked like potpourri but apparently had the goodness of local herbs.

This is Where it All Began

The sole reason we went to Kappad Beach was because that’s where the great Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama first landed on 20 May 1498, thereby establishing the sea route from Europe to India. An exciting feat for the world, it gets royally ignored. The so-called aging memorial to the traveller is in such a pitiable condition that Da Gama must be tossing and turning in his grave. That said, Kappad Beach still deserves a visit to see the historical moment that marked a changed in how India’s future would pan out to be. The beach is clean and gorgeous but Da Gama was the focus for me here!

Go Green

Hotel Marina Residency is easily among the most popular stay options for travellers coming to Kozhikode. Thanks to MakeMyTrip we got to stay at the hotel, which enjoys a location like no other. Practically every important sightseeing spot is within minutes of driving time. For me what worked the best were the 24-hour in-room dining service and the unique Eco message encouraging guests to be wiser regarding the use of bathroom towels. Here’s a quick-shot for you:

Viva La FIFA

Kozhikode Beach is an obvious favourite with the locals with its brilliant sunset view. But if only it was maintained that lovingly! There is a centuries-old lighthouse that retains its old world charm and perhaps the most attention-grabbing part of the beach is its two crumbling piers that run in to the sea. No one knows how old they are but they have been there for as long as anyone can remember! Two more attractions surrounding Kozhikode Beach are Lions Park and Marine Water Aquarium, especially put together for kids. And the city’s soccer fans are warming up for the FIFA World Cup. The picture here says it all.

Elathur Boating

It is a habit for Tariq, my husband, and I to look for that one high moment every single day on the My Way On Highway Road Trip. Kozhikode was yet to surprise us so we took the road less travelled to the sleepy fishing village of Elathur some 15 kms away. The reason you wonder? Folks come here from far and near for the unique boating experience it offers on the Korapuzha River while the Arabian Sea splashes across the Elathur Beach. This one-of-a-kind composition lends the humble hamlet its bewitching beauty that the inhabitants have worked very hard to preserve. An hour aboard a small brown boat gracefully led by Ashok in to the placid waters was good value for the 300 bucks we spent.

SM Street

Going to the most famous shopping area in Kozhikode had its pros and cons. Let’s start with the pros first. We got to sample the tantalizing Kozhikode Halwa at the renowned Sankaran Bakery. This mithai is available in 20 plus flavours including a few unexpected ones like Jackfruit, which turned out to be my favourite! The owner Rishil served us with care just like his family has been serving all its guests for the last 90 years! Our next stop was at Raja Variety Hall to pick up a half-saree (yep, that’s what it is called) for my niece. Got a lovely one for just Rs. 350! But ladies, your saree collection is incomplete if you haven’t picked up the famous off-white Kerala saree with the golden border. The husband-wife duo running this garment store will be more than happy to help you pick one. That too under 1000 bucks! The cons? The bad traffic and dearth of parking space.

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(Pictures courtesy Tariq Khan)