Page 659 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

KER ALA  657

that Vasco da Gama, cardamom, pepper, turmeric
the Portuguese explorer and coffee are sorted and
who discovered the sea packaged in the old warehouses
route to India, was first along the waterfront.
received by the Zamorin
in his palace in May E Pazhassirajah Museum
1498. Dominating the East Hill. Tel (0495) 238 4382.
city centre is the large Open Tue–Sun.
Manamchira Tank,
Arya Vaidya Sala, at Kottakkal flanked by the Town Environs
Hall and the Public A short 18-km (11-mile) drive
a research centre and hospital. Library, both fine examples north of the city leads to the
Tirur, 32 km (20 miles) southwest of traditional architecture. small village of Kappad, where
of Malappuram, was the 16th- A striking Roman Catholic a stone plaque on the beach
century birthplace of the father cathedral also stands near commemorates the spot where
of Malayalam literature, Tunchat the Manamchira Tank. Vasco da Gama is supposed to
Ramanuja Ezhutha chan. He also The town’s Muslim heritage have landed in 1498.
taught the Malayalam alphabet is indicated by its numerous The historic village of
to children, a practice that mosques, remarkable for their Beypore, 10 km (6 miles) south
continues at a shrine dedicated massive size and elaborate of Kozhikode, is believed to be
to him. woodcarvings. Among these, the fabled Ophir, referred to in
One of the earliest Portuguese the Mishqal Palli, near the port, ancient Greek and Roman texts.
settlements on the Malabar is the most impressive, with a Artisans still follow the traditional
Coast was at Tanur, 34 km (21 five-tiered tiled roof. Note that methods of their forefathers
miles) southwest of Malappuram. this mosque is not open to at this ship building centre
St Francis Xavier (see p502) is said non-Muslims. (see p637). The type of dhows
to have come here in 1546. The Pazhassirajah Museum that were built here for Arab
exhibits wood and metal merchants more than 1,500 years
sculptures and reconstructions ago are still in demand in West
p Kozhikode of megalithic monuments. Asia. Old vessels are also brought
The Art Gallery next door has here to be repaired. Visitors
Kozhikode district. 254 km (158 miles)
N of Kochi. * 436,600. k Karipur, paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, should make reservations.
25 km (16 miles) S of city centre. £ the 19th-century painter who Thusharagiri, 50 km (31 miles)
@ n District Tourism Promotion belonged to a princely family away from Kozhikode, is a
Council, (0495) 272 0012. from Travancore (see p630). plantation town that abounds
_ Shivratri Utsavam (Feb/Mar). Kozhikode’s busy shopping in rubber, areca nut, pepper,
area, the quaintly named ginger and spices. It is also a
This busy commercial town, Sweetmeats Street, was once trekking and rock-climb ing
better known throughout the lined with shops selling the destination. The surrounding
world as Calicut, was the capital famous Calicut halwa, a brightly hills offer some exciting trails.
of the kingdom of the powerful coloured sweet made of flour One of the most popular is a
Zamorins (a Portuguese corruption and sugar. Today, SM Street, as 12-km (7-mile) long trek that
of their title, Samoothiri). Under it is popularly known, has only a crosses three lovely waterfalls,
them the town prospered as a few shops that sell halwa. Court one of which falls from a height
major centre of the Malabar Road, leading off SM Street, of 75 m (246 ft), and climbs up
trade in spices and textiles, and houses the bustling Spice through dense evergreen forests,
it was from Calicut that the Market. Kozhikode is today the where a variety of birds and
word calico originated, as storage and trading centre for animals can be spotted. The
the term for white, unbleached hill produce from Wayanad nearest airport is at Karipur, about
cotton. It was in Calicut, too, (see p658); spices such as cloves, 23 km (14 miles) from Kozhikode.

Fishermen with colourful nets in the harbour of Beypore

656-657_EW_India.indd 657 26/04/17 11:50 am