Kozhikode, India: travel guide
The Malabar spice port of Calicut, known for food, beaches and old markets
Calicut on the Malabar Coast, the Zamorins' spice capital where Vasco da Gama landed in May 1498 and opened the sea route from Europe — UNESCO named it India's first City of Literature in 2023.
About Kozhikode
Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is a port city on Kerala's Malabar Coast with a long history of trade in spices. It is the place where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498, and its older quarters still carry that merchant character.
Food is a major reason to come. Malabar biryani, parotta and seafood, halwa shops on SM Street and evening snacks by the beach define the local table. Calicut Beach is the place for sunsets, Mananchira and Mishkal Mosque speak of the city's past, and the Chalappuram area holds a night market atmosphere.
Things to do in Kozhikode suit food lovers and travellers interested in Kerala's cultural mix beyond the backwaters. The city also serves as a base for the hills of Wayanad. October to March is the most comfortable season.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- CCJ
Last updated
Top places to visit in Kozhikode
Kozhikode Malabar Cuisine Heritage
district · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Kozhikode is the culinary capital of Malabar — the birthplace of the famous Kozhikode Biryani (known as Thalassery Biryani), Malabar Parotta, and the extraordinary seafood preparations unique to this coastal city.
Kozhikode Malabar Parotta Beef Breakfast
cafe · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Kozhikode Malabar Parotta — flaky layered wheat bread cooked on a tawa — with beef stew or beef fry is the definitive Malabar breakfast, eaten by hundreds of thousands of people in the city each morning.
Calicut Beach Kozhikode Sunset
beach · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · free entry
Kozhikode (Calicut) beach is a pleasant urban beach with a long promenade, beachside food stalls, and the old fishing quarter. The sunset here with the fishing boats returning is one of North Kerala most atmospheric scenes.
Kozhikode Sweet Street Halwa Shops
market · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · free entry
The famous sweet shops of Kozhikode on SM Street — the Kozhikode Halwa (a glutinous sweet made from wheat, coconut oil, and jaggery) is a Kerala culinary icon sold from shops here for over a century.
Kozhikode SM Street Heritage Shopping
market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
Sweet Meat Street (SM Street) in Kozhikode is the oldest and most atmospheric shopping street in North Kerala — the traditional stalls selling halwa, spices, dry fruits, and Malabar crafts have operated for over 200 years.
Kozhikode Malabar Muslim Heritage Quarter
district · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Malabar Muslim heritage of Kozhikode — the Arab traders who settled here from the 8th century CE left a profound cultural legacy visible in the mosques, cuisine, dress, and architecture of the old city.
Kozhikode Thali Restaurant Heritage Meal
cafe · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Kozhikode Muslim Thali — a traditional communal meal served on a large plate with multiple Malabar dishes including fish curry, avial, payaru, and sambar — is the most complete expression of Malabar cuisine.
Kozhikode Thusharagiri Waterfall Trek
waterfall · 4.5 rating · about 5 h · entry ₹50
The Thusharagiri Waterfalls 55km east of Kozhikode cascade through dense forest — three separate falls accessible by trekking trails, with natural swimming pools at the base. One of the finest waterfall trekking destinations in Kerala.
Kozhikode Malabar Night Market Chalappuram
district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Chalappuram area of Kozhikode has a vibrant night market and street food scene — the Malabar Muslim community's excellent street food including pathiri (rice pancakes), beef snacks, and the famous Kozhikode fish curry.
Kozhikode Mananchira Heritage Square
district · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · free entry
The Mananchira Square in central Kozhikode — a historic royal bathing tank with gardens, the Pazhassiraja Museum, and the Krishnakunmar Art Gallery. The cultural heart of the city.
Kozhikode Tali Shiva Temple Ancient
temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry
The Tali Shiva Temple in the heart of Kozhikode is one of the most important Shiva temples in North Kerala — built by the Zamorin kings in the 14th century with extraordinary Kerala temple architecture and wood carvings.
Kozhikode Sarovaram Biopark Wetland
park · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹30, ₹30 per person (DTPC Kozhikode). Offline tickets.
The Sarovaram Biopark in Kozhikode is a 12-acre urban wetland park with a butterfly garden, medicinal plant trail, and mangrove boardwalk adjacent to the Kozhikode beach. The finest urban greenspace in North Kerala.
Things to do
- Kozhikode Early Morning Biryani Heritage Breakfast Heritage · 1.5 h · from INR 400 per person
- Kozhikode Halwa Heritage Sweetshop Tour Heritage · 2 h · from INR 300 per person
- Kozhikode Night Food Tour Falooda Culture Heritage · 3 h · from INR 600 per person
- Kozhikode Kappad Beach Discovery Vasco da Gama Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Kozhikode Beypore Dhow Building Uru Craft Heritage · 3 h · from INR 700 per person
- Kozhikode Malabar Biriyani Heritage Cooking Heritage · 5 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Kozhikode Calicut Heritage Architecture Walk Heritage · 3 h · from INR 600 per person
- Kozhikode Spice Trail Chaliyam Heritage Heritage · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
Where to stay in Kozhikode
Hotels
- The Raviz Calicut 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 28,000 per night
- The Raviz Kadavu Kozhikode 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 30,000 per night
- Taj Bekal Resort Kozhikode Region 5-star · INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per night
- Kadavu Resort Kozhikode 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 25,000 per night
- Taj Bekal Resort & Spa 5-star · INR 18,000 to INR 65,000 per night
- Marriott Kozhikode 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 27,000 per night
Where to eat
- Paragon Restaurant Kozhikode Malabar, Biryani, Seafood · about INR 500 per person
- Zain Hotel Kozhikode Malabar, Biryani, Muslim Cuisine · about INR 400 per person
- SM Street Halwa Shops Kozhikode Sweets, Malabar, Heritage · about INR 200 per person
- Bombay Hotel Kozhikode Sweets, Malabar, Heritage · about INR 300 per person
- Kozhikode Erachi Puffs Corner Bakery, Malabar, Snacks · about INR 120 per person
- Kozhikode Chai Kadai Heritage Chai, Malabar, Street Food · about INR 40 per person
- Salkara Restaurant Kozhikode Malabar, Seafood, Biryani · about INR 450 per person
- Kozhikode Malabar Biriyani House Malabar, Biryani, Kerala · about INR 350 per person
Getting to Kozhikode
Airport: Calicut (CCJ)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Ride Hail
- Walking