Kozhikode is also known as "Calicut" or "Kolikod". It is a city situated in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Kozhikode serves as the third largest city in Kerala and also the headquarters of Kozhikode district. Kozhikode or Calicut once served as the capital of an erstwhile independent kingdom and later of the one-time Malabar District. Indeed, the history of Kozhikode has much to offer to one`s platter of curiosity to learn more about this ancient city of ocean-going wonders. Kozhikode is the largest metropolitan area in the state and 192nd largest urban area in the world.

Kozhikode was named as the "City of Spices" for its role as the foremost trading point of eastern spices in classical ancient times and the middle Ages. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the "Samoothiris" in the Middle Ages and later of the erstwhile Malabar District under British law. Malayalam is the most spoken language.

Location of Kozhikode
Kozhikode district is spread over an area of 2,206 sq. kilometres. It is located on the south-west coast of India. The city lies about 275 kilometres west of Bengaluru. Kozhikode is a metropolitan city in the state of Kerala.

History of Kozhikode
Kozhikode has dealt in spices like black pepper and cardamom with Jews, Arabs, Phoenicians, and Chinese for more than 500 years. As Kozhikode offered full autonomy and safety, the Arab and the Chinese merchants preferred it to all other harbours. Kozhikode is one of the huge ports of the district of Malabar where the merchants from every part of the world are found.

Kozhikode and its villages formed the part of the Polanad kingdom ruled by the Porlatiri. The Governor of Ernad built a fort at a place called "Velapuram" to defend his new interests. The fort most possibly lent its name to "Koyil Kotta" the ancestor to Kozhikode. Thus the city came into survival for a while in the 13th century CE.

Geography of Kozhikode
The city of Kozhikode is 410 kilometres north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is situated at approximately 11.25 degree N 75.77 degree E. The geographical conditions of city area and inhabited areas are parallel to the other parts of the district falling in coastal and midland zones.

Climate of Kozhikode
Kozhikode has a tropical monsoon climate. The city has a very moist tropical climate with high temperatures recorded from March to May. The city receives important rainfall from the North-East Monsoon. Winter is hardly cold.

Demography of Kozhikode
According to the Municipal Corporation of Kozhikode, the total population is around 550,440 where males form 47.7% and females 52.3%. As per the corporation of Kozhikode, the standard literacy rate is 96.8% where the male literacy rate is 97.93% and female literacy rate is 95.78%. The Hindus forms the largest religious group, followed by Muslims and Christians in Kozhikode.

Culture and Traditions of Kozhikode
Celebrations like "Theyyam", "Thira" and art forms like "Ottamthullal", "Kathakali" are performed in stages demonstrated to temple lands. The celebrated festivals are "Kosavan", "Vannan", "Pulayan", "Chaliyan", "Chetti", "Thiyya", "Ganaka", "Vettuvan", "Paanan", "Eravallan", "Kammalas", "Parayan" etc. Local groups like the Tamil Brahmins, Gujaratis and Marwari Jains became a part of the city at a variety of periods and lived around their holy places. The Tamil Brahmins are for the most part settled around the Tali Shiva temple. They have preserved their Tamil language and dialects as well as caste customs. The Gujarati community is settled chiefly around the Jain temple in and around the Valliyangadi.

Education of Kozhikode
Kozhikode has played substantial role in the field of education. Kozhikode is home to two of the most prestigious and premier educational institutions in the country, precisely the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode and National Institute of Technology Calicut. The other institutions are Calicut Medical College, Malabar Christian College, Government Arts and Science College, Kerala School of Mathematics, Centre for Electronics Design & Technology of India.

Administration of Kozhikode
The city is directed by the Kozhikode Corporation, headed by a mayor. For managerial purposes, the city is divided into 75 wards from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. In recent times, neighbouring suburbs Beypore, Elathur, Cheruvannur and Nallalam were merged within the municipal corporation. The Kozhikode City Police is headed by a commissioner, an Indian Police Service officer. The city is split into six zones each under a circle officer.

Economy of Kozhikode
Kozhikode has become a chief non-leather footwear built-up hub in India. Footwear industries have been flourishing in this city. Kozhikode is one of the main commercial cities of Kerala. The economy is mainly business oriented.

Visiting places of Kozhikode
Kozhikode is also well-known for its backwaters. The famous visiting places of Kozhikode are the water falls like Kozhippara Falls, Thusharagiri Falls etc. Thikkoti Lighthouse is also one of the chief attractions of Kozhikode. Kakkayam, Sweet Street, Lions Park attract a number of tourists. Kozhikode has some beautiful beaches also like Beypore Beach and Kappad Beach. Elathur, Peruvannamuzhi Dam, Kallai River, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Tali Temple and Matri Dei Cathedral are the other famous tourist attractions.

Visiting information of Kozhikode
The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport, which is about 62 kilometres away from Palakkad. There are two railway stations, Palakkad Junction and Palakkad Town railway station. The National Highway 47 passes from Salem to Kanniyakumari via Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kochi, Alappuzha and Kollam.