5 Fun Things To Do In Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala

Calicut can act as a gateway to the pleasant Kerala region when we start a great trip through southern India and as a starting point for an expedition to Wayanad, further north. The only reason for my trip to Kozhikode was to experience authentic Malabar cuisine in the most authentic way. Local restaurants, although invariably full, are the best places to do this.

things to do in calicut

There are many beautiful places in Calicut that are a must see if you are around the area. Here are some that you can consider.

1. Kozhikode Beach


Calicut beach is actually a place to chill. Forget all your worries and go for a relaxing eve here. Calicut beach is always alive at mornings its a place for jogging and evenings its place for enjoying with family and friends. It is properly maintained and is very clean. Street vendors are available for quick sip of coffee, cold drinks and quick bites.

Kozhikode beach is the ideal place to be during sunset. Because here is some fantastic street food from the mobile counters bordered by the pavement. Having Sulaimani black tea, and watching the sun go down is a great experience. Kaada Mutta (boiled quail eggs coated with chili) and Ari Kadukka (fried mussels with a layer of rice served with the shell) are recommended.

2. Mananchira Square


The Mananchira square is situated in the busy town of calicut, near the Mananchira pond, where natural water is stored for the drinking purpose of people. It is a well maintained park and you can see a huge rush over there especially during the weekends and holidays.The most important thing is that the park is absolutely free and people come over there to de-stress themselves by having a cool nap at the the lawns many statues are arranged over there to raise the curiosity of the kids.

Thusharagiri Waterfalls is 50 - 70 kms away from Calicut city. Scenic place to spend a whole day. There are 3 waterfalls, and you have to trek about 1 km to reach the top. The base of one of the waterfalls can be reached by a vehicle and a short walk. You can take lot of pictures from there. Its a cool destination for thrill seekers.

3. Tali Temple


One of the ancient Mahakshethras, Tali Temple is situated in the heart of the city. Walking distance form the Railway Station and Bus Stand. Primary deity is Shiva. Other deities include Vishnu, Ganapathi, Devi, Ayyappa, Nagas. Only Hindus allowed inside the temple. Males are to wear Dothi and no shirt, females can wear sari/churidar.

The rituals are followed as from traditional period. The temple is not crowded most of the days, except of days of festival and shivaratri. Temple gives free breakfast to devotees.

4. Kadalundi bird sanctuary


A picturesque location. Nature is at its best here. The mangroves, nearby river and sea everything offers you a mesmerising view. Besides, you a get a good chance to watch rare birds from across the globe. My recommendation for bird lovers is as follows: This sanctuary is not for amateurs but for professionals only with high power binoculars and high zoom cameras.

There is no facility of any type available nearby. There is no meaning for the welcome boards kept by the department of tourism. The location is about 20 kms from Kozhikode city.

5. Kappad Beach


Kappad, or Kappakadavu locally, is a famous beach near Calicut where the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on 20 May 1498.The beach is not very crowded, that is a specialty in itself. Cleaner and more beautiful than the city beaches. It will take an hour from the city to get here, and will have to use local transportation to get here without a private vehicle.

How to Reach Calicut

Kozhikode is well-connected by road, rail and air. Private bus operators and the state-run transport corp., (KSRTC) run buses to different cities and towns within the state and the other Southern states. A fleet of luxury coaches owned by private bus operators plies between Kozhikode and cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ooty and Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram etc.

National Highways 66, NH766 and NH 966 connect Kozhikode to distant places, in neighbouring states. State Highway 29 cuts through Kozhikode and connects to NH 212.

The city’s railway station has train service linking the Kozhikode to cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vellore and Visakhapatnam, and many more.

The Calicut International Airport has flights operating to different airports within the country as well as to international destinations. The international flights are mainly to the Middle Eastern region, covering countries like Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Salalah and Sharjah. Domestic sector flights operate between the city and Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Kalyan Panja