Presently referred to as Kozhikode or Kozhicode, Calicut was the former capital of a free territory, and later of the one-time Malabar District. It is currently the third largest city in the state of Kerala and the nerve center of Calicut district. The location of Calicut is majorly responsible for the growth of tourism in this part of the country.

Calicut � Location:
The location of Calicut is in the state of Kerala on the southwestern coast of the Arabian Sea. The district of Calicut extends from latitude 11�15� N to 75�49� E. There are several rivers and lakes in this district. Kallayi Puzha, Chaliyar Puzha, Korapuzha, Poonoor Puzha, and Iravanjhi Puzha are some among them.

Calicut is the most significant coastal city of Malabar - the northern region of state of Kerala. It was a principal trading zone for spices on the western belt of India during the medieval era. Governed by the Zamorin Empire, Calicut was widely recognized with the invention of the sea route to India in 1498 by the Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama. He set foot at Kappad, a small coastal fishing village. It continued to be under the Madras Presidency till the creation of Kerala in 1956 post independence.

At the time of the Sangam era, the Calicut District was a part of the Chera Empire. It played an active part in strengthening business relations between Kerala and abroad. Tondi, was one of the most flourishing seaports of Kerala at that time. In the 9th century, Calicut was incorporated into the Second Chera Empire. The Cheras, also known as Perumals, governed the region till 1122 AD. With the decline of Chera rule, the kingdom was divided into many free districts such as Ernad and Polanad. Initially Calicut area was under the rule of the Porlarthris, the rulers of Polanad. It became a significant town in 13th century with the take-over of Polanad by the King of Ernad.

The Udaiyavar of Ernad, whose head office was at Nediyiruppu wanted a passage to the sea and after having fought the Polatthiri King for long 48 long years, he captured the region around Ponniankara and constructed a fort at a site called Velapuram. Thus the city of Calicut came into being in the 13th century AD. Gradually, the status of Nediyirippu augmented and he came to be known as Swami Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad, which slowly became Samuri or Samuthiri with time. The Europeans addressed him as Zamorin. The place enclosed by the fort was called Koyil (palace) Kotta (fort) and therefore the name of Kozhikode. Foreigners called it by carious names. Arabs referred to it as Kalikat, the Chinese called it Kalifo while most of the world knows the city by its European name � Calicut which was derived from �calico�, the fine quality hand-woven cotton cloth which is said to have originated from this place.

Log on to www.touristplacesinindia.com which gives online information on Calicut location on your tour to Kerala India.

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