Editing Calicut

{{Short description|Metropolis in Kerala, India}}
{{redirects|Kozhikode}}
{{Distinguish|Calcutta}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Kozhikode
| native_name        = <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per WP:INDICSCRIPT policy. -->
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = Kozhikode
| settlement_type    = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Kozhikkod Beach! Early Morning!.jpg
| photo1b = Kakkayam_hills.jpg
| photo2a = IIM Kozhikode Aerial View s.jpg
| photo3b = Calicut night.jpg
| photo4a = Chaliyam Harbour, Calicut.jpg
| photo4b = Kozhikode Railway Station 2024.jpg
| photo5a = 09192022 Tali Shiva Mahakshetra temples, Kozhikode 005.jpg
| size = 275
| spacing = 3
| color = none
| color_border = none
| foot_montage = From top: [[Kozhikode Beach]], Kakkayam Valley, [[IIM Kozhikode]], [[Kozhikode International Airport]], [[Chaliyam]] harbour, Kozhikode railwaystation board, Tali Shiva Mahakshetra temple 
}}
| image_caption      = 
| nickname           = City of Spices<ref name="purdue1">{{cite web|url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture26/lec26.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716191222/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/history/lecture26/lec26.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2009|title=Lectures 26-27|date=16 July 2009|access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>
(Other nicknames include City of Truth,<ref>{{Cite book| author=M. G. S. Narayanan| title=The City of Truth Revisited| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NhNuAAAAMAAJ| page=350| year=2006| isbn=978-8177481044| publisher=University of Calicut}}</ref> City of Sculptures,<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kozhikode-to-be-city-of-sculptures/article3499860.ece| title=Kozhikode to be 'city of sculptures'| newspaper=[[The Hindu]]| date=6 June 2012| access-date=13 June 2018| archive-date=1 January 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101095424/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kozhikode-to-be-city-of-sculptures/article3499860.ece| url-status=live}}</ref> City of Literature<ref name="Bureau-2023">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/kozhikode-is-the-first-city-of-literature-in-india/article67481587.ece|title=Kozhikode is the first City of Literature in India|newspaper=The Hindu |date=31 October 2023|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>)
| image_alt          = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = India Kerala#India#
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Calicut ([[Kerala]])
| coordinates        = {{coord|11|15|31.7|N|75|46|49.4|E|display=inline,title}}[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kozhikode&params=11_15_31.7_N_75_46_49.4_E_type:city(1808056)_region:IN-KL]
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2  = District
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = [[Municipal corporation (India)|Municipal corporation]]
| governing_body     = [[Kozhikode Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_title1      = Mayor
| leader_name1       = Beena Philip ([[CPI (M)]])
| leader_title2      = [[District magistrate|Collector]]
| leader_name2       = Snehil Kumar Singh [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Kozhikode District Website|url=https://kozhikode.nic.in/about-district/whos-who/|publisher=[[Kozhikode Corporation]]|access-date=6 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501032406/http://www.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2737.html&Itemid=246|archive-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>
| leader_title3      = [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]]
| leader_name3       = [[M. K. Raghavan]] ([[Indian National Congress]])
| leader_title4      = City Police Commissioner
| leader_name4       = A Akbar [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/a-akbar-to-be-new-kozhikode-city-police-commissioner-1.7395765|title=A Akbar to be new Kozhikode city police commissioner|date=April 2022 |access-date=12 April 2022|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401020146/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/a-akbar-to-be-new-kozhikode-city-police-commissioner-1.7395765|url-status=live}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="Kozhiode city population1">{{Cite web|url=https://kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/ml/about|title=ആമുഖം &#124; കോഴിക്കോട് മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കോര്‍പ്പറേഷന്‍|website=kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in|access-date=10 June 2020|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803145433/https://kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/ml/about|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_rank          = 
| area_total_km2     = 118.58
| area_metro_km2     = 518
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 34.47
| population_total   = 609,224
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1  = <!-- blacklisted ref name="Kozhiode city population">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/274-kozhikode.html}}</ref-->
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 4,387,000<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/21313/calicut/population|title=Calicut, India Metro Area Population 1950-2025|website=www.macrotrends.net}}</ref>
| population_metro_footnotes = <!-- UA --><ref name="Pop_city">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf|title=Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 million and above|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|access-date=19 November 2011|archive-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113152804/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| demographics_type1 = [[Language]]s
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 673xxx
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone]] code
| area_code          = +91495xxxxxxx,<br /> +91496xxxxxxx
| registration_plate = KL 11, KL 18, KL 56,<br />KL 57, KL 76, KL 77, KL 85, KLD & KLZ (Historical)
| blank_name_sec1    = [[GDDP]](2024)
| blank_info_sec1    = {{USD| 11Billion (INR 9630856 lakhs)|year=2024}}<ref>https://spb.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-02/ER_2024%20Eng_Vol%202_Press.pdf</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = 1.093 &nbsp;[[female|♀]]/[[male|♂]]<ref name=Cities1Lakhandabove>{{cite web | url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011; Cities having population 1 lakh and above | publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India | access-date=26 March 2012 | archive-date=7 May 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507135928/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank2_name_sec1   = [[Literacy rate]]
| blank2_info_sec1   = 96.8%<ref name=Cities1Lakhandabove/>
| blank3_name_sec1   = [[International Airport]]
| blank3_info_sec1   = [[Calicut International Airport]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.kozhikode.nic.in/}}
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = 
}}

'''Calicut''', also known as '''Kozhikode''' ({{IPA|ml|koːɻikːoːɖɨ̆|pron|Kozhikode_mal.ogg}}), is a city along the [[Malabar Coast]] in the state of [[Kerala]] in India. Known as the City of Spices,<ref name="purdue1" /> Calicut is listed among the [[City of Literature|UNESCO's Cities of Literature]].

It is the nineteenth largest urban agglomeration in the country and the second largest one in Kerala.<ref name="auto1"/> Calicut city is the second largest city proper in the state with a corporation limit population of 609,224 <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120507135928/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kvknarayangaon.org|title=KVK Narayangaon Education, Finance, Yojana, Sports|date=20 March 2025}}</ref> Calicut is classified as a Tier-2 city by the Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/tier-1-and-2-cities.html|title=Tier I and Tier II Cities of India, Classification of Indian Cities|website=Mapsofindia.com|access-date=1 March 2022|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407052129/https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/tier-1-and-2-cities.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

It is the largest city on the [[Malabar Coast]] and was the capital of the British-era [[Malabar District|Malabar district]]. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the [[Samoothiri]]s (Zamorins).<ref name="purdue1" /> The port at Calicut acted as the gateway to the medieval [[South India]]n coast for the [[Chinese people|Chinese]], the [[Persians]], the [[Arabs]], and finally the Europeans.<ref name="askh" /> According to data compiled by economics research firm [[Indicus Analytics]] in 2009 on residences, earnings and investments, Calicut was ranked the second-best city in India to live in.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/best-cities-to-live-invest-and-earn-in/53060-7.html |title=Best cities to live, invest and earn in |publisher=Ibnlive.com |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-date=24 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624200517/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/best-cities-to-live-invest-and-earn-in/53060-7.html |url-status=live }} Indicus considered six parameters: health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment</ref> In 2023, Calicut was recognised by [[UNESCO]] as India's first [[City of Literature]].<ref name="OnManorama">{{Cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/11/01/kozhikode-included-unesco-creative-cities-network.html|title=Kerala's Kozhikode included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network|website=OnManorama}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The exact origin of the name Kozhikode is uncertain. According to many sources, the name Kozhikode is derived from ''Koyil-kota'', meaning "fortified palace".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Kerala District Gazetteers: Kozhikode - Gazetteer of India, ''Volume 5 of Kerala District Gazetteers, Kerala (India)''
|first= A. Sreedhara |last= Menon| publisher= Superintendent of Govt. Presses| year= 1965|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsO1AAAAIAAJ}}</ref> ''Koil'' or ''Koyil'' or ''Kovil''  is the [[Malayalam]]/[[Tamil language|Tamil]] term for a [[Hindu temple]]. In the context of Kozhikide, it may refer to the [[Tali Shiva Temple]].<ref name="a-s-menon-1">{{cite book |last1=Menon |first1=A. Sreedhara |title=Kerala History and Its Makers |date=2011 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126437825 |pages=252}}</ref> Both the terms ''kōyil'' and ''kōvil'' are used interchangeably. The Tamil name of the city is Kaḷḷikkōṭṭai.{{sfn|Chandran|2018|p=366}}

The name evolved into ''Kolikod'', or its Arabic form ''Qāliqūṭ'' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: qˠaːliqˠːuːtˤ) and later its anglicised version Calicut.<ref name="Krishna-iyer">{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=K. V. Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsO1AAAAIAAJ |title=The Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times Down to A.D. 1806 |publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut; University of Michigan |year=1938}}</ref><ref name="Battuta1">{{Cite book |author=Hermann Kulke, Dietmar Rothermund |title=A History of India |publisher=Routledge |year=2010 |isbn=9780415485432 |chapter=18. Ibn Battuta: International Trade at the Malabar Coast |quote=Thence we travelled to the town of Qāliqūṭ. [Calicut], which is one of the chief ports in Mulaibār. |access-date=4 September 2015 |chapter-url=http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485432/18.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027035017/http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485432/18.asp |archive-date=27 October 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Chinese people|Chinese]] merchants called it ''Kūlifo''.

The word ''[[calico (textile)|calico]]'', a fine hand-woven cotton fabric that was exported from the port of Calicut, is believed to be derived from ''Calicut''.<ref name=eb-calico>Encyclopædia Britannica (2008). ''calico''</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Calicut (kingdom)}}[[File:Periplous of the Erythraean Sea.svg|thumbnail|Names, routes and locations of the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' (1st century CE)]]
[[File:Calicut 1572.jpg|580px|thumb|Painting of [[History of Calicut|Calicut]], India titled 'Calicut, the most famous trading center of India' from [[Georg Braun]] and Frans Hogenberg's atlas ''Civitates Orbis terrarum'', 1572]]
The ancient port of [[Tyndis]], located north of [[Muziris]] as mentioned in the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'', is believed to have been near Calicut.<ref name="Malabar">{{cite book|author=Menon, A. Sreedhara |title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126415786}}</ref> Its exact location is a matter of dispute.<ref name="Malabar"/> The suggested locations are [[Ponnani]], [[Tanur, Malappuram|Tanur]], [[Beypore]]-[[Chaliyam]]-[[Kadalundi]]-[[Vallikkunnu]], and [[Koyilandy]].<ref name="Malabar"/> Tyndis was a major center of trade, second only to [[Muziris]], between the Cheras and the [[Roman Empire]].<ref>Coastal Histories: Society and Ecology in Pre-modern India, Yogesh Sharma, Primus Books 2010</ref> [[Pliny the Elder]] (1st century CE) states that the port of ''[[Tyndis]]'' was located at the northwestern border of ''Keprobotos'' ([[Chera dynasty]]).<ref>Gurukkal, R., & Whittaker, D. (2001). In search of Muziris. ''Journal of Roman Archaeology,'' ''14'', 334-350.</ref> The [[North Malabar]] region, which lies north of the port at ''[[Tyndis]]'', was ruled by the kingdom of [[Ezhimala]] during [[Sangam period]].<ref name="Malabar"/> According to the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'', a region known as ''[[Limyrike]]'' began at ''[[Kannur|Naura]]'' and ''[[Tyndis]]''. However   [[Ptolemy]] mentions only ''[[Tyndis]]'' as ''[[Limyrike]]'''s starting point. The region probably ended at [[Kanyakumari]]; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day [[Malabar Coast]]. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000 [[sesterces]].<ref>According to [[Pliny the Elder]], goods from India were sold in the Empire at 100 times their original purchase price</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/BookLibrary/books/bibliographie/P/Plinyelder/elder/pliny-india.html |title=Ancient History Sourcebook: Pliny: Natural History 6.96-111. (On India) |date=6 November 2013 |website= |access-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106031753/http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/BookLibrary/books/bibliographie/P/Plinyelder/elder/pliny-india.html |archive-date=6 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Pliny the Elder]] mentioned that ''[[Limyrike]]'' was  prone to piracy.<ref>Bostock, John (1855). "26 (Voyages to India)". Pliny the Elder, The Natural History. London: Taylor and Francis.</ref> The [[Cosmas Indicopleustes]] mentioned that the ''[[Limyrike]]'' was a source of peppers.<ref>Indicopleustes, Cosmas (1897). Christian Topography. 11. United Kingdom: The Tertullian Project. pp. 358–373.</ref><ref>Das, Santosh Kumar (2006). The Economic History of Ancient India. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 301.</ref>

In the 14th century, Kozhikode conquered large parts of central Kerala after the seizure of the [[Tirunavaya]] region from [[Kingdom of Valluvanad|Valluvanad]], which was under the control of the king of [[Kingdom of Cochin|''Perumbadappu Swaroopam'']] (Cochin). The ruler of [[Perumpadappu, Malappuram|Perumpadappu]] was forced to shift his capital (c. CE 1405) further south from [[Kodungallur]] to [[Kochi]]. In the 15th century, the status of Cochin was reduced to a vassal state of Kozhikode, thus leading to the emergence of Kozhikode as the most powerful kingdom in medieval [[Malabar Coast]].<ref name="askh"/> During the 15th century, [[Kalaripayattu]] played a significant role in Malabar's history. Notable warriors included [[Aromal Chekavar|Puthooram Veettil Aromal Chekavar]] and his sister [[Unniyarcha]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&q=Tiya&pg=PA316|title = Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections|isbn = 9788126003655|last1 = Ayyappa Paniker|first1 = K.|year = 1997| publisher=Sahitya Akademi }}</ref><ref name="unni2nn">{{Cite book|last=Menon|first=A. Sreedhara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wnAjqjhc1VcC|title=Kerala History and its Makers|publisher=D C Books|date=4 March 2011|isbn=978-81-264-3782-5|pages=82–86|language=en|access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My8DEAAAQBAJ&q=Chekavan&pg=PT42|title = Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus|isbn = 9780190992071|last1 = Nisha|first1 = P. R.|date = 12 June 2020| publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>

The port at Calicut held a superior economic and political position along the medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, [[Kollam]], and [[Kochi]] were commercially important secondary ports where traders from various parts of the world gathered.<ref name="Malekandathil">''The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800''. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)</ref> In the 15th century, Calicut was visited several times by ships from China, which became known as [[Ming treasure voyages]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Dreyer | first=Edward L. | title=Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty, 1405–1433 | year=2007 | publisher=Pearson Longman | location=New York | isbn=978-0-321-08443-9 | author-link=Edward L. Dreyer|pages=30–31 & 49–50}}</ref>

Calicut was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the [[samoothiri]]s (Zamorins) in the Middle Ages and later of the erstwhile [[Malabar District]] under British rule. [[Arab people|Arab]] merchants traded with the region as early as 7th century, and Portuguese explorer [[Vasco da Gama]] landed at Calicut on 20 May 1498,<ref>{{Cite web |title=20 May 1948: Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer lands in Calicut in India's west coast |url=https://globalpolitics.in/view_cir_articles.php?url=This%20Week%20in%20History&recordNo=1405 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Global Politics - 20 May 1948: Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer lands in Calicut in India’s west coast}}</ref> opening a trade route between Europe and India. A Portuguese [[trading post|factory]] and a fort existed in Calicut for a short period (1511–1525, until the [[Fall of Calicut (1526)|Fall of Calicut]]). The [[English East India Company|English]] landed in 1615 (constructing a trading post in 1665), followed by the [[Louis XIV's East India Company|French]] (1698) and the [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] (1752). In 1765, [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysore]] captured Calicut as part of its occupation of the Malabar Coast.
[[File:Vascodagama.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Vasco da Gama]]'s arrival in Calicut in 1498 ushered in five centuries of rule of the [[Portuguese Empire]] in [[Portuguese India|India]], lasting until 1961.]]

===Early Calicut in foreign accounts===
Accounts of the city and the conditions prevailing then can be gleaned from the chronicles of travellers who visited the port city.
[[File:Uru.jpg|left|thumbnail|''[[Uru (boat)|Uru]]'', a type of ship that was historically used for maritime trade, built at [[Beypore]], Kozhikode]]
[[Ibn Battuta]] (1342–1347), who visited six times, gives the earliest glimpses of life in the city. He describes Calicut as "one of the great ports of the district of Malabar" where "merchants of all parts of the world are found here". The king of this place, he says, "is an infidel, who shaves his chin just as the Haidari Fakeers of [[Sultanate of Rum|Room]] do... The greater part of the Muslim merchants of this place are so wealthy that one of them can purchase the whole freightage of such vessels put here and fit out others like them".<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Ibn Battuta]], H. A. R. Gibb |date=1994 |volume=IV |title=The Travels of Ibn Battuta A.D 1325-1354 |location=London }}</ref>

[[Ma Huan]] (1403), a Chinese sailor who was part of the Imperial Chinese fleet under Cheng Ho ([[Zheng He]])<ref>[[Ma Huan]]: Ying Yai Sheng Lan, ''The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores'', translated by J.V.G. Mills, 1970 [[Hakluyt Society]], reprint 1997 White Lotus Press. {{ISBN|974-8496-78-3}}</ref> lauds the city as a great emporium of trade frequented by merchants from around the world. He makes note of the 20 or 30 mosques built to cater to the religious needs of the Muslims, the unique system of calculation by the merchants using their fingers and toes (followed to this day) and the matrilineal system of succession.

[[Abdur Razzaq (traveller)|Abdur Razzak]] (1442–1443), the ambassador of Persian Emperor [[Shah Rukh]] found the city's harbour perfectly secured and notices precious articles from several maritime countries, especially from [[Ethiopian Empire|Abyssinia]], Zirbad and [[Zanzibar]].

The Italian [[Niccolò de' Conti]] (1445), one of the earliest known Christian travellers to document Calicut, describes the city as abounding in pepper, lac, ginger, a larger kind of cinnamon, myrobalans and zedoary. He calls it a noble emporium for all India, with a [[circumference]] of {{convert|13|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}.

The Russian traveller Athanasius Nikitin or [[Afanasy Nikitin]] (1468–1474) calls 'Calecut' a port for the whole Indian sea and describes it as having a "big bazaar."

Other travellers who visited Calicut include the Italian [[Ludovico di Varthema]]<ref>Varthema, Ludovico di, ''The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema, A.D.1503–08'', translated from the original 1510 Italian ed. by John Winter Jones, Hakluyt Society, London</ref> (1503–1508) and [[Duarte Barbosa]].<ref>Gangadharan. M., ''The Land of Malabar: The Book of Barbosa'' (2000), Vol II, M.G University, Kottayam.</ref>

===Zamorins of Calicut===
{{main|Zamorin of Calicut}}
[[File:Caminho maritimo para a India.png|thumb|The path [[Vasco da Gama]] took to reach Calicut (black line) in 1498, which was also the [[Age of Discovery|discovery of a sea route]] from [[Europe]] to India, and eventually paved way for the [[Colonial India|European colonisation]] of [[Indian subcontinent]].]]
[[File:Map of Kampili kingdom.png|thumb|300px|[[India]] in early 1320 CE. Most of the parts of present-day state of Kerala was under the influence of the [[Zamorin]] of Kozhikode.]]
Calicut and its suburbs formed part of the ''Polanad'' kingdom, a vassal state of the ''[[Kolathunadu]]'' of [[North Malabar]], ruled by the ''[[Porlathiri]]''.<ref>Sreedhara Menon.A, A Survey of Kerala History(1967), p.152. D.C.Books Kottayam</ref> The [[Eradi]]s of [[Nediyiruppu]], based in [[Kondotty]] ([[Eranad]], [[Malappuram district]]), wanted an outlet to the sea to initiate trade and commerce with distant lands.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EBG2AAAAIAAJ Bhāratīya sthalanāma patrikā] (page 44) published by Place Names Society of India</ref> After a prolonged conflict with the Polathiri lasting 48 years, they conquered the area around [[Panniyankara|Panniankara]]. Following this, [[Menokki]] became the ruler of ''Polanad'' and came to terms with the local troops and people.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Sewell| first = Robert| title = Lists of inscriptions, and sketch of the dynasties of southern India| publisher = E. Keys at the Government Press| year = 1884| page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S8wOAAAAQAAJ/page/n209 197]| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S8wOAAAAQAAJ| quote = The Samoothiri made Menokki ruler of Porallatiri and came to terms with the troops and people. After this follows an account of the founding of the town of Calicut, close to the Samoothiri's palace at Tali}}</ref> 

Subsequently, the town of Calicut was founded close to the palace at Tali.<ref>{{cite book |author1=K. V. Krishna Ayyar |author2=University of Calicut. Publication Division |title=The Samorins of Calicut: from the earliest times down to A.D. 1806 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUtuAAAAMAAJ |access-date=25 July 2011 |year=1938 |publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut |isbn=978-81-7748-000-9 |page=82 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414084517/https://books.google.com/books?id=oUtuAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Eradis then shifted their headquarters from Nediyiruppu to Calicut. The Governor of Ernad built a fort at Velapuram to safeguard their new territory. The fort most likely lent its name to ''Koyil Kotta,'' the precursor to Kozhikode. The city thus came into existence sometime in the 13th century.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} 

As the status of the Udaiyavar (king) increased, he became known as Swami Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad, eventually assuming the title Samuri or Samoothiri. European traders referred to this title in a corrupted form as [[Zamorin of Calicut|Zamorin]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

At the peak of their power, the Zamorins ruled over a region from Kollam ([[Quilon]]) to Panthalayini Kollam ([[Koyilandy]]).<ref name="Varier">Varier, M. R. Raghava. "Documents of Investiture Ceremonies" in K. K. N. Kurup, Edit., "India's Naval Traditions". Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, 1997</ref><ref name="Krishna-iyer" /> Following the discovery of the sea route from Europe to Calicut in 1498, the Portuguese began to expand their territories and ruled the seas between [[Ormus]] and the [[Malabar Coast]], and as far south as [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]].<ref>Sanjay Subrahmanyam, The Career and Legend of Vasco da Gama, Cambridge University Press, 1997, 288</ref><ref>{{Cite book | author = Knox, Robert | author-link = Robert Knox (sailor) | year = 1681 | title = An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon | pages = 19–47 |publisher = Reprint. Asian Educational Services | place = London| title-link = An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon }}</ref> Some prominent [[Jenmi]]s in Calicut were engaged in [[sea]] trade and [[shipping]] as early as two centuries ago.<ref name="12n">{{cite book |last=S.N.Sadasivan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be3PCvzf-BYC |title=A Social History of India |publisher=APH |year=2000 |isbn=9788176481700 |page=353}}</ref>

According to historian [[K. V. Krishna Iyer|K.V. Krishna Iyer]], Kozhikode's rise was both a cause and a consequence of Zamorin's ascendancy in Kerala. By the late 15th century, the Zamorin was at the zenith of his power, with all princes and chieftains of Kerala north of Kochi acknowledging his suzerainty.<ref name="Kunjali Maraikar">{{cite web|url=http://www.kozhikode.com/history.htm|title=Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India - Kozhikode (Calicut) Hotels, Kozhikode (Calicut) resorts, Kozhikode (Calicut) tourism, Kozhikode (Calicut) real estate and Kozhikode (Calicut) businesses|website=Kozhikode.com|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622015007/http://www.kozhikode.com/history.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[S. M. Street|Sweetmeat Street]] (''Mittayi Theruvu'') was an important trading street under Zamorin's rule.

The [[First Battle of Cannanore]] in January 1502, fought between the [[3rd Portuguese India Armada (Nova, 1501)|Third Portuguese Armada]] allied with the [[Kingdom of Cochin]] under [[João da Nova]] and Zamorin of [[Calicut (kingdom)|Calicut]]'s navy, marked the beginning of Portuguese conflicts in the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name="Krishna-iyer"/> The defeat of the joint fleet of the [[Gujarat Sultanate|Sultan of Gujarat]] [[Mahmud Begada]], the [[Burji dynasty|Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt]], and the Zamorin of Calicut with support from the [[Republic of Venice]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Battle of Diu (1509)|Battle of Diu]] in February 1509 marked the beginning of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] dominance over the [[spice trade]] and the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name="Krishna-iyer"/> 

Throughout the 16th century, continuous naval conflicts between the Zamorin's navy, led by [[Kunjali Marakkar]] (Fleet Admiral) and the Portuguese significantly reduced the importance of Calicut as a centre of trade. Kunjali Marakkar is credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Arun Kumar |title=Give Indian Navy its due |url=https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/110217/give-indian-navy-its-due.html |access-date=23 January 2021 |work=[[The Asian Age]] |date=11 February 2017 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925000822/https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/110217/give-indian-navy-its-due.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

By the early 17th century, the Zamorin expelled the Portuguese with the help of the [[Dutch East India Company]]. In 1602, the Zamorin sent envoys to [[Aceh]], promising the Dutch a fort at Calicut in exchange for their support in trade. Two factors, Hans de Wolff and Lafer, were sent from Aceh, but the two were captured by the chief of Tanur, and handed over to the Portuguese.<ref name="SanjaySubrahmanyam2">Sanjay Subrahmanyam. "The Political Economy of Commerce: Southern India 1500–1650". Cambridge University Press, 2002</ref> 

In November 1604, a Dutch fleet under Admiral [[Steven van der Hagen]] arrived in Calicut, marking the beginning of the Dutch presence in Kerala. On 11 November 1604, the Dutch East India Company signed its first treaty with an Indian ruler, forming an alliance with Kozhikode to expel the Portuguese from Malabar.<ref name="askh" />  In return, the Dutch were granted trading rights in Calicut and [[Ponnani]], including spacious storehouses.<ref name="SanjaySubrahmanyam2" /> By this time, however, the kingdom and port of Kozhikode had lost much of their former prominence.<ref name="SanjaySubrahmanyam2" />

===British Rule===
The arrival of the [[East India Company|English]] in [[Kerala]] is documented in the year 1615, when a group under the leadership of Captain [[William Keeling]] arrived at Calicut, aboard three ships.<ref name="askh">{{cite book |last1=Sreedhara Menon |first1=A. |title=''Kerala Charitram'' |date=January 2007 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |isbn=978-81-264-1588-5 |edition=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82 |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=13 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113141403/https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was in these ships that Sir [[Thomas Roe]] went to visit [[Jahangir]], the fourth [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]], as an English envoy.<ref name="askh"/> In 1755, [[Travancore]] became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the [[Zamorin]] of [[History of Kozhikode|Kozhikode]] in the [[battle of Purakkad]].<ref name="AHoT 162">{{cite book|last1=Shungoony Menon|first1=P.|title=A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times|date=1878|publisher=Higgin Botham & Co.|location=Madras|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog/page/n212 162]–164|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorytravanc00menogoog|access-date=5 May 2016|language=en|format=pdf}}</ref> In the late 18th century, Calicut came under [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] rule after the [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysorean]] conquest of [[Malabar District|Malabar]].<ref name="askh"/> The British later formed the [[Thiyyar Regiment]] to fulfill their military commitments in Malabar.<ref>L. K. A. Iyer,  ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XGSuAwWHa0kC The Mysore Tribes and caste] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411140045/https://books.google.com/books?id=XGSuAwWHa0kC |date=11 April 2023 }}''. Vol.III, A Mittal Publish. Page.279, Google Books</ref><ref>Nagendra K. R. Singh,  ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcpa_T-7oVQC Global Encyclopedia of the South India Dalit's Ethnography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203235409/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcpa_T-7oVQC |date=3 February 2023 }}'' (2006) page.230, Google Books</ref><ref>L.Krishna Anandha Krishna Iyer(Divan Bahadur) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hOyqKkYi6McC The Cochin Tribes and Caste] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407154252/https://books.google.com/books?id=hOyqKkYi6McC |date=7 April 2023 }}'' Vol.1. Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1962. Page. 278, Google Books</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Iyer|first=L. K. Anantha Krishna|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7757|title=The Cochin tribes and castes vol.I|date=1909|publisher=Higginbotham, Madras}}</ref>
 
Calicut was the administrative capital of the [[Malabar District]], one of the two districts on the western coast ([[Malabar Coast]]) of the [[Madras presidency]]. During British rule, Malabar's importance lay in the production of [[Malabar pepper|pepper]], [[coconut]], [[tiles]], and [[teak]].<ref>Pamela Nightingale, ‘[[Jonathan Duncan (Governor of Bombay)|Jonathan Duncan]] (bap. 1756, d. 1811)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009</ref> Kozhikode municipality was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lawmin.nic.in/chronology.doc |title=CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF CENTRAL ACTS (Updated up to 17-10-2014) |website=Lawmin.nic.in |access-date=2016-08-07 |archive-date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107091128/http://lawmin.nic.in/chronology.doc |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis McIver |first1=G. Stokes |title=Imperial Census of 1881 Operations and Results in the Presidency of Madras |date=1883 |publisher=E.Keys at the Government Press |location=Madras |page=444 |edition=(Vol II) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_YIAAAAQAAJ |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327063433/https://books.google.com/books?id=b_YIAAAAQAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="google.co.in">{{cite book |last1=Presidency |first1=Madras (India |title=Madras District Gazetteers, Statistical Appendix For Malabar District. |date=1915 |publisher=The Superintendent, Government Press |location=Madras |page=20 |edition=Vol.2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUEwnQEACAAJ |access-date=2 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327063433/https://books.google.com/books?id=aUEwnQEACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=HENRY FROWDE, M.A. |first1=Imperial Gazetteer of India |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India |date=1908–1909 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |edition=New |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216124143/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Post Independence===
Kozhikode Municipality was upgraded into [[Kozhikode Municipal Corporation]] in 1962,<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Kozhikode Municipal Corporation |url=https://kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/en/history |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in}}</ref> making it the second-oldest Municipal Corporation in the state.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Climate==
Calicut has a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Am''). A brief spell of pre-monsoon [[mango showers]] occurs in April. The primary source of rainfall is the [[South-west monsoon|southwest monsoon]] which begins in early June and lasts until September. The city also receives significant precipitation from the [[Northeast Monsoon|northeast monsoon]], which begins in mid-October and continues through November. Winters (December–February) are warmer than summers (June–August), with spring (March–May) being the hottest season.

{{Weather box
| location = Calicut (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 36.5
| Feb record high C = 37.6
| Mar record high C = 38.6
| Apr record high C = 39.1
| May record high C = 39.2
| Jun record high C = 36.2
| Jul record high C = 35.7
| Aug record high C = 35.1
| Sep record high C = 35.7
| Oct record high C = 36.2
| Nov record high C = 36.8
| Dec record high C = 37.0
| year record high C = 39.2
| Jan high C = 33.0
| Feb high C = 33.5
| Mar high C = 34.2
| Apr high C = 34.4
| May high C = 33.7
| Jun high C = 30.6
| Jul high C = 29.6
| Aug high C = 29.8
| Sep high C = 30.9
| Oct high C = 31.8
| Nov high C = 32.6
| Dec high C = 32.9
| year high C = 32.3
|Jan mean C = 28.0
|Feb mean C = 28.8
|Mar mean C = 30.0
|Apr mean C = 30.5
|May mean C = 30.0
|Jun mean C = 27.5
|Jul mean C = 26.7
|Aug mean C = 26.9
|Sep mean C = 27.6
|Oct mean C = 28.1
|Nov mean C = 28.4
|Dec mean C = 28.1
| Jan low C = 23.1
| Feb low C = 24.1
| Mar low C = 25.7
| Apr low C = 26.5
| May low C = 26.3
| Jun low C = 24.4
| Jul low C = 23.8
| Aug low C = 24.0
| Sep low C = 24.3
| Oct low C = 24.4
| Nov low C = 24.3
| Dec low C = 23.2
| year low C = 24.5
| Jan record low C = 17.6
| Feb record low C = 16.1
| Mar record low C = 19.4
| Apr record low C = 21.0
| May record low C = 20.0
| Jun record low C = 20.6
| Jul record low C = 20.5
| Aug record low C = 20.6
| Sep record low C = 21.1
| Oct record low C = 18.6
| Nov record low C = 16.1
| Dec record low C = 16.1
| year record low C = 16.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 1.6
| Feb rain mm = 4.8
| Mar rain mm = 14.6
| Apr rain mm = 83.5
| May rain mm = 223.5
| Jun rain mm = 782.9
| Jul rain mm = 750.0
| Aug rain mm = 432.6
| Sep rain mm = 273.3
| Oct rain mm = 302.6
| Nov rain mm = 120.4
| Dec rain mm = 21.9
| year rain mm = 3011.9
| Jan rain days = 0.1
| Feb rain days = 0.3
| Mar rain days = 1.0
| Apr rain days = 4.1
| May rain days = 9.0
| Jun rain days = 23.1
| Jul rain days = 24.3
| Aug rain days = 19.1
| Sep rain days = 12.3
| Oct rain days = 11.6
| Nov rain days = 6.0
| Dec rain days = 1.5
| year rain days = 112.3
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 64
| Feb humidity = 65
| Mar humidity = 68
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 74
| Jun humidity = 84
| Jul humidity = 87
| Aug humidity = 85
| Sep humidity = 81
| Oct humidity = 78
| Nov humidity = 73
| Dec humidity = 66
|year humidity = 75
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Calikote / Kozhicode Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 165–166
| access-date = 19 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M108
| access-date = 19 February 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)<ref name=TCC1>
{{cite web
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43314
| title = Normals Data: Kozhikode – India Latitude: 11.25°N Longitude: 75.78°E Height: 4 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 December 2022}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| location = [[Kozhikode International Airport]] (1991–2020, extremes–2020)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 36.1
| Feb record high C = 37.8
| Mar record high C = 37.7
| Apr record high C = 38.6
| May record high C = 36.8
| Jun record high C = 35.4
| Jul record high C = 35.7
| Aug record high C = 32.6
| Sep record high C = 32.2
| Oct record high C = 33.6
| Nov record high C = 35.0
| Dec record high C = 35.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 32.9
| Feb high C = 33.6
| Mar high C = 34.0
| Apr high C = 34.0
| May high C = 32.9
| Jun high C = 30.0
| Jul high C = 29.0
| Aug high C = 29.2
| Sep high C = 30.2
| Oct high C = 30.9
| Nov high C = 31.9
| Dec high C = 32.4
| year high C = 31.8
| Jan low C = 22.1
| Feb low C = 23.0
| Mar low C = 24.7
| Apr low C = 25.4
| May low C = 25.1
| Jun low C = 23.4
| Jul low C = 22.9
| Aug low C = 23.1
| Sep low C = 23.3
| Oct low C = 23.3
| Nov low C = 23.2
| Dec low C = 22.4
| year low C = 23.5
| Jan record low C = 11.2
| Feb record low C = 19.9
| Mar record low C = 21.4
| Apr record low C = 19.8
| May record low C = 20.8
| Jun record low C = 20.2
| Jul record low C = 19.3
| Aug record low C = 19.6
| Sep record low C = 20.6
| Oct record low C = 20.1
| Nov record low C = 19.5
| Dec record low C = 19.3
| year record low C = 
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 3.0
| Feb rain mm = 3.8
| Mar rain mm = 26.6
| Apr rain mm = 84.7
| May rain mm = 198.3
| Jun rain mm = 706.6
| Jul rain mm = 689.4
| Aug rain mm = 428.2
| Sep rain mm = 295.5
| Oct rain mm = 321.8
| Nov rain mm = 134.4
| Dec rain mm = 35.3
| year rain mm = 2927.5
| Jan rain days = 0.2
| Feb rain days = 0.4
| Mar rain days = 1.2
| Apr rain days = 4.2
| May rain days = 8.8
| Jun rain days = 22.2
| Jul rain days = 23.6
| Aug rain days = 18.8
| Sep rain days = 13.4
| Oct rain days = 12.6
| Nov rain days = 6.6
| Dec rain days = 1.4
| year rain days = 113.4
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 57
| Feb humidity = 56
| Mar humidity = 61
| Apr humidity = 66
| May humidity = 70
| Jun humidity = 81
| Jul humidity = 82
| Aug humidity = 81
| Sep humidity = 77
| Oct humidity = 78
| Nov humidity = 73
| Dec humidity = 62
|year humidity = 70
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name="auto"/>}}

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Kozhikode district}}

{{bar box
|title = Religions in Calicut city (2011)<ref name="religion"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Kerala|Hinduism]]|darkorange|57.37}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Kerala|Islam]]|green|37.66}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|4.60}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.37}}
}}

The total population within the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation limits is 550,440.<ref name="censusindia.gov.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS|format=XLS|title=C -1 POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY - 2011|website=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208221342/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS|url-status=live}}</ref> Males account for 47.7% of the population, while females make up 52.3%.

Calicut has been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious town since the early [[medieval period]]. The [[Hinduism in Kerala|Hindu]]s form the largest religious group, followed by [[Islam in Kerala|Muslims]] and [[Christianity in Kerala|Christians]].<ref name="Official Website of Kozhikode">{{cite web |url=http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm |title=Official Website of Kozhikode |website=Kkd.kerala.gov.in |date=26 December 1975 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012185335/http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm |archive-date=12 October 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Hindus form the majority at 57.37%(315,807 people),<ref name="censusindia.gov.in"/> while Muslims form 37.66% (207,298 people).<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01: Population by religious community: Kerala |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11379/download/14492/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has an average [[Literacy in India#Kerala|literacy rate]] of 96.8%<ref name="Cities1Lakhandabove" /> ([[Literacy in India|national average]] is 74.85%). The male literacy rate is 97.93% and female literacy rate is 95.78%.<ref name="Cities1Lakhandabove" />

Historically, Calicut has been home to diverse communities and regional groups. Many of these communities continued their traditional occupations and customs until the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012185335/http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=12 October 2009 | title=Official website of kozhikode| date=12 October 2009}}</ref> Brahmins primarily resided near Hindu temples in the city. Regional groups such as [[Tamil Brahmins]], Gujaratis, and [[Marwari Jains]] settled in the city, residing near their shrines.<ref>[[M.G.S. Narayanan|Narayanan M.G.S.]], Calicut: The City of Truth, [[Calicut University]] Press (2006)</ref>

The [[Nairs]] formed the rulers, warriors and landed gentry of Calicut.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nossiter|first=Thomas Johnson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CSQUxVjjWQC&q=25|title=Communism in Kerala: A Study in Political Adaptation|date=1 January 1982|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-04667-2|pages=25|language=en}}</ref>  The [[Samoothiri]] had a ten thousand strong Nair bodyguard called the Kozhikkottu pathinaayiram (The 10,000 of Kozhikode) who defended the capital and supported the administration within the city. He had a larger force of 30,000 Nairs in his capacity as the Prince of Eranadu, called the Kozhikkottu Muppatinaayiram (The 30,000 of Kozhikode).<ref name="123mm">{{Cite book|last=Narayanan|first=M. G. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NhNuAAAAMAAJ|title=Calicut: The City of Truth Revisited|date=2006|publisher=University of Calicut|isbn=978-81-7748-104-4|pages=112|language=en}}</ref> The Nairs also formed the members of the suicide squad ([[Suicide attack#India|chaver]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prange|first=Sebastian R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OM5TDwAAQBAJ&q=suicide+squad&pg=PA154|title=Monsoon Islam: Trade and Faith on the Medieval Malabar Coast|date=3 May 2018|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-108-42438-7|language=en}}</ref> The [[Tiyyar|Thiyyar]] formed the ''vaidyars'' ([[Ayurveda]] Physicians), local militia, and traders of Calicut. The Muslims of Calicut are known as [[Mappila]]s, and according to the official Calicut website "the great majority of them are [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] following the [[Shafi school of thought]].<ref name="Official Website of Kozhikode"/> There are some smaller communities among the Muslims such as [[Dawoodi Bohra]]s of Gujarati origin.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/05/19/stories/2006051916410400.htm |title=Bohras in Calicut |website=Hinduonnet.com |date=19 May 2006 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703153837/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/05/19/stories/2006051916410400.htm |archive-date=3 July 2009 |url-status=usurped  }}</ref> Many of the Muslims living in the historic part of the city follow [[matrilineality]] and are noted for their piety.<ref name="kerala1">{{cite web |url=http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm |title=Official website of Kozhikode, Govt. of Kerala |website=Kkd.kerala.gov.in |date=26 December 1975 |access-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012185335/http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/generel.htm |archive-date=12 October 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Though [[Christianity in Kerala|Christianity]] is believed to have been introduced in Kerala in the 1st century CE, the size of the community in [[Malabar region|Malabar]] (northern Kerala) began to rise only after the arrival of Portuguese missionaries towards the close of the 15th century. A few Christians of [[Travancore|Thiruvitankoor]] and [[Kochi]] have lately migrated to the hilly regions of the district and are settled there.<ref name="kerala1"/>

The [[Tamil Brahmins]] are primarily settled around the Tali Siva temple. They arrived in Calicut as dependants of chieftains, working as cooks, cloth merchants and moneylenders.<ref>Narayanan.M.G.S., Calicut: The City of Truth(2006) [[Calicut University]] Publications</ref> They have retained their [[Tamil language]] and dialects as well as caste rituals. The [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] community is settled mostly around the [[Jain]] temple in and around the Valliyangadi. They owned many establishments, especially textile and sweet shops. They must have arrived in Calicut at least from the beginning of the 14th century. They belong to either the Hindu or the Jain community. A few [[Marwaris|Marwari]] families are also found in Calicut who was basically moneylenders.

{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Calicut city (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
|label1 = [[Malayalam]] |value1 = 97.64 |color1 = cornflowerblue
|label2 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] |value2 = 0.91 |color2 = royalblue
|label3 = Others |value3 = 1.45 |color3 = grey
}}

By language, 97.64% of the population speaks [[Malayalam]] and 0.91% [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue (Urban): Kerala |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10258/download/13370/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-3200.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Civic administration==
The city is administered by the Kozhikode Corporation, headed by a mayor. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 75 [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]],<ref name="Corporation councillors">{{cite web|website=Kozhikodecorporation.org|url=http://www.kozhikodecorporation.org/images/Councillors/council.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927224119/http://www.kozhikodecorporation.org/images/Councillors/council.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2024|title=Kozhikode Corporation, Councillors|access-date=27 November 2011}}</ref> from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. Recently neighbouring suburbs [[Beypore]], [[Elathur, Kozhikode|Elathur]], [[Cheruvannur Nallalam|Cheruvannur and Nallalam]] were merged within the municipal corporation.

{| class="wikitable" style="float:center; text-align:center; margin:0 0 0 1em;"
|-
!colspan="2"|Kozhikode Municipal Corporation
|-
|[[Mayor]]
|Beena Philip
|-
|[[Deputy Mayor]]
|Musafar Ahmed
|-
|[[Member of Parliament]]
|[[M. K. Raghavan|M.K.Raghvan]]
|-
|[[District Collector]]
|Shri. [[Snehil Kumar Singh]] [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
|-
|[[Police Commissioner]]
|Shri Rajpal Meena IPS
|}
Kozhikode Corporation is the first City Corporation in Kerala after the creation of the state. Established in 1962, Kozhikode Corporation's first mayor was H Manjunatha Rao. Kozhikode corporation has four assembly constituencies – Kozhikode North, Kozhikode South, Beypore and Elathur – all of which are part of [[Kozhikode (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kozhikode]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080209134539/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020561140500.htm Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency redrawn Delimitation impact], ''The Hindu'' 5 February 2008</ref>

===[[Kozhikode Municipal Corporation]] Election 2020===

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!S.No. !! Party Name !! Party symbol !! Number of Corporators
|-
| 01 || [[Left Democratic Front|LDF]] || [[File:CPI(M) election symbol - Hammer Sickle and Star.svg|50px]] || 49
|-
| 02 || [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] ||   || 14
|-
| 03 || [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] ||[[File:BJP election symbol.svg -783x768.png|50px]] || 07
|-
| 04 || Independents || [[File:No flag.svg|50px]] || 05
|-
|}

===Law and order===
The [[Kozhikode City Police]] is headed by a commissioner, an [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) officer. The city is divided into six zones each under a circle officer. Apart from regular law and order, the city police comprise the traffic police, bomb squad, dog squad, fingerprint bureau, women's cell, juvenile wing, narcotics cell, riot force, armed reserve camps, district crime records bureau and a women's station.<ref name="KCP">
{{cite web|publisher=Kozhikode City Police|url=http://www.kozhikodecitypolice.org/Pages/organizationDetails.aspx|title=Kozhikode City Police|access-date=27 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208003412/http://www.kozhikodecitypolice.org/Pages/organizationDetails.aspx|archive-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> It operates 16 police stations functioning under the Home Ministry of [[Government of Kerala]].

==Transport==
{{Main|Transportation in Kozhikode district}}

===Road===

====National highways====
{{multiple image
| align     = left
| direction = vertical
| image1    = 
| width1    = 220
| alt1      = 
| caption1  = KSRTC bus terminal-cum-shopping complex in Kozhikode
| image2    = Volvo 8400 at Calicut Bus Terminal.jpg
| width2    = 220
| alt2      = 
| caption2  = Volvo 8400 at Calicut Bus Terminal
| image3    = View point of Thamarassery Churam.jpg
| width3    = 220
| alt3      = 
| caption3  = [[Thamarassery Churam]] is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kozhikode

| width4   = 220
| alt4     = 
| caption4 = Calicut mofussil bus stand is one of the largest bus stand in Kerala
}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| width1            = 220
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Purakkattiri]] Bridge built in January 2016
| direction         = vertical
| image2            = Calicut mini bypass.jpg
| width2            = 220
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = Calicut Mini Bypass
| image3            = കോഴിക്കോട്_വിമാനത്താവളം.jpg
| width23           = 220
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = [[Calicut International Airport]] 
| image4            = Kozhikode Railway Station.jpg
| width4            = 220
| alt4              = 
| caption4          = [[Kozhikode Railway Station]] is one of the busiest railway stations in South India
| image1            = 
}}

[[National Highway 66 (India)|National Highway 66]] connects Calicut to [[Mumbai]] via [[Mangaluru]], [[Udupi]] and [[Goa]] to the north and [[Kochi]] and [[Kanyakumari]] near [[Thiruvananthapuram]] to the south along the west coast of India. This highway connects the city with the other important towns like, [[Kasaragod]], [[Kanhangad]], [[Kannur]], [[Thalassery]], [[Mahé, India|Mahe]], [[Vadakara]], [[Koyilandy]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2013/nov/08/deadlock-on-pooladikunnu-vengalam-stretch-over-535245.html|title=Deadlock on Pooladikunnu-Vengalam stretch over|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622201544/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2013/nov/08/Deadlock-on-Pooladikunnu-Vengalam-stretch-over-535245.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Ramanattukara]], [[Kottakkal]], [[Valanchery]], [[Kuttippuram]], [[Ponnani]], [[Kodungallur]], [[North Paravur]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Edapally]] and proceeds to [[Alappuzha]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and terminates at the southern tip of India, [[Kanyakumari]].

[[National Highway 766 (India)|National Highway 766]] connects Calicut to [[Bangalore]] through [[Kollegal]] in [[Karnataka]] via [[Tirumakudal Narsipur]], [[Mysore]], [[Nanjangud]], [[Gundlupet]], [[Sulthan Bathery]], [[Kalpetta]] and [[Thamarassery]].

[[National Highway 966 (India)|National Highway 966]] connects Calicut to [[Palakkad]] through [[Malappuram]] and [[Perinthalmanna]]. It covers a distance of {{convert|125|km}}. At Ramanattukara, a suburb of Calicut, it joins NH 66. It passes through major towns like [[Kondotty]], [[Perinthalmanna]], and [[Mannarkkad]] and [[Malappuram]]. This stretch connects the city and [[Calicut International Airport]].

====State Highways====

[[State Highway 29 (Kerala)|SH 29]] passes through the city. It connects NH 766, Malabar Christian College, civil station, [[Kunnamangalam]], Koduvally, Thamarassery, Chellot, Chitragiri and Road to Gudallor from Kerala border.

State highway 38 starts from [[Pavangad]] near passes through [[Ulliyeri]], [[Perambra]], [[Kuttiady]], [[Nadapuram]], [[Panoor]] and [[Koothuparamba]] and ends at [[Chovva]] in [[Kannur]]. The highway is107;km long. It is one of the busiest route in the district.

[[State Highway 54 (Kerala)|SH 54]] connects the city to [[Kalpetta]]. The highway is {{convert|99.0|km}} long. The highway passes through [[Pavangad, Kozhikode]], Ulliyeri, [[Perambra]], Poozhithodu, [[Peruvannamuzhi]] and Padinjarethara.
[[State Highway 68 (Kerala)|SH 68]] starts from [[Kappad]] and ends in Adivaram. The highway is {{convert|68.11|km}} long.

[[State Highway 34 (Kerala)|SH 34]] starts from [[Koyilandy]] and ends in [[Edavanna]] which is 44.0&nbsp;km long. This highway passes through [[Koyilandi]], [[Ulliyeri]], [[Balussery]], [[Thamarassery]], [[Omassery]] and [[Mukkam]].

[[State Highway 68 (Kerala)|SH 68]] starts from [[Kappad]] and ends in [[Adivaram]] which is 66km long. This highway passes through [[Atholi, Kerala|Atholi]], [[Nanminda]], [[Narikkuni]], [[Koduvally]], [[Omassery]], [[Kodenchery]] and [[Thusharagiri]].

====Buses====
Buses, predominantly run by individual owners, ply on the routes within the city and to nearby locations. City buses are painted green. [[Kerala State Road Transport Corporation]] (KSRTC) runs regular services to many destinations in the state and to the neighboring states. The city has three bus stands. All private buses to the suburban and nearby towns ply from the Palayam Bus Stand. Private buses to adjoining districts start from the Mofussil Bus Stand on Indira Gandhi Road (Mavoor Road). Buses operated by the KSRTC drive from the KSRTC bus stand on Indira Gandhi Road. KSRTC Bus Stand Kozhikode is the largest bus stand in Kerala having a size of 36,036.47 meter square.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kozhikode.cyberparktoday.com/business/kozhikode/public-centre/kozhikode-bus-stand-ksrtc-bus-station-and-shopping-complex-calicut/ |title=Kozhikode Bus Stand : KSRTC Bus Station and Shopping Complex Calicut &#124; Kozhikode |access-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618075532/https://kozhikode.cyberparktoday.com/business/kozhikode/public-centre/kozhikode-bus-stand-ksrtc-bus-station-and-shopping-complex-calicut/ |archive-date=18 June 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> There are also KSRTC depots in [[Thamarassery]], [[Thottilpalam]], [[Thiruvambady]] and [[Vatakara]].
There are three routes available to Bangalore. Kozhikode–[[Sultan Bathery|Sulthan Bathery]]-[[Gundlupet]]–[[Mysore]]–[[Bangalore]] is the preferred one and is very busy. Another route, is Kozhikode-[[Mananthavady|Manathavady]]-[[Kutta]]-[[Mysore]]-[[Bangalore]]. The third one, less used, is Kozhikode–[[Gundlupet]]–[[Chamarajanagar]]–[[Kollegal]]–[[Bangalore]].

Private tour operators maintain regular luxury bus services to [[Mumbai]], [[Bangalore]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Chennai]], [[Vellore]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Trivandrum]], [[Ooty]], [[Mysore]], etc. and mainly operate from the Palayam area. These are usually night services.

===Rail===
Calicut has a main railway station, where all passing trains stops. There are other railway stations within the City limits. They are Elathur, West Hill, Vellayil and Kallai. Only local passenger trains stops in these stations. One can travel to almost all destinations within the country from Calicut. The history of railways in [[Kerala]] dates to 1861 when the first tracks were laid between [[Tirur]] and [[Beypore]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110501550200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015133544/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110501550200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=15 October 2011 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Central station completes 75 years | date=5 November 2006}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Calicut International Airport]] is {{convert|26|km}} from the city. It began operations in 1988. Domestic services are operated to major Indian cities. It received the status of an international airport in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 February 2006|title=International status for Calicut airport|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/international-status-for-calicut-airport/article3172829.ece|access-date=13 November 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113173041/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/international-status-for-calicut-airport/article3172829.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:High-rises near NH Bypass Calicut.jpg|thumb|High-rises near NH Bypass Calicut]]

[[File:Calicut Bypass near Cyberpark.jpg|thumb|"Calicut Bypass near Cyberpark – a growing economic corridor."]]

Calicut is one of the largest economic hubs in the Indian state of [[Kerala]], with its economy primarily driven by the service sector, followed by industrial activities. The city has a rich banking history, being the birthplace of [[Nedungadi Bank]], the first and oldest bank in modern Kerala, which was established by [[Appu Nedungadi]] in 1899. The bank was later merged with [[Punjab National Bank]].{{sfn|Chandran|2018|p=386}}

Information Technology and Business Sector
Calicut is emerging as a major center for information technology (IT) in Kerala. [[Cyberpark]], a Government of Kerala initiative, was established to build, operate, and manage IT parks in the [[Malabar region]] to promote investment in IT and IT-enabled services (ITES). It is set to become the third IT hub in Kerala, following [[Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram|Technopark]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Infopark, Kochi|Infopark]] in [[Kochi]]. The Cyberpark initiative, along with its satellite centers in [[Kannur]] and [[Kasaragod]], is expected to generate around 100,000 direct job opportunities.<ref name="calicut cyberpark">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberparkkerala.org/cyber-park-kozhikode/|title=Kozhikode - Cyber Park Kerala|website=Cyberparkkerala.org|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622202034/http://www.cyberparkkerala.org/cyber-park-kozhikode/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kozhikode Cyberpark to take off next year|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/02/01/stories/2010020153161900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212074106/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/02/01/stories/2010020153161900.htm |archive-date=12 February 2010}}</ref>

Other major IT and business hubs in Calicut include UL Cyberpark, which is the first IT SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in the Malabar region, Government Cyberpark, and Hilite Business Park, which houses multiple IT firms and corporate offices.

Industrial and Infrastructure Development
Calicut is also witnessing significant industrial growth, with key upcoming projects such as:

Birla IT Park (Mavoor) – A proposed technology and industrial park.
Malaysian Satellite City (Kinaloor) – A large-scale industrial park planned by [[KINFRA]], covering {{convert|400|acre|ha|order=flip|sigfig=2|adj=on}}.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/shilpa-nagaram-on-june-7/article3488515.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title='Shilpa Nagaram' on June 7 | date=4 June 2012 | access-date=23 March 2013 | archive-date=1 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001184009/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/shilpa-nagaram-on-june-7/article3488515.ece | url-status=live }}</ref>
Kozhikode Bypass Economic Corridor – A growing commercial and IT corridor near Cyberpark.
Additionally, Beypore Port is undergoing development to enhance maritime trade and cargo handling capabilities.

Cultural Recognition
In 2012, Calicut was officially recognized as the "City of Sculptures" (Shilpa Nagaram) due to the numerous architectural sculptures and artistic landmarks found throughout the city.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kozhikode-is-shilpa-nagaram/article3503847.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Kozhikode is 'Shilpa Nagaram' | date=8 June 2012 | access-date=23 March 2013 | archive-date=17 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217085726/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kozhikode-is-shilpa-nagaram/article3503847.ece | url-status=live }}</ref>

With its growing IT sector, industrial expansion, and infrastructural improvements, Calicut continues to develop as a key economic and technological hub in Kerala.

==Culture==

===Shopping===
[[File:Focus mall calicut.jpg|thumb|left|The Focus Mall, the first shopping mall of its kind in the State]]
[[File:Hilite Mall, Kozhikode.png|thumb|"HiLITE Mall – The Largest Shopping Destination in Malabar"]]
{{Main|Shopping Malls in Calicut}}
The city has a strong mercantile tradition, with trade and commerce playing a significant role in its economy. Historically, the primary commercial hub was Valiyangadi (Big Bazaar), located near the railway station. This area served as the center of business activity for decades, catering to wholesale and retail traders. Over time, the commercial focus gradually shifted to other parts of the city, with Mittai Theruvu (Sweetmeat Street or S. M. Street) emerging as the new commercial hub. This bustling street is lined with a variety of shops selling textiles, cosmetics, household essentials, and electronics. It is also home to several well-known restaurants and traditional sweetmeat shops that reflect Calicut's rich culinary heritage.

Shopping Malls in Calicut
With urbanization and the growing influence of modern retail culture, Calicut has witnessed the rise of shopping malls that offer a mix of retail outlets, entertainment zones, and dining facilities. Some of the major malls in the city include:

Focus Mall – The first shopping mall in Kerala, marking the beginning of modern retail spaces in the state. It features a range of branded outlets, a food court, and entertainment facilities.

HiLITE Mall – The largest shopping mall in the Malabar region, part of the HiLITE City project. The mall houses over 200 retail stores, including international and domestic brands, a multiplex cinema, a large food court, and dedicated entertainment zones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yatra.com/india-tourism/shopping-in-kozhikode/hilite-mall |title=Hilite Mall in Kozhikode, Complete Shopping Guide at Hilite Mall Kozhikode - Yatra.com |access-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618080109/https://www.yatra.com/india-tourism/shopping-in-kozhikode/hilite-mall |archive-date=18 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/hilite-city-one-indias-largest-mixed-use-development-project-enters-li/42966 "HiLITE City, One of India's Largest Mixed-Use Development Project Enters the Limelight"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713165010/http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/hilite-city-one-indias-largest-mixed-use-development-project-enters-li/42966 |date=13 July 2015 }}. ''Business Wire''. 9 March 2015.</ref>

Gokulam Mall – A mid-sized shopping complex featuring multiple retail outlets, dining options, and a multiplex.
Address Mall – A modern shopping destination with luxury brand stores, restaurants, and entertainment facilities.
RP Mall – A popular retail and entertainment hub, featuring a mix of branded stores, food courts, and a cinema.
Lulu Mall Kozhikode – Developed by LuLu Group International, this newly established mall in Mankavu is one of the largest retail projects in the region. It brings a world-class shopping experience with a variety of international brands, hypermarkets, and entertainment facilities.

The emergence of these malls has significantly transformed Calicut's retail landscape, providing residents and visitors with modern shopping and leisure experiences.

===Music===
In addition to the Malabar Mahotsavam, the annual cultural fest of Calicut,<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/malabar-mahotsavam-set-for-a-comeback/article674648.ece "Malabar Mahotsavam set for a comeback"]. ''The Hindu''. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2015.</ref> every year since 1981 the Tyagaraja Aradhana Trust has been conducting a five-day music festival in honour of [[Tyagaraja]]. The festival is complete with the Uncchavritti, rendering of Divyanama kritis, [[Pancharatna Kriti]]s, concerts by professional artistes and students of music from morning to late in the evening.<ref>[http://tyagaraja-aradhana-calicut.org/ "Paying tribute to Sathguru Sri Tyagaraja"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611141214/https://tyagaraja-aradhana-calicut.org/ |date=11 June 2017 }}. Tyagaraja Aradhana Trust. Retrieved 4 September 2015.</ref>

Calicut has a tradition of [[Ghazal]] and [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani]] music appreciation. There are many Malayalam Ghazals. The late film director and play back singer [[M. S. Baburaj]], from Calicut was influenced by [[Ghazal]] and Hindustani.<ref>Ramin Raveendran (20 October 2013). [http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Keeping-the-harmonium-close-to-his-heart/2013/10/20/article1844055.ece "Keeping the harmonium close to his heart"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230638/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Keeping-the-harmonium-close-to-his-heart/2013/10/20/article1844055.ece |date=4 March 2016 }}. ''The New Indian Express''. Retrieved 4 September 2015.</ref>

==Media==
===Newspapers===
Newspaper publishing started in Calicut with the launch of the English weekly ''West Coast Spectator'' in 1879. Edited by Dr. Keys and printed by Vakil Poovadan Raman from the Spectator Press, it was rechristened the ''Malabar Spectator'' in later years. The first Malayalam newspaper in Calicut was ''[[Kerala Pathrika]]'' established by [[Chengalathu Kunhirama Menon]] in 1884. ''Keralam'', ''[[Kerala Sanchari]]'' and ''Bharathivasam'' were among the other newspapers published in Calicut in the 19th century. Some of the major newspapers that contributed to the [[Indian independence movement]] ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' and ''[[Mithavadi]]'', were based in Calicut.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Mass Media |url=http://www.universityofcalicut.info/cuonline/exnotif/ex4235.pdf |publisher=[[University of Calicut]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019033306/http://www.universityofcalicut.info/cuonline/exnotif/ex4235.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=11 February 2023}}</ref><ref>[http://keralamediaacademy.org/?page_id=317#:~:text=An%20English%20weekly%20entitled%20the,edited%20by%20an%20Englishman%2C%20Dr. "History of Media in Kerala"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212101647/http://keralamediaacademy.org/?page_id=317#:~:text=An%20English%20weekly%20entitled%20the,edited%20by%20an%20Englishman%2C%20Dr. |date=12 February 2023 }}. Kerala Media Academy. Retrieved 12 February 2023.</ref> Now almost all the major newspapers in Malayalam have editions in Calicut. English newspapers such as ''[[The Hindu]]'' and ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' also have Calicut editions.

===Radio===
The Calicut radio station of [[All India Radio]] has two transmitters: Kozhikode AM (100 kilowatts) and Kozhikode FM [Vividh Bharathi] (10 kilowatts). Private FM radio stations are [[Radio Mango 91.9]] operated by Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd. [[Radio Mirchi]] operated by Entertainment Network India Ltd. and [[Club FM 104.8]] operated by Mathrubhumi group and [[Red FM (India)|Red FM 93.5]] of the SUN Network. AIR FM radio stations are Kozhikode – 103.6&nbsp;MHz; AIR MW radio station is Kozhikode – 684&nbsp;kHz.

===Television===
[[File:MediaOne TV Headquarters And Studio.jpg|thumb|left|MediaOne TV Headquarters And Studio]]
A television transmitter has been functioning in Calicut since 3 July 1984, relaying programmes from [[Delhi]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]] [[Doordarshan]]. Doordarshan has its broadcasting centre in Calicut at Medical College. The Malayalam channels based on Calicut are the [[Shalom (TV channel)|Shalom Television]], Darshana TV and [[Media One TV]]. All major channels in Malayalam viz. [[Manorama News]], [[Asianet News|Asianet]], [[Surya TV]], [[Kairali TV]], [[Amrita TV]], [[Jeevan TV]], and [[Jaihind]] have their studios and news bureaus in the city.

Satellite television services are available through [[DD Direct+]], [[Dish TV]], [[Sun Direct DTH]] and [[Tata Sky]]. [[Asianet Digital TV]] is popularly known as ACV telecasts daily city news. Spidernet is another local channel. Other local operators include KCL and Citinet.

The Calicut Press Club came into existence in 1970. It is the nerve centre of all media activities, both print and electronic. Begun with around 70 members in the roll, this Press Club, became a prestigious and alert media centre in the state with a present membership of over 280.<ref name="calicut press club">{{cite web|url=http://www.calicutpressclub.com/aboutus.htm|title=Calicut press club|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623175252/http://www.calicutpressclub.com/aboutus.htm|archive-date=23 June 2003}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2017}}

==Education==
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| image1    = IIM Kozhikode Aerial View s.jpg
| width1    = 220
| alt1      = 
| caption1  = [[Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode]]
| image2    = NITC AB.jpg
| width2    = 220
| alt2      = 
| caption2  = [[National Institute of Technology Calicut]]
| image3    = 
}}
{{Main|Educational institutions in Kozhikode district}}
{{See also|Education in Kerala|List of educational institutions in Kozhikode}}
There are 1,237 schools in Kozhikode district including 191 highschools.<ref>[https://verfasor.com/complete-list-of-high-schools-kozhikode/ List of High Schools in Kozhikode] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923162004/https://verfasor.com/complete-list-of-high-schools-kozhikode/ |date=23 September 2022 }}, ''Verfasor'' 28 December 2017</ref>

Calicut is home to two premier educational institutions of national importance: the [[Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode]] (IIMK), and the [[National Institute of Technology Calicut]] (NITC). Other research institutions located in Kozhikode include [[NIRDESH|National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding]] (NIRDESH),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/nirdesh-to-design-ships-for-navy/article8543227.ece |title=Nirdesh to design ships for Navy |author=Biju Govind |location=Calicut, India |date=1 May 2016 |access-date=21 May 2019 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213140314/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/nirdesh-to-design-ships-for-navy/article8543227.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Indian Institute of Spices Research]] (IISR),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spices.res.in/pages/history |title=History |date=12 March 2018 |publisher=[[Indian Institute of Spices Research]] |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411100952/http://www.spices.res.in/pages/history |url-status=live }}</ref> Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) and National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nielit.gov.in/calicut/content/introduction-8 |title=Introduction |date=21 October 2015 |publisher=National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716210931/http://nielit.gov.in/calicut/content/introduction-8 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[University of Calicut]] is the largest university in Kerala and is located in [[Thenjipalam]], about {{convert|24|km}} south of Calicut. This university was established in 1968 and was the second university set up in Kerala. Most of the colleges offering tertiary education in the region are affiliated to this university.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uoc.ac.in/index.php/2016-04-27-10-18-51/2016-04-27-10-22-09 |title=About |publisher=[[University of Calicut]] |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803190150/https://www.uoc.ac.in/index.php/2016-04-27-10-18-51/2016-04-27-10-22-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Calicut Medical College]] was established in 1957 as the second medical college in Kerala. Since then, the institution has grown into a premier centre of medical education in the state. Presently it is the largest medical institute in the state with a yearly intake of 250 candidates for the undergraduate programme.

The [[Government Law College, Kozhikode]] situated in [[Vellimadukunnu]] on the out skirts of Calicut town, is owned by the Government of Kerala and affiliated to the University of Calicut. The college caters to the needs of the north Malabar region of Kerala it is the third law college in kerala state founded in 1970.

Main colleges in calicut city:
Zamurians Guruvayoorappan College, Malabar Christian college, Farook College, Devagiri College, Providence college for women, Govt. Arts & science college, Meenchantha, [[Kerala Government Polytechnic College]], West Hill, [[Government Engineering College, Kozhikode|Government Engineering College Kozhikode]].

<ref name="Kozhikode Education">{{cite web|url=http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/important.htm|title=Kozhikode Education|access-date=18 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205003038/http://www.kkd.kerala.gov.in/important.htm|archive-date=5 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eduport operates fully residential schools with on-campus facilities such as libraries and hostels in cities including Kozhikode.

==Sports==
===Football===
Calicut is home to [[I-League]] club [[Gokulam Kerala FC|Gokulam Kerala]], they won 2 titles and Durand Cup.

Calicut is the home to [[Super League Kerala]] club [[Calicut FC]], they are the defending champions of the league right now

===Volleyball===
[[Calicut Heroes]] Playing in top flight league [[Prime Volleyball League]]

==Twin/sister cities==

Calicut's sister city or twin city is

* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Tver]], Russia<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/celebrating-kozhikodes-links-with-a-russian-city/article65317847.ece | title=Celebrating Kozhikode's links with a Russian city | newspaper=The Hindu | date=13 April 2022 | access-date=27 April 2022 | archive-date=27 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427183549/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/celebrating-kozhikodes-links-with-a-russian-city/article65317847.ece | url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Adjacent communities
 | Centre    = Calicut
 | North     = [[Perambra]]
 | Northeast = [[Balussery]]
 | East      = [[Kunnamangalam]], nadakkave
 | Southeast = [[Ramanattukara]]
 | South     = [[Feroke]]
 | Southwest = [[Beypore]]
 | West      = [[Kozhikode Beach]]
 | Northwest = [[Koyilandy]]
}}

==See also==
* [[List of tallest buildings in Kozhikode]]
* [[North Malabar]]
*[[Malabar District]]
* [[South Malabar]]
* Kozhikode East
* Kozhikode North
* Kozhikode South
* [[List of people from Kozhikode]]
* [[Largest Indian cities by GDP]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{Cite book|title=Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019|publisher=P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode|year=2018|location=Kozhikode|last=Chandran |first=VP|edition=Malayalam}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book
 | author = K. V. Krishna Iyer 
 | title = Zamorins of Calicut: From the earliest times to AD 1806
 | publisher = Norman Printing Bureau, Kozhikode 
 | url = https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.3379
 | year = 1938}}

==External links==
* [https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kozhikode&params=11_15_31.7_N_75_46_49.4_E_type:city(1808056)_region:IN-KL GeoHack - Kozhikode]

{{Commons category|Kozhikode}}

{{wikivoyage inline|Kozhikode}}

* [http://kozhikode.nic.in/ Kozhikode District official website]
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