Kozhikode

Kozhikode (Calicut), on Kerala’s Malabar coast, has a history deeply tied to spice trade and the Arabian Sea. From early medieval times it was the capital of the Zamorins (Samuthiri) of Calicut, powerful coastal rulers who controlled pepper-growing hinterlands and welcomed Arab, Persian and later Chinese traders. By the 13th–15th centuries, Kozhikode had become one of the most important ports of the Indian Ocean network, known to travellers like Ibn Battuta and Ma Huan as a bustling, multi-cultural city where merchants of many faiths lived side by side.

A turning point came in 1498, when Vasco da Gama landed near Calicut, opening direct sea routes between Europe and India. This dramatically increased European involvement in the spice trade and set off intense rivalry between the Portuguese, the Zamorins and other powers. Though Portuguese forts and conflicts initially disrupted local trade, Arab and local merchants continued to play a major role, and later the Dutch and British also entered the scene.

Under British rule, Kozhikode became part of the Malabar District of the Madras Presidency, remaining a key commercial and administrative centre. In modern Kerala, Kozhikode has retained its character as a trading, educational and cultural hub, famous for its hospitality, food, SM Street bazaar and strong literary and musical traditions.