Kozhikode (Calicut) is known as the second Mecca of football (after Kolkata). The other most popular games in Kozhikode (Calicut) are cricket, basketball, badminton and volleyball. The E. M. S Stadium hosted many international football matches of major football teams in the past. The city is home to many international footballers. One of the famous was Olympian Abdurahman who played for the nation in many international games including Melbourne olympic games. K.P. Sethu Madhavan, Premnath Philip, Sudheer etc. are some international footballers from Kozhikode (Calicut). The seven-a-side form of football is also very famous in the city. P. T. Usha, is a famous athlete who is regarded as one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced and is often called the “queen of Indian track and field”. She is nicknamed Payyoli Express. Currently she runs the Usha School of Athletics at Koyilandy in Kerala. T. Abdul Rahman, popularly known as Olympian Rahman, was an Indian Olympian footballer from Kozhikode (Calicut). Rahman was a member of the Indian team that reached the semi-final in 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Other sports personalities include Tom Joseph (Indian volleyball player and was captain of Indian volleyball team) and Premnath Philips. Jaseel P. Ismail, V. Diju, and Aparna Balan are three international badminton players from the city. The Sports & Education Promotion Trust (SEPT) was established to promote sports development in India with focus on football. Started in 2004 and based in Kozhikode (Calicut), the trust has set up 22 centres called “football nurseries” spread across seven districts in Kerala. Since 2010, Calicut Mini Marathon runs have been organized by IIM Kozhikode (Calicut) and witness participation of around 7000 people every year.
The Nairs formed the rulers, warriors and landed gentry of Kozhikode (Calicut). The Zamorin had a ten thousand strong Nair bodyguard called the Kozhikkottu pathinaayiram (The 10,000 of Kozhikode (Calicut)) 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 (Calicut)). The Nairs also formed the members of the suicide squad(chaver). The aristocratic Nairs had their Taravad houses in and around the capital. Several Nairs in the city were traders too. The Nairs could not be imprisoned or fettered except for serious crimes like cow slaughter, criticizing the King etc. The Mappila community of Kozhikode (Calicut) acted as an important support base for the city’s military, economic and political affairs. They were settled primarily in Kuttichira and Idiyangara. Their aristocratic dwelling houses were similar to the tharavad houses of the Nairs and the Thiyyas. Two Ghazi’s were recognized as their spiritual leaders. Travellers like Barbosa were intrigued by the extent to which the Mapillas blended into the local society, who spoke the same language and looked like any other Nair (except for the round caps and long beards).
The city has a strong mercantile aspect. The main area of business was once ‘Valiyangadi’ (Big Bazaar) near the railway station. As time progressed, it shifted to other parts of the city. These days, the commercial heart has moved to Mittai Theruvu (Sweet Meat Street), a long street crammed with shops that sell everything from saris to cosmetics. It also houses restaurants and sweetmeat shops. Kozhikode (Calicut) city presently has two shopping malls 1. Focus Mall(Located in Rajaji road) and 2.RP Mall (Located on Mavoor road). Focus mall is one of the oldest mall in the state which has 2.5 lakh sq.ft of shopping area,On the other end RP Mall is around 2 Lakh sq.ft shopping area which covers mall,multiplex and a 4-star Hotel.Some more Retail Mall projects under construction which includes Lulu Mall, Mall of Joy,Gokulam Galleria(3 multiplex),Hilite Mall(8 multiplex),Confident Mall(multiplex),Hillwood Ebonade and Orbit Mall. By 2016 Kozhikode (Calicut) will provide an immense amount of shopping experience through the development of retail secrtor as well as entertainment sector.
The film history of Kozhikode (Calicut) dates back to 50s. Some of the main production companies of Malayalam films like Grihalakshmi productions, Kalpaka, Swargachithra, etc. are Kozhikode (Calicut) based companies. The city was also an important hub of top notch film makers like M. T. Vasudevan Nair, I. V. Sasi and T. Damodaran. Kozhikode (Calicut) produced such notable actors as Ummer, Mammukoya, Balan K. Nair, Santha Devi and Kuthiravattam Pappu. The ever green musician Baburaj, Gireesh Puthenchery, arguably one of the best lyricists in the Malayalam film industry, lyricist and music director Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, director, script writer and actor Ranjith, Hariharan, V. M. Vinu, A. Vincent, Shajoon Kariyal, Anjali Menon and cinematographer P. S. Nivas also hail from Kozhikode (Calicut). Some of the other cine actors like Madhupal, Anoop Menon, Nellikode Bhaskaran and Augustine are from Kozhikode (Calicut). Famous cine actress from Kozhikode (Calicut) include Swetha Menon, Nithya Menen, Mamta Mohandas, Ann Augustine, Nithya Das, Jomol, Akhila Sasidharan, Parvathi Menon.
Two IT “cyber parks” are under construction in Kozhikode (Calicut). One is the UL cyber park (constructed and operated by ULCCSC, a Kozhikode (Calicut)-based company). UL cyber park began operation in 2012 and will complete its first phase in 2013. The other park is run by the government, and will complete its first construction phase in 2014. Cyberpark, is a Government of Kerala organization planned to build, operate and manage IT parks for the promotion and development of investment in IT and ITES industries in Malabar region of Kerala and will be the third IT hub in the state of Kerala.The two IT park will create a total 1 lakh(100000) direct job opportunities. It is in the process of setting up IT parks at Kozhikode (Calicut), at the SEZs approved at Kannur and Kasargod. Its first project is the development of Cyberpark hub in Kozhikode (Calicut) with its spokes at Kannur and Kazargode IT parks. Other planned projects include the Birla IT park (at Mavoor) and Malaysian satellite city (at Kinaloor) where KINFRA has plans to set up a 400-acre (1.6 km2) industrial park.
The geographical conditions of city area and suburban areas are similar to the other parts of the district falling in coastal and midland zones. The region comprising Kozhikode (Calicut) Corporation and peri-urban blocks belong to the low- and midlands in the typical classification of land in Kerala as low-, mid- and highlands. Lagoons and backwaters characterize the lowland, which receives runoff from the rivers. The lowland is often subjected to salinity intrusion. The coastal plains exhibit more or less flat, narrow terrain with landforms such as beach ridges, sandbars, and backwater marshes. A few kilometers from the sea to the east, the surface gathers into slopes and clustering hills with numerous valleys in between formed due to floods and sediment transport. The Midlands is represented by hummocky rocky terrain with lateritised denudational hills and intervening valley fills (locally called elas). The ‘elas’ are fairly wide in the lower reaches of midlands and narrow towards the upper parts of the midlands.
Kozhikode (Calicut) is the ‘birthplace’ of the widely circulated Malayalam dailies Mathrubhumi, Desabhimani and Madhyamam. Chandrika, Thejas, Siraj, Varthamanam and Calicut Times are the another dailies from Kozhikode (Calicut). Along with those papers, noted dailies like Malayala Manorama, Kerala Kaumudi, Mangalam, Deepika, New Indian Express, The Hindu, Deccan chronicle,Janmabhumi, Veekshanam and evening dailies like Pradeepam, Rashtra deepika, News Kerala and Flash are published from Kozhikode (Calicut). Nearly all news agencies, other major newspapers published from outside the state are represented in Kozhikode (Calicut). The Times Of India, the largest-circulating English broadsheet newspaper in the world, started circulation in Kozhikode (Calicut) on 1 February 2012. A large number of weeklies, fortnightlies and monthlies are also published there (such as Information Technology Lokam, a computer magazine in Malayalam). Newspapers in other regional languages like English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu are available.
The Kozhikode (Calicut) Beach is situated near the town of Kozhikode (Calicut) and is known for its old world charm and natural beauty. The beach has two crumbling piers that stand toward the middle of the sea and each of them are them are more than hundred years old. The beach also houses a lighthouse, Marine Water Aquarium and Lions Park. The beach is a perfect setting for tourists wanting to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. The beach witnessess huge number of tourists everyday. A large area of the beach was renovated and various statues made by eminent artists are placed here. The coastal area is about 1.2 m above sea level, whereas the eastern part of the city is at about 15 m above sea level. The city has a long seashore of 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). Small hills dot the city terrain in the eastern and central portions. In the city nearly 5500 Hectares of land is used for cultivation and nearly 321 Hectares are waterlogged area.
During classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikode (Calicut) was dubbed the “City of Spices” for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the Samoothiris (Zamorins) in Middle Ages and later of the erstwhile Malabar district under British rule. Arab Muslim merchants traded with the region as early as 7th century, and Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut on 20 May 1498, thus opening a trade route between Europe and Malabar. A Portuguese factory and fort was intact in Kozhikode (Calicut) for short period (1511–1525, until the Fall of Calicut), the English landed in 1615 (constructed a trading post in 1665), followed by the French (1698) and the Dutch (1752). In 1765, Mysore captured Calicut as part of its occupation of Malabar Coast. Calicut, once a famous cotton-weaving center, gave its name to the Calico cloth.
Kerala primary education starts with pre-primary institutions just like Anganvadis and play schools where it is the basic stage in schooling. Primary school is further divided lower primary (LP) and into upper primary (UP) . The pattern of primary education is essentially the same all over the state. Each school is affiliated with either the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), Kerala State Education Board or the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). English is the language of instruction in most private schools, while government run schools offer English or Malayalam as the medium of instruction.The city is widely known through the functioning of educational institutions like St. Josephs Boys High School (established in 1794), Spring Valley School.
Kozhikode (Calicut) is famous for its boat-building yard, timber industry and historic temples and churches. There are a large number of tourist locations in the district while tourists visiting Kozhikode (Calicut) are attracted more towards leisure tourism including beaches and historical monuments. Kozhikode (Calicut) functions mostly as a transit point for domestic and foreign tourists. There are 148 classified hotels in Kerala, as listed by the Tourism Department, 22 hotels are located in Kozhikode (Calicut) city and constitute 15% of the state’s total classified hotels. Some of the popular places of interest are Kozhikode (Calicut) Beach, Veliyangadi (big bazaar), Mananchira, S.M. Street, Regional Science Centre and Planetarium, Sarovaram Biopark, Tali Siva Temple, Mishkal Mosque, Panniyankara Bhagavati Temple, Thiruvannur Siva Temple, Kappad Beach, Beypore, Thusharagiri Falls.
Kozhikode (Calicut) offers fare to suit every palate. It is famous for Kozhikodan Malabar Biriyani. The city is also famous for Kozhikodan Haluva called as Sweet Meat by Europeans due to the texture of the sweet. Kozhikode (Calicut) has a main road in the town named Mittai Theruvu (Sweet Meat Street, or S.M. Street for short). It derived this name from the numerous haluva stores which used to dot the street. Another specialty is banana chips, locally known as nenthra-kaaya oopperi or just upperi, which are made crisp and wafer-thin. Other popular dishes include seafood preparations (prawns, mussels, mackerel) . Vegetarian fare includes the sadya. However, the newer generation is more inclined towards to Chinese and American food. Chinese food is very popular among the locals.
The Kozhikode (Calicut) Monorail planned now under implementation stage.The construction will start by the end of 2012. The state government has submitted the proposal for the monorail project to the central government and is awaiting approval. It is an undertaking by DMRC.The routes planned: MedicCalicut Medical College-Meenchanda-Calicut International Airport .The monorail will connect through the railway station. The first phase of the project has an estimated cost of around 2000 crore, and is proposed for completion in three phases. It will reach to meenchanda. After completing this project, Kozhikode (Calicut) is the first city have Monorail in south India.The Kozhikode (Calicut) Monorail will be extended to Malapparamba, and plans exist to later extend it to Kunnamangalam.
Many prominent writers of Malayalam literature hail from Kozhikode (Calicut). Among them are S. K. Pottekkatt, Thikkodiyan, U. A. Khader, K. T. Muhammed, Akbar Kakkattil, N. V. Krishna Warrier, N.N. Kakkad, M.P.Veerendra Kumar, P. Valsala and M. T. Vasudevan Nair. Sanjayan a known satirist was also from the city. S. K. Pottekkatt was a famous Malayalam writer, author of nearly sixty books which include ten novels, twenty-four collections of short stories, three anthologies of poems, eighteen travelogues, four plays, a collection of essays and a couple of books based on personal reminiscences. His biographical novel Oru Desattinte Katha won the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1972, the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award in 1977, and the Jnanpith Award in 1980.
A television transmitter has been functioning in Kozhikode (Calicut) since 3 July 1984, relaying programmes from Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Doordarshan. Doordarshan has its broadcasting centre in Kozhikode (Calicut) located at Medical College. The Malayalam channels based on Kozhikode (Calicut) are the Darsana TV and Media One TV. All major channels in Malayalam viz. Manorama News, Asianet, Surya TV, Kairali TV, Amrita TV, Jeevan TV, Indiavision 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 Cable Vision popularly known as ACV telecasts daily city news. Spidernet is another local channel. Other local operators include KCL and Citinet.
Pre-modern Kozhikode (Calicut) was already teeming with people of several communities and regional groups. Most of these communities continued to follow their traditional occupations and customs till the 20th century. These included Kosavan (potter), Vannan (washerman), Pulayan (agricultural worker), Chaliyan (weaver), Chetti (merchant), Thiyya (physicians, militia and toddy tappers), Ganaka (astrologer), Vettuvan (salt-maker), Paanan (sorcerer), Eravallan (firewood and grass carrier), Kammalas, Parayan etc. A number of Brahmins too lived in the city mostly around the Hindu temples. Regional groups like the Tamil Brahmins, Gujaratis and Marwari Jains became part of the city at various periods and lived around their shrines.
The Muslims of Kozhikode (Calicut) are known as Mappilas, and according to the official Kozhikode (Calicut) website “the great majority of them are Sunnis following the Shafi school of thought. There are also some smaller communities among the Muslims such as Dawoodi Bohras. Many of the Muslims living in the historic part of the city follow matriliny and are noted for their piety. Though Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Kerala in 52 CE, the size of community in Malabar (northern Kerala) began to rise only after the arrival of the Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century. A few Christians of Travancore and Cochin have lately migrated to the hilly regions of the district and are settled there.
The city has a reasonably well-developed transport infrastructure. A large number of buses, predominantly run by individual owners, ply on the major 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 neighbouring 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 (one of the largest bus stand in Kerala) on Indira Gandhi Road (Mavoor Road). Buses operated by the KSRTC drive from the KSRTC bus stand on Indira Gandhi Road.
Kozhikode (Calicut) is one of the main commercial cities of Kerala. The economy is mainly business oriented. The city currently is the major trade hub of North Kerala with good connectivity through road, rail and air. It also has large timber yards along the banks of the Kallayi River. Kozhikode (Calicut) District with 8% of the state population makes 12% contribution to the state’s income. Kozhikode (Calicut) has witnessed a building boom in recent years. This is particularly evident in the number of malls and buildings built in recent years. Kozhikode (Calicut) is also going to be the first city in Kerala to have a mono rail transporting system.The KSRTC bus terminal which is under construction is the biggest bus terminal in Kerala.
The beginning of western education may be traced back to the first half of the 19th century, when in 1848 the basal Evangelical Mission started a primary school at Kallai. In 1877, a school for the young Rajas was started in Kozhikode (Calicut). This was later thrown open to all caste Hindu boys. In 1879, it was affiliated to the University of Madras as a second grade college and with this, collegiate education in the district received a fillip. Secondary education recorded an appreciable progress since 1915. The erstwhile Malabar district, of which the present Kozhikode (Calicut) district formed a part, holds a high rank among the districts of Madras Presidency in secondary education.