Visit the city of spices

Kozhikode (Calicut) lies on India's beautiful Malabar Coast in the southern Indian province of Kerala. Visitors can see where Vasco da Gama landed on the Kappad shore in 1498, go boating on Canolly Canal or watch wildlife at Dolphin's Point.

Kozhikode - climate and adventure

Kozhikode has a tropical climate and can be very hot and humid from March until May. The Monsoon seasons are from June to September and October to November so the best time to plan a trip is from December till March when the weather is milder.

All the usual Hindu festivals are celebrated in the city, including Diwali at the end of October. Look out for Shivarathri Utsavam, also in October, in the Mahaganapathy temple or Malabar Mahotsavam which is 5 days of music, drama and dance in January.

Basic facts about Kozhikode

Visas are required and it may be possible for holders of 'British Citizen' passports to apply for an e-Tourist Visa. All passports must be valid for at least 180 days at the time visas are applied for and should have at least two pages that are blank.

Certain vaccinations are recommended for Kerala including hepatitis A, cholera, typhoid and diphtheria, polio and tetanus. Visitors should also be aware that there is a risk of malaria in certain parts of India. Avoid drinking local tap water.

Crime rates are low in the region.

Tips on arrival in Kozhikode 

The city is very cheap in comparison to London and a basic meal should cost around 50 Rs.

The city centre is 28km from Calicut International Airport. The journey costs about INR 3-4 per km on the 747 Airport bus which can be caught 2km from the airport at the Kondotty bus stand.

The best accommodation can be found near the beach as heavy traffic tends to make other parts of Kozhikode noisy. Expect to pay about Rs 500 for budget rooms or around Rs 4,200 for luxury hotels.

Local buses charge around Rs 7 for every 3km while Rickshaws are about Rs 15 for each km.