Kozhikode, formerly called Calicut was the traditional capital of Northern
Kerala under the Samuthiri rule. Calicut, the most important city of
Malabar region of Kerala, was a leading trading centre for spices on
the West Coast of India during the medieval period.
Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut (Kappad - 16 KM from the city) in 1498,
becoming the first European to reach India by the sea route around
the southern cape of Africa. A bustling city and commercial capital of Malabar,
Calicut, has an International Airport, University, Medical College
and
prestigious Indian Institute of Management and National Institute of
Technology to its credit.
