Kozhikode
Kozhikode (pronounced [koːɻikːoːɖɨ̆] ⓘ), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Kerala and the 19th largest in India. Kozhikode is classified as a Tier 2 city by the Government of India.
Kozhikode
Calicut | |
|---|---|
From top: Kozhikode Beach, Kakkayam Valley, IIM Kozhikode, Calicut mini bypass, KSRTC bus stand complex, Hilite Mall, Chaliyam harbour, Calicut beach skyline. | |
| Nickname(s): City of Spices
(Other nicknames include City of Truth, City of Sculptures, City of Literature) | |
Kozhikode Kozhikode (Kerala) Kozhikode Kozhikode (India) Kozhikode Kozhikode (Asia) Kozhikode Kozhikode (Earth) | |
| Coordinates: 11°15′31.7″N 75°46′49.4″E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kozhikode |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal corporation |
| • Mayor | Beena Philip (CPI (M)) |
| • Collector | Narasimhugari T L Reddy IAS |
| • Member of Parliament | M. K. Raghavan (Indian National Congress) |
| • City Police Commissioner | A Akbar IPS |
| Area | |
| • Metropolis | 231 km2 (89 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 518 km2 (200 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 34.47 m (113.09 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Metropolis | 1,808,056 |
| • Density | 7,800/km2 (20,000/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,091,984 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 673xxx |
| Telephone code | +91495xxxxxxx, +91496xxxxxxx |
| Vehicle registration | KL 11, KL 18, KL 56, KL 57, KL 76, KL 77, KL 85, KLD & KLZ (Historical) |
| Sex ratio | 1.093 ♀/♂ |
| Literacy rate | 96.8% |
| International Airport | Calicut International Airport |
| Website | www |
It is the largest city in the region known as the Malabar Coast and was the capital of the British-era Malabar district. In antiquity and the medieval period, Kozhikode was dubbed the City of Spices for its role as the major trading point for Indian spices. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the Samoothiris (Zamorins). The port at Kozhikode acted as the gateway to medieval South Indian coast for the Chinese, the Persians, the Arabs, and finally the Europeans. According to data compiled by economics research firm Indicus Analytics in 2009 on residences, earnings and investments, Kozhikode was ranked the second-best city in India to live in. In November 2023, Kozhikode became the first Indian city to be included in the list of Creative Cities Network (UCCN) by UNESCO.