Dear friends,
If you have visited kerala and have visited the beautiful beaches of kovalam, the lakes of kollam and the venice of the east -alleppey. Now you want to relax -----I recommend Calicut.
Just like Vasco da Gama --- explore Calicut and the places around. Unlike Trivandrum this is not a tourist oriented place so don’t expect so many conducted tours etc. Instead you be your tour guide. And believe me, you can move around in strict budget.
First of all calicut is easily accessible by road, rail and air. Airport is half an hour’s ride. Good and within-budget hotels are available: Calicut tower near busstand 700 rs for double room ac, hyson heritage near bus tsand 1100 rs, sea queen near the beach -1400 rs and taj (star hotel) 2000 Rs.
OK so you are settled. Relax ... if you want malabari traditional food go to Zains hotel or paragon hotel or sagar hotel ( 50 rs for biriyani --spicy ---rice with meat ).
Travel by Autorickshaws always ( really honest people ). Best in India.
If you want North Indian or continental food have it from calicut tower or asma tower (across the road). People are helpful. Ask in english.
Take an auto and visit kallai. There you can see centuries old timber shops where timber is transported by nature---river kallai. Take photos.
Go to krishna menon museum where you can see vk krishnamenon s memoribilia and pazhasi raja museum.
Evening visit the beach of calicut by auto. If in Taj it’s only walking distance.
At 6 pm visit the zamorins courtyard the mananchira square which is historically important. Zamorin was the king of malabar 500 years back and westerners came to him first.
India is the tourists paradise -- cheap price collectibles. Walk on the nearby sweetmeat street (SM street )next to mananchira square and u can buy halwa (sweet), dresses (calicutians are very fond of bright colors), spices , comtrust is nearby where you can see 150 year old showroom in british style building.
City of Calicut is relatively safe compared to other cities in india.
Weather is pleasant never too cold but can be a little hot in summer. Avoid the rainy season though.
Now for part 2 : you have come to relax not running around too much. Why not go to kottakkal 1 hr from calicut (by bus ) and get a refreshing authentic ayurvedic massage(it is world famous ) arya vaidya sala . ----btw I’m a doctor of modern medicine and recom, mending ayurveda :) but their massage is excellent.
You can stay there at kottakkal and the next day or (many days later ) u can go to kappad beach. This is where Vasco Da gama landed. There is a monument there and a beautiful beach. And there is a beach resort too ---renaissance hotel.
You can stay there if you want.
Otherwise again proceed via road to vadagara-- the land of the northern ballads. It is the land of kalaripayattu which is a very ancient martail art like kungfu -jujitsu combination. Visit any local kalaris you have to ask around--kadathanadu kalari example.
In vadagara there is a place where you get antiques near the beach. Take an auto from vadagara bus stand. Visit the lokanarkavu temple --4 kms away. Beautiful temple with very long history.
From vadagara you come back to calicut or visit beypore---famous for traditional ship building . --uru. You can buy show pieces --ships of small size. Don’t stay at beypore.
Go back to calicut --- buy gold if u want many gold shops --- women are you listening??
Summarising --- choose Calicut if you want a relaxing holiday with a taste of history.