Les meilleurs hôtels à Kozhikode

Vasco da Gama's first look at India was at the port city of Kozhikode on the southwestern coast. By the time da Gama arrived in 1498, however, the city had long been an important and rich trading post, due to its secure harbor that brought together "merchants from every city and from every country." Ships laden with the legendary riches of India -- teak, ivory, pepper, ginger, cinnamon and other spices -- sailed from Kozhikode for the markets of the world. The city is still an important trading center for timber and tiles and boasts a number of attractions for its visitors. Exhibits at the Pazhassi Raja Museum include ancient murals, antique bronzes and old coins, and models of temples and monuments. Next door is the Art Gallery and its painted treasures, while the Krishna Menon Museum safeguards the belongings and souvenirs of the Indian leader V.K. Krishna Menon. The city center has been transformed into a large park called Mananchira Square, site of a musical fountain and an open-air theater. Nearby, the beaches beckon with soft trade breezes, and dolphins are frequently at play in the harbor. The small state of Kerala has its own language -- Malayalam -- and the earliest written record of the language dates to 830 C.E. The language and its many dialects are very much alive today. As happens in most port cities, the language has evolved with the city's visitors and over the years has incorporated parts of speech and idioms from tongues as diverse as Sanskrit, English, Latin and Portuguese. And in another interesting lexicographical note, Kozhikode's English name of Calicut has a well-known derivative in America. Calicut is said to be the origin of the word "calico," a variety of handwoven cloth that is reputed to have originated here.