Kozhikode

Kozhikode
Calicut
Metropolis
From top: Kozhikode Beach, SM Street, IIM Kozhikode, Kozhikode International Airport, Chaliyam harbour, Kozhikode railwaystation board, Tali Shiva Mahakshetra temple, Hilite City
Nickname(s): 
City of Spices[1] (Other nicknames include City of Truth,[2] City of Sculptures,[3] City of Literature[4])
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (Kerala)
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (India)
Coordinates: 11°15′31.7″N 75°46′49.4″E / 11.258806°N 75.780389°E / 11.258806; 75.780389[1]
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKozhikode
Government
 • TypeMunicipal corporation
 • BodyKozhikode Municipal Corporation
 • MayorBeena Philip (CPI (M))
 • CollectorSnehil Kumar Singh IAS[5]
 • Member of ParliamentM. K. Raghavan (Indian National Congress)
 • City Police CommissionerA Akbar IPS[6]
Area
 • Metropolis
118.58 km2 (45.78 sq mi)
 • Metro
518 km2 (200 sq mi)
Elevation
34.47 m (113.09 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Metropolis
609,224
 • Density5,100/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
 • Metro4,387,000[8]
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
673xxx
Telephone code+91495xxxxxxx,
+91496xxxxxxx
Vehicle registrationKL 11, KL 18, KL 56,
KL 57, KL 76, KL 77, KL 85, KLD & KLZ (Historical)
GDDP(2024)US$11Billion (INR 9,630,856 lakhs)[10]
Sex ratio1.093  /[11]
Literacy rate96.8%[11]
International AirportCalicut International Airport
Websitewww.kozhikode.nic.in

Kozhikode (pronounced [koːɻikːoːɖɨ̆] ), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices,[1] Kozhikode is listed among the UNESCO's Cities of Literature.

It is the nineteenth largest urban agglomeration in the country and the second largest one in Kerala.[8] Calicut city is the second largest city proper in the state with a corporation limit population of 609,224 [12][13] Calicut is classified as a Tier-2 city by the Government of India.[14]

It is the largest city on the Malabar Coast and was the capital of the British-era Malabar district. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the Samoothiris (Zamorins).[1] The port at Kozhikode acted as the gateway to the medieval South Indian coast for the Chinese, the Persians, the Arabs, and finally the Europeans.[15] 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.[16] In 2023, Kozhikode was recognised by UNESCO as India's first City of Literature.[17]

  1. ^ a b c "Lectures 26-27". 16 July 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  2. ^ M. G. S. Narayanan (2006). The City of Truth Revisited. University of Calicut. p. 350. ISBN 978-8177481044.
  3. ^ "Kozhikode to be 'city of sculptures'". The Hindu. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Kozhikode is the first City of Literature in India". The Hindu. 31 October 2023 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ "Kozhikode District Website". Kozhikode Corporation. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  6. ^ "A Akbar to be new Kozhikode city police commissioner". April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ^ "ആമുഖം | കോഴിക്കോട് മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കോര്‍പ്പറേഷന്‍". kozhikodecorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Calicut, India Metro Area Population 1950-2025". www.macrotrends.net.
  9. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 million and above" (PDF). The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  10. ^ "ECONOMIC REVIEW 2024 GOVERNMENT OF KERALA State Planning Board, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India January 2025 Volume Two" (PDF). spb.kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011; Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011" (PDF). www.censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2012.
  13. ^ "KVK Narayangaon Education, Finance, Yojana, Sports". 20 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Tier I and Tier II Cities of India, Classification of Indian Cities". Mapsofindia.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference askh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Best cities to live, invest and earn in". Ibnlive.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2009. Indicus considered six parameters: health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment
  17. ^ "Kerala's Kozhikode included in UNESCO Creative Cities Network". OnManorama.