Kozhikode

Town and seaport in Kerala state, southwest India; population (1991) 800,900. A major commercial centre for north Kerala, the textile industry is important here. The word calico derives from the Calicut, the British name for the town in the 18th century. It was formerly the centre of Kerala's timber industry. Boat-building is important, and tea, coffee, coconuts and spices are exported.

It was visited by Vasco Da Gama in 1498, and a Portuguese factory was established in 1513, but abandoned 12 years later. An English trading post was set up in 1616; British rule was imposed in 1792.