Kozhikode district (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, along its southwestern Malabar Coast. The city of Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is the district headquarters.
The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making Kozhikode metropolitan area the second-largest in Kerala and the 19th largest in India. Kozhikode is classified as a Tier 2 city by the Government of India. NIT Calicut, NIEIT and IIM Kozhikode are institutions of national importance located in the district.
Kozhikode is the largest city in the erstwhile Malabar District and acted as its headquarters during British Raj. 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), which was also the largest kingdom in Kerala prior to the expansion of Travancore in the mid-18th century CE. The port at Kozhikode acted as the gateway to medieval South Indian coast for the Chinese, the Arabs, the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British.
Kozhikode district is bordered by the districts of Kannur and Mahé (Puducherry) to the north, Wayanad to the east, and Malappuram to the south. The Arabian Sea lies to the west and the Western Ghats mountain range stretches towards the east. Vavul Mala, a 2,339 m high peak situated on the trijunction of Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts, is the highest point of elevation in the district. It lies between latitudes 11° 08'N and 11° 50'N and longitudes 75° 30'E and 76° 8'E. The Thamarassery Churam connects the city of Kozhikode with the plateau of Wayanad.
The district is divided into four taluks: Kozhikode, Vatakara, Koyilandy and Thamarassery. By the 2011 census there are 12 block panchayats: Balusseri, Chelannur, Koduvally, Kozhikode, Kunnamangalam, Kunnummal, Melady, Panthalayani, Perambra, Thodannur, Thuneri and Vatakara. The Multidimensional Poverty Index report prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kozhikode as the third-least poor district in India, only after to Kottayam and Ernakulam, with a negligible multidimensional poverty rate of 0.26%.
Etymology The exact origin of the name Kozhikode is uncertain. According to many sources, the name Kozhikode is derived from Koyil-kota (fort), meaning fortified palace. Koil or Koyil or Kovil is the Malayalam/Tamil term for a Hindu temple, referring to the Tali Shiva Temple. Both the terms kōyil and kōvil are used interchangeably. The name also got corrupted into Kolikod, or its Arab version Qāliqūṭ and later its anglicised version Calicut. The Arab merchants called it Qāliqūṭ (IPA: qˠaːliqˠːuːtˤ). Chinese merchants called it Kūlifo. Tamils called it as Kallikottai.
The city is officially named Kozhikode in Malayalam, and in English, it is known by its anglicised version, Calicut.M.G.S. Narayanan, Calicut: The City of Truth (2006) Calicut University Press, Kozhikode. The word calico, a fine variety of hand-woven cotton cloth that was exported from the port of Kozhikode, is thought to have been derived from Calicut.Encyclopædia Britannica (2008). calico The term for tricolour cats called calico cats, is as well derived from the fabric name.
History
Following the formation of Kerala in 1956, the erstwhile Malabar District was divided into three: Kannur district, Kozhikode district, and Palakkad district.
At that time, Kozhikode district had two Revenue Divisions: Kozhikode Revenue Division and Malappuram Revenue Division. Kozhikode Revenue Division had four Taluks: Vatakara, Koyilandy, Kozhikode, and South Wayanad. Malappuram Division had two Taluks: Eranad and Tirur.
On 16 June 1969, Malappuram Revenue Division of Kozhikode district excluding three Revenue villages, Feroke, Ramanattukara, and Kadalundi, was separated to form Malappuram district.
Again on 1 November 1980, the South Wayanad Taluk of Kozhikode district was separated to form Wayanad district.
Demographics
(Details for 'Kozhikode Urban' retrieved from Census of India.)
According to the 2018 Statistics Report, Kozhikode district has a population of 3,249,761, roughly equal to the nation of Mongolia or the US state of Iowa. 2011 Census of India gives the district a ranking of 115th in India (out of a total of 640). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 7.31%. Kozhikode has a sex ratio of 1097 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 95.24%. 67.15% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 6.45% and 0.49% of the population respectively.
The Kozhikode metropolitan area has a population of more than 2 million, making it the second-largest in Kerala and the 19th largest in India. 67.15% of the total population of Kozhikode district live in urban areas (which includes Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Census Towns), according to the 2011 Census of India.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index report prepared by NITI Aayog based on the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 declared Kozhikode as the third-least poor district in India, only after to Kottayam and Ernakulam, with a negligible multidimensional poverty rate of 0.26%.
Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 99.05% of the population. Small minorities speak Tamil and Hindi, mainly in urban areas.
Religion
According to the 2011 census, Hindus constitute the majority of the population, followed by Muslims and Christians. The proportion in the 2011 census was 56.21% Hindus; 39.24% Muslims and 4.26% Christians.
There is a small presence of Jains (601), Sikhs (297), and Buddhists (235).
Climate The district has a generally humid climate with a very hot season extending from March to May. The rainy season is during the South West Monsoon, which sets in the first week of June and extends up to September. The North East Monsoon extends from the second half of October through November. The average annual rainfall is . The best weather is found in towards the end of the year, in December and January – the skies are clear, and the air is crisp. The highest temperature recorded was in March 1975. The lowest was recorded on 26 December 1975.
Administration
The headquarters of the district administration is Kozhikode Civil Station in West Hill. The district administration is headed by the District collector. He is assisted by deputy collectors with responsibility for general matters, land acquisition, revenue recovery, land reforms, and elections.Administration
Urban Local Bodies
There are seven municipal towns in the district, in addition to the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, which was established in 1962 as the second municipal corporation in Kerala after Trivandrum.Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency redrawn Delimitation impact, The Hindu 5 February 2008 The district's municipal towns are: + Urban local bodies in Kozhikode districtMunicipalityPopulation (2011)Area(km2) Population density (/km2) Taluk Vatakara 75,295 21.32 3,532 Vatakara Koyilandy 71,873 29.05 2,474 Koyilandy Feroke 54,074 15.54 3,480 Kozhikode Payyoli 49,470 22.34 2,214 Koyilandy Koduvally 48,687 23.85 2,041 Thamarassery Mukkam 40,670 31.20 1,304 Kozhikode Ramanattukara 35,937 11.70 3,072 Kozhikode
Legislative representation
There are three Lok Sabha constituency in Kozhikode: Vatakara, Kozhikode, and Wayanad.
There are 13 Kerala Legislative Assembly seats in Kozhikode district.Niyamsabha official site + Kerala Legislative Assembly Constituencies from Kozhikode district Constituency MemberPartyAllianceVatakara K. K. Rema RMPIKuttiady K. P. Kunhahammed KuttyCPI(M)Nadapuram E. K. VijayanCPIKoyilandy Kanathil Jameela CPI(M)Perambra T. P. Ramakrishnan CPI(M)Balussery K. M. Sachin Dev CPI(M)Elathur A. K. Saseendran NCPKozhikode NorthThottathil RavindranCPI(M)Kozhikode South Ahamed DevarkovilINLBeypore P. A. Mohammed Riyas CPI(M)Kunnamangalam P. T. A. Rahim LDF Ind.Koduvally M. K. MuneerIUMLThiruvambady Linto JosephCPI(M)
Administrative divisions
Revenue divisionTalukArea (km2)Population (2011)Number of villagesTownsRevenue villages Vatkara Vatakara 576 687,726 28 Vadakara Nadapuram Kuttiady Chorode Eramala Vanimal Azhiyur Ayanchery Azhiyur Chekkiad Chorode Edachery Eramala Kavilumpara Kayakody Kottappally Kunnummal Kuttiady Maniyoor Maruthonkara Nadakkuthazha Nadapuram Narippatta Onchiam Palayad Purameri Thinoor Thiruvallur Thuneri Vatakara Valayam Vanimel Velom Vilangad Villiappally Koyilandy 642 645,879 31 Koyilandi Chemancheri Ulliyeri Balussery Perambra Arikkulam Atholi Avitanallur Balussery Chakkittapara Changaroth Chemancheri Chempanoda Chengottukavu Cheruvannur Eravattur Iringal Kayanna Keezhariyur Koorachundu Koothali Kottur Kozhukkallur Menhannyam Meppayur Moodadi Naduvannur Nochad Palery Panthalayany Payyoli Perambra Thikkodi Thurayur Ulliyeri Viyyur Kozhikode Thamarassery 574 401,831 20 Thamarassery Thiruvambady Koodaranji Koduvally Kodencheri Omassery Poonoor Engapuzha Kanthalad Kattippara Kinalur Kizhakkoth Kodencheri Koduvally Kedavoor Koodaranji Koodathayi Narikkuni Nellipoyil Panangad Puthuppadi Puthur Raroth Sivapuram Thiruvambady Unnikulam Vavad Kozhikode 547 1,354,107 39 Kozhikode Kadalundi Feroke Ramanattukara Mukkam Kunnamangalam Beypore Beypore Chathamangalam Chelannur Celavoor Cheruvannur Chevayoor Elathur Feroke Kacheri Kadalundi N. N. Kakkad Kakkodi Kakkur Karuvanthuruthy Kasaba Kodiyathur Kottooli Kumaranallur Kunnamangalam Parambil Bazar Kuttikkattoor and Velliparamba Madavoor Mavoor Nagaram Nanmanda Neeleshwaram Nellikode Bhaskaran Olavanna Panniyankara Pantheeramkavu Perumanna Peruvayal Poolacode Puthuyangadi Ramanattukara Thalakkulathur Thazhekode Valayanad Vengeri
Economy
Kozhikode is one of the largest economic hubs in Kerala. Being home to about 8% of the state's population, the district contributes more than 12% to the state's income. Nedungadi Bank, the first and oldest bank in the modern state of Kerala, was established by Appu Nedungadi at Kozhikode in the year 1899. Cyberpark at Kozhikode is one of IT hubs in Kerala. The economy of Kozhikode significantly depends upon its Service sector.
Culture
Malayalam language In the field of Malayalam language and literature, Kozhikode district has made many significant contributions. During the 17th century, His Highness Sri Samoothiri Manavedan Maharaja authored the famous Krishnattam, a Manipravalam text describing the childhood of Lord Krishna in eight volumes. The district is famous for folk songs or ballads known as Vadakkan Pattukal. The most popular songs celebrate the exploits of Thacholi Othenan and Unniyarcha. An intellectual debate for Vedic scholars, where winners receive the title of Pattathanam, takes place at Thali temple during the month of Thulam. Kozhikode also has a strong associations with ghazals and football.
Malayalam literature