Travel loans have become a convenient way to fulfill all your travel dreams without having to worry about money. This is because you can easily opt for quick personal loans from online lenders and pay back over time without compromising on your monthly budget. This week, I would like to tell you more about a quaint coastal town in Kerala and why that travel loan would be worth it.
A land where whiffs of ‘Sulaimani’, the local black tea follow you around! Where the legendary ‘Kozhikode Biriyani’, Banana Chips and ‘Kozhikode Halwa’ hold their own amidst the greatest of Asian cuisines! Where you can soak up the Mystique Malabar and become one among them in no time at all…
Here’s your answer if you are wondering why you should endure a 5 hour journey from Cochin to Calicut. And that is not all. You can just congratulate yourself on stumbling upon an offbeat experience oozing with warmth.
Forever a flourishing spice trading coastal town, Calicut, the erstwhile seat of the formidable Zamorin Empire has a particular draw- the Kappad beach to trace the trail of Vasco Da Gama’s first step to the nation back in 1498- something that changed India’s destiny drastically for hundreds of years to come. Or hop to Beypore to watch colossal shipping vessels called ‘Urus’ being manufactured. More than touristy, Calicut is more of a break from your regular Kerala trip that encourages you to do nothing but absorb the friendliness & serenity flowing all over.
A hunting ground for Ayurveda treatments and ethnic spices, both a terrific hit among the travellers and locals alike, you’ll feel the small town getting bigger and bigger in your eyes. If you are a fan of quietude, we suggest you visit Harivihar Ayurvedic Retreat, a mere 10 minutes from the main town by rickshaw. Calicut Ayur on the banks of Iruthully River too is an idyllic choice. These retreats are so designed that the moment you step inside, the outside noises seem to magically disappear. Quite tempting, isn’t it, to sign up for a massage session?
If interested, you may check out the local Kerala Martial Arts Centre nearby. Clangs of swords and urumi (a very traditional & even more dangerous weapon) add to the surreal experience watching the fighters moving with frightening agility.
A visit to the Theeram Nature Conservation Society around 30 km away from the north of Calicut can shake awake the hidden naturalist in you. The story of its inception is that inspiring. Gobsmacked to find that the Olive Ridley turtles, a part of their staple food, a bunch of local fishermen of Kolavipuram shore to rig up a small turtle hatchery. If you’re visiting Calicut during November to December, you may catch sight of female turtles appearing on the beach to lay eggs, which will hatch in 2-3 months.
People jokingly say that Calicut has more textile shops and eateries than natives. Though a huge exaggeration in itself, you will kind of agree as you walk past oodles of such enterprises. The popular ‘Mittayi Theruvu’ (Sweet Meat Street), close to Mananchira Square is a lively testimony to that. Wandering amidst the street with the swirling mass of busy people can consume your entire afternoon. Its narrow lanes seem to course with the din in tiny sarees and chappal shops punctuated with bakeries that are essentially ephemeral Pandora boxes of pleasures.
As you raise hands to bid farewell to this small town, you will muse that getting off the beaten path was worth it.
