Instant Travel Loans and more about O’Spicy Calicut
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 fast personal loans from online lenders and pay over time without compromising your monthly budget. This week, I’d like to tell you more about a quaint seaside town in Kerala and why it might be worth that travel loan.
A land where puffs of ‘Sulaimani’, the local black tea follow you! Where the legendary ‘Kozhikode Biriyani’, Banana Chips and ‘Kozhikode Halwa’ stand out amongst the best Asian cuisine! Where you can soak up the Malabar Mystic and become one among them in no time…
Here is your answer if you are wondering why you should put up with a 5 hour drive from Cochin to Calicut. And that’s not all. You can simply congratulate yourself for stumbling upon an offbeat experience that exudes warmth.
Always a thriving seaside spice-trading town, Calicut, the former seat of the formidable Zamorin Empire, has one particular draw: Kappad Beach to trace Vasco Da Gama’s first footstep into the nation in 1498, something that drastically changed the destiny of India for hundreds of years to come. Or hop over to Beypore to see how the colossal transport ships called ‘Urus’ are made. More than touristy, Calicut is more of a break from your regular trip to Kerala that encourages you to do nothing but absorb the friendliness and serenity that flows throughout.
A hunting ground for Ayurveda treatments and ethnic spices, both a big hit with travelers and locals alike, you’ll feel the small town getting bigger and bigger before your eyes. If you are a fan of tranquility, we suggest you visit Harivihar Ayurvedic Retreat, just 10 minutes from the main town by rickshaw. Calicut Ayur, on the banks of the Iruthully River, is also an idyllic choice. These retreats are designed in such a way that the moment you walk in, outside noises seem to magically disappear. Pretty tempting, isn’t it, to sign up for a massage session?
If you are interested, you can visit the nearby Kerala Martial Arts Center. Sword strikes and urumi (a very traditional and even more dangerous weapon) add to the surreal experience of watching the fighters move with terrifying agility.
A visit to the Theeram Nature Conservation Society, some 30 km north of Calicut, may awaken the naturalist in you. The story of its beginnings is so inspiring. Stunned to discover that Olive Ridley turtles, a part of their staple food, a group of local fishermen from the Kolavipuram coast built a small turtle hatchery. If you visit Calicut from November to December, you may see female turtles appearing on the beach to lay eggs, which will hatch in 2-3 months.
People joke that Calicut has more textile shops and restaurants than natives. Although it’s a huge exaggeration in and of itself, you’ll agree when walking past loads of such companies. The popular ‘Mittayi Theruvu’ (Sweet Meat Street), near Mananchira Square, is a vivid testimony to this. Strolling down the street with the swirling mass of busy people can consume the entire afternoon. Its narrow lanes seem to flow with the din of little saris and chappal shops dotted with bakeries that are essentially ephemeral Pandora’s boxes of delights.
As you raise your hand to say goodbye to this small town, you’ll think it was worth getting off the beaten path.
