Kozhikode, formerly called Calicut was the traditional capital of Northern Kerala under the Samuthiri rule. Calicut, the most important city of Malabar region of Kerala, was a leading trading centre for spices on the West Coast of India during the medieval period.

Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut (Kappad - 16 KM from the city) in 1498, becoming the first European to reach India by the sea route around the southern cape of Africa. A bustling city and commercial capital of Malabar, Calicut, has an International Airport, University, Medical College and prestigious Indian Institute of Management and National Institute of Technology to its credit.