ROYAL WORLD TRAVEL
––» Kerala Beaches
––» Kappad Beach
Kappad Beach
Location:
About 16 km from Kozhikode town. For the people of Kozhikode, this pleasant
stretch of rock studded beach is Kappakkadavu.
To the tourist it is one of the most charming of Kerala's beaches. Kappad finds
mention in history and geography texts as the gateway to the Malabar coast.
Here, 501 years ago, 170 men led by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama (1460-1524)
sailed in and stepped into Kerala to create a new chapter in history. The story
of a long and tumultuous socio-political relationship between India and Europe.
It was the spices and wealth of Malabar that first brought the Arabs, the Phoenicans,
the Greeks, the Romans, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to Kerala.
Kappad has witnessed many such landings. Kozhikode was then the most important
trade centre of the Malabar region and the Zamorins who ruled this mighty land
were powerful and shrewd.
Though the Portuguese were welcomed in Kozhikode they were not too well encouraged
or entertained for long by the Zamorins, which might be the reason they shifted
their base to Kochi and Kollam down south.
Today
only a little stone monument is left at the Kappad beach to speak of its great
historic importance. On the rocks nearby is a temple believed to be 800 years
old.
To the tourist, however, this little sea faring town is a haven. The best route
to Kappad is along the backwaters.
Unspoilt and uncrowded, the picturesque backwaters of Kozhikode offers a bewitching
experience. A ride down the backwaters through the Korappuzha river brings you
to the beach.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 16 km.
Nearest airport: Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 23 km
from Kozhikode town.
