• Souvenir deities are sold at many monuments.indian gods image by mkb from Fotolia.com
  
  Calicut, also known as Kozhikode, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. During the Middle Ages, it was called the "City of Spices" for its reputation as a trading center for spices. The city's people are ethnically and religiously mixed. The city has a deep history going back to the 14th century.
  
  

Mananchira Square

• This is the heart of the city and was once the main courtyard of the palace for the Zamorin rulers, kings of Kerala during the Middle Ages. The square comprises a large park surrounded by important ancient and modern temples, mosques and churches. The Commonwealth Trust's office, one of the city's oldest institutions, is situated here, as are a number of contemporary government buildings. The complex is circled by 250 lamp posts designed in the colonial style of the 19th century.
  
  

Kappad Beach

• At Kappad Beach is a monument commemorating the landing of Vasco da Gama, the first European explorer to arrive in this area, as well as an ancient temple built on a hill. The 1498 landing of da Gama started the introduction of European exploration of the Indian region, culminating with its colonization by the British.
  
  

Thikkoti Lighthouse

• According to local history, Thikkoti Lighthouse was built on the remains of a shipwreck near the rocky shore. Erected in 1847, the lighthouse is now a tourist monument and a migratory point for birds passing through the area. Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy the expansive view of the rough Arabian Sea.
  
  

Lokanarkavu Temple

• This is the official original temple of the Nagarik people, who migrated to the region in the 16th century. The temple comprises three rock caves engraved with carvings and murals featuring the heroes and heroines of the "Vadakkanpattu," a collection of ballads of medieval origin. It forms the center of the "Lokanarkavu Festival," a weeklong celebration.
  
  

Tali Temple

• This 14th-century temple, designed in wood and laterite (a rock rich in iron and aluminum), is a prime example of indigenous Keralan architecture. In its glorious days, this temple was the center of the "Revathi Pattattaanam" festival, a seven-day celebration of learning and scholarship.