# Kozhikode

> city in Kerala, India

**Wikidata**: [Q28729](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28729)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhikode)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kozhikode

## Summary
Kozhikode, historically known as Calicut, is a major city located in the state of Kerala, India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kozhikode district and is situated on the Malabar Coast at an elevation of approximately 1 meter above sea level. The city covers an area of 177 square kilometers and has a population of 431,560.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Kozhikode is classified as a city and a big city (large human settlement).
*   **Location:** It is located in Kerala, India, at coordinates 11.24°N, 75.78°E.
*   **Area:** The city spans an area of 177 square kilometres.
*   **Elevation:** The city is situated at an elevation of 1 metre above sea level.
*   **Population:** The population of Kozhikode is recorded as 431,560.
*   **Administrative Role:** It is the capital of the Kozhikode district. Historically, it was the capital of the Malabar District until December 31, 1956.
*   **Historical Governance:** The city was part of the Portuguese Empire from 1513 to 1525.
*   **Identifiers:** The UN/LOCODE for Kozhikode is IN CCJ. The postal code is 673001.
*   **Bordering Entities:** Kozhikode shares a border with Perambra.
*   **Digital Presence:** The city maintains an official website at http://www.kozhikode.nic.in/.

## FAQs
**What are the historical names and aliases for Kozhikode?**
Kozhikode is known by several names including Calicut, Kalikut, Calecut, and Calicute. It is important to distinguish it from Kolkata (historically Calcutta), which is a different city; sources explicitly note that Kozhikode is "different from" Kolkata.

**What is the administrative history of Kozhikode?**
Kozhikode currently serves as the capital of the Kozhikode district, a status it has held since January 1, 1957. Prior to this, it was located within and served as the capital of the Malabar District from 1792 until the end of 1956.

**How is Kozhikode referenced in historical literature?**
The city is described in numerous historical encyclopedias, including the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia* (1926–1947), and the *Encyclopædia Britannica* 11th edition (under the entry "Calicut"). It is also referenced in the *History of Ming* (Volume 326) and the *Nuttall Encyclopædia*.

**What geographical features define Kozhikode?**
The city is defined by its low elevation of 1 meter above sea level and a total area of 177 square kilometers. It is situated within the Kozhikode district and shares a border with the locality of Perambra.

## Why It Matters
Kozhikode holds significance as a prominent urban center on the Malabar Coast with a deep colonial and trade history, evidenced by its incorporation into the Portuguese Empire in the early 16th century (1513–1525). Its documented history in major global encyclopedias and historical texts, such as the *History of Ming* and various Soviet and Western encyclopedias, highlights its long-standing geopolitical relevance. As the administrative seat for the Kozhikode district and the former capital of the Malabar District, it serves as a critical hub for governance and regional organization in Kerala. The city's extensive global recognition is further underscored by its presence across over 80 Wikipedia language editions and numerous international authority control records.

## Notable For
*   **Global Historical Recognition:** Documented in the *History of Ming*, *Great Soviet Encyclopedia*, *Brockhaus and Efron*, and the 11th edition of *Encyclopædia Britannica*.
*   **Extensive Multilingual Presence:** The entity has Wikipedia sitelinks in over 80 languages, including English, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Malayalam, indicating high global interest.
*   **Colonial History:** One of the few Indian cities explicitly recorded as being part of the Portuguese Empire during the early 16th century.
*   **Low Elevation:** Uniquely situated at an elevation of only 1 meter above sea level.
*   **Nomenclature Confusion:** Explicitly defined as distinct from Kolkata (Calcutta) in knowledge bases due to the phonetic similarity of "Calicut" and "Calcutta."

## Body

### Geography and Administrative Structure
Kozhikode is a coastal city located in the Indian state of Kerala. Geographically, it is positioned at 11.247°N latitude and 75.780°E longitude. The city covers a total land area of 177 square kilometres and is situated at an elevation of just 1 metre above sea level. Administratively, Kozhikode is the capital of the Kozhikode district. It shares a border with the locality of Perambra. The city's primary postal code is 673001.

### Historical Context
The city has a complex administrative history. From 1792 until January 1, 1957, Kozhikode was part of the Malabar District. It served as the capital of this district until December 31, 1956. On January 1, 1957, it was officially designated as the capital of the newly formed Kozhikode district.

Internationally, Kozhikode was part of the Portuguese Empire starting in 1513, though this status ended in 1525. The city is frequently cited in historical texts under the name "Calicut." It is the subject of entries in the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia* (1926–1947), and the *Nuttall Encyclopædia*. Furthermore, the city is referenced in the *History of Ming* (Volume 326) and was the subject of an entry in the 1911 *Encyclopædia Britannica*.

### Demographics and Society
Kozhikode is categorized as a "big city" and a "large human settlement." The recorded population stands at 431,560 individuals. The city has specific categories dedicated to people associated with it, including "People from Kozhikode" and "Deaths in Kozhikode." The local economy is described by the topic "economy of Kozhikode."

### Nomenclature and Linguistics
The city is known by a multitude of names and aliases across different languages and historical periods. Common aliases include **Calicut**, **Kalikut**, **Calecut**, and **Calicute**. In various international scripts, it appears as コージコード (Japanese), 古裏 or 古里佛 (Chinese), Каликут (Russian), and كاليكوت (Arabic).

To prevent confusion, knowledge bases explicitly differentiate Kozhikode (historically "Calicut") from the city of Kolkata (historically "Calcutta"). Pronunciation of the name is documented via audio files, including a general pronunciation and a specific Malayalam pronunciation (LL-Q36236).

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Kozhikode maintains a significant digital footprint across various knowledge bases and authority control systems.

*   **Official and Social:** The official government website is `www.kozhikode.nic.in`. It has a Facebook location ID (110094789019766), a Reddit topic ID (`kozhikode`), and is listed as a topic on Quora.
*   **Library and Authority IDs:** The city is cataloged by major libraries under identifiers such as the Library of Congress (`n83060710`), Bibliothèque nationale de France (`15538833f`), National Library of Spain (`XX6079247`), and the German National Library (`4302447-6`). It possesses a VIAF ID (`125525481`) and a FAST ID (`1225154`).
*   **Encyclopedia IDs:** It is listed in the Encyclopædia Britannica Online (`place/Kozhikode`), the Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (`2035633`), and the De Agostini ID (`Calicut+(città)`).
*   **Geospatial and Databases:** The city has a GeoNames ID (`1265873`), an OpenStreetMap node ID (`1348192542`), and a UN/LOCODE (`IN CCJ`). It is also indexed in the OpenWeatherMap city database.

### Media and Visual Documentation
Visual documentation of the city is available through Wikimedia Commons. Key media files include:
*   **Image:** `Calicut-bus-stand.JPG`
*   **Page Banner:** `Kozhikode_banner.jpg`
*   **Locator Map:** `Kozhikode_locator.png`
The main category for organizing media related to the city is `Category:Kozhikode`, with specific sub-categories for maps and plans.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. GeoNames
6. BBC Things
7. Quora