Kozhikode Pilgrim Centre

Mishkal Mosque

This five-storied structure is a landmark architecturally as well as historically. Built by a rich Arab businessman and ship owner Nakhooda Mishkal, nearly 650 years ago, this mosque is built extensively of wood barring the outer Italian tile paving, the laterite superstructure and the Malabar tiles on the roof. The entire structure is supported on 24 solid pillars of carved wood and there are 47 doors, which are opened to receive devotees, 300 of whom can pray on the ground floor alone. The salient features of old mosque in Kerala include the abundant use of timber and an absence of couples and minarets. A unique feature of this mosque in Kerala here is the square or rectangular tanks attached to them, similar to those in temples of Kerala. The Kuttichira tank though is a little away from Mishkal Mosque. Old, weather beaten laterite benches surroundings the tank afford an inviting retreat to men in the locality who gather here for after dinner chats. A local resident, Prof Koya, is considered an authority on Kuttichira and Mishkal Mosque in Kerala.

Mother of God Cathedral

This 14th century Gothic Cathedral by Jesuit missionaries stands on a site where a Portuguese chapel known as Metri Dei once stood. Locally known as Valliyapalli, this pilgrim centre in Kerala is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic congregation in Malabar.

It is said that Italian architects were brought to Kozhikode to design the church. This ancient shrine is a tribute to Italian know-how and the skill of Indian craftsmen.

The adjoining cemetery holds old grave stones, some well preserved, like that of the first Catholic missionary of Kozhikode, Rev Pedro de Covilhany arrived here on May 20, 1498.

Tali Temple at Kozhikkode

Built in the 14th century, its origin goes back to a small temple at this spot in a village called Tali that belonged to the Namboodiris. When the Zamorin invaded and captured Kozhikode in the 13th century, and took over the control of the temple. Manavikraman, a later Zamorin, built the temple on a larger scale. During wars with Tipu Sultan the temple suffered extensive damages. Large scale renovation was carried out in 1964.

The intricate bas-relief on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum is fascinating. Equally interesting is the elaborate carvings on the wooden roof. Tali Temple is the venue of Revathi Pattathanam, an annual cultural and intellectual event and is an important pilgrim centre in Kerala.

CSI Church

In 1815, in the small town of Basel in Switzerland, the Basel Mission was constituted to resist the aggression launched by French conqueror, Napoleaon Bonaparte. Nearly two decades later, in October 1834, a group of Basel missionaries arrived in Kozhikode where they set up headquarters. In 1842, the biggest Basel Mission church in Malabar came up. This church in Kerala situated in the heart of the city, is today CSI church.

The cathedral has the distinction of being adorned with the only pipe organ among all the dioceses in Kerala, a gift from St Ayden’s Church in Cheltenham, England.

Muchundipalli

Built in the 13th century, this is the oldest mosque in the city. A stone slab inscribed in the ancient script called Vattezhuthu (early Malayalam script), narrating the donation of the property to the mosque by a Zamorin, was found nearby. It has been subsequently installed on a wall inside the mosque.

Mosques

Jama Palli, built in the 14th century, has the largest floor area and among mosques in Kerala and can accommodate almost a 1,000 worshippers. The intricate woodwork on the ceiling is reminiscent of temple ceilings. Verses in Arabic are etched on the partly wooden walls and ceiling rafters.

Surrounded by the bustle of the Palayam market, is the Mohiudeen palli, perhaps the only mosque in the country with closed circuit TV on each floor, enabling the Iman on the ground floor to address the entire congregation and is a majorpilgrim centre in Kerala for Muslims.

Valayanadu Devi Kshetram

The temple dates back to the 14th century when despite having an immense army, the ruling Zamorin could not conquer the kingdom of Valluvakkonathiri. Realizing that kingdom’s spiritual strength was the reason for their failure in battle, the Zamorin started worshipping devi intensely. On subsequently attaining victory, he consecrated a temple for the devi in Valayanadu.

The biggest festival of the temple, held in the Malayalam month of Makaram (Dec-Jan) and lasting for eight days, attracts a huge number of devotees.