Beypore is located about 10 kms south of Kozhikode town at the mouth of the Chaliyar River. Historically, it has a special place as being one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours, and was also an important trade and maritime centre during the days of the early Arab and Chinese travelers and later the Europeans. Soon after gaining prominence as a port and trade centre, Beypore slowly began to flourish as a centre for shipbuilding, since ships were 0in great demand merchants from Western Asia. The shipbuilding yard at Beypore is famous for its traditional construction of the Uru or the Arabian trading vessel. This tradition of shipbuilding is nearly 1,500 years old, and the craftsmanship of the workers here is exceptional. Traditionally, Arabs constitute the major chunk of buyers. They place orders with their specifications and needs. Unlike modern day shipbuilding involving the development of blueprint and machinery to facilitate manufacturing of ships, here, at Beypore everything is conceived in the minds of the shipwrights, who as a team execute the highly intricate woodwork to perfection.

It is an amazing aspect if one is to observe the manner in which the Uru takes shape with minimum sophistication in production. The entire team observes certain work ethics, of which discipline is the foremost. A visit to this historic place is a must in order to have a close look at some of the deft fingers and alert minds, measuring and fixing different parts of the ship to perfection.

Nearby attractions in Beypore include the fishing harbour, hardly a kilometer from the shipbuilding yard and Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, which is about 7 kms from Beypore. The Kadalundi estuary is considered as a birdwatchers, paradise, due to the variety of local as well as migratory bird life. Migratory birds flock here in large numbers during February-March. The sanctuary is spread over a group of islands in a scenic area surrounded by hillocks where the Kadalundi River flows into the Arabian Sea. The place is locally known as Kadalundi Nagaram.

Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar River in Kozhikode district, Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre. Ancient Beypore was much sought after by merchants from Western Asia, for its ship building industry. The boat building yard here is famous for the construction of the Uru, the traditional Arabian trading vessel.

The Beypore Beach in Calicut is a beautiful expanse of vast land and turquoise blue sea. Nature will embrace you in its arms on the calm shore shores of this beach. The endless Arabian Sea laps at your feet as you stand on the soft sands watching the sunset. The Kozhikode Beypore Beach is a commercial center for ship building and has existed here for more than 1000 years. This boatyard is famous for making a distinctive ship vessel known as 'Uru'. The Beypore Beach in Kerala is a must visit if you want to enjoy the calm and tranquil environment as well as take a look at how the ancient business of ship business is thriving even today.

If you seek adventure and want to do something to set the adrenalin rushing, set out in the sea with local fishermen and see how they struggle to make a living. Though simple, they are content and happy with their way of life. A unique thing in this beach is the 2-kilometer long stretch of land that reaches out in the sea. The path is made up of huge stones and rocks and opens out in the Sea. One can always take a walk on this path and feel rejuvenated like never before.

More than a decade ago when I made that first trip to Beypore, I knew nothing about the place except that the Malayalam writer Basheer had chosen to make Beypore his home. And then one day, instead of getting off at the stop that would lead me to a cousin's home, I rode the bus to the terminus and opted to explore rather than sit around a table gossiping and drinking endless cups of tea.

On either side of the road were huge iron anchors lying on its side. A couple of shops displayed model ships. As I found my way through the fishing village, past sheds where shrimp were being shelled, ignoring the curious glances and the stench, a strange music led me on. The music of a 5000-year-old history that had been casually hinted at and then I spotted the tall sheds made of bamboo poles and a thatched roof. Alongside the Chaliyam river estuary that flowed into the Arabian Sea, several such sheds dotted the bank. And I knew that I had stumbled onto the secret history of Beypore - its boatyard.

In my schooldays every time, I encountered the word Calicut in a history or geography book, a shiver ran down my spine. Calicut: in my mind, it conjured up vivid images. Of the silken sands at Kapaad where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. Of the rich halwa from Sweet Meat street. Of silvery sardines that turned itself into a crackley glistening brown when deep fried. And of the plump dates that went to make a chutney, a perfect complement to the culinary speciality of the region- the Moplah Biriyani.