Kappad Beach, Kerala

Kappad Beach

The Kappad Beach where Vasco Da gamma furrowed the way for the European connection is one of the gleaming studs of the Indian crown. The legends woven around its historic origins and traditions cast a mystical spell on this beach.

The beach, 16 km from Kozhikode, stranded on the shore of history with the landing of Vasco Da Gama with 170 men in three vessels on 27th of May, 1498. A solitary pillar commemorates the event with the inscription, "Vasco da Gama landed here, Kappakadavu, in the year 1498". This event marked the beginning of a new epoch in world history and specifically in the history of Kerala against the backdrop of bitter rivalries between local rulers began a period of unbroken strife among foreign powers for the domination of trade in Malabar. When Vasco da Gama landed at Kappad beach, he was warmly welcomed by the benevolent Zamorin of Malabar. This opened up the sea route for trade from Europe to India and Malabar soon became the Gateway to the east.

The pleasant, calm beach, locally known as Kappakadavu, is studded with rocks and caressed by friendly waves. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old. The sea here is placid and seemingly untouched by history or time.

Kappad beach is at a short walk on the Korapuzha river. Even after 500 years of the epoch-making mooring of the maverick navigator, Kappad remains calm, as if cataclysmic changes had just scrubbed around this spot. The beach, strewn with country fishing boats, is still in pristine beauty. The shore, bereft of concrete monstrosities, is in perfect silence ever since Gama left for other destinations.