FEBRUARY 2025
OVERVIEW
If you haven’t done so already, please read my India Tips, Tricks, and Traps post first. This will help you better understand what you are going to read in this post.
We have just spent a few weeks travelling south down the Karnataka coast. It was very disappointing.
The only place that I can recommend is Gokarna Beach.
<<< our next stop is Kozhikode, Kerala >>>
EXCHANGE RATE
The currency in India is the Rupee (the ‘INR’ or ‘rs’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were:
| US$1 | EU€1 | GB£1 | |
| Published Wholesale Rate | 86.35 | 89.93 | 106.57 |
| Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) | 85.48 | 89.03 | 105.50 |
| Actual Exchange Rate (Typical Credit Card) | 84.40 | 87.91 | 104.17 |
| Actual Exchange Rate (Good ATM) | 84.40 | 87.99 | 104.17 |
| Actual Exchange Rate (Bad ATM) | 78.58 | 81.84 | 96.98 |
Over time, these exchange rates will change. Please check the current rates.
For simplicity, think of a 500rs note as being US$6 / EU€6 / GB£5.
ATMs
Be careful which ATM you use. I use SBI Bank ATMs WITHOUT CONVERSION.
WISE DEBIT CARD
I keep my costs down by using a Wise Debit Card.
WHEN TO GO
Kozhikode has a tropical monsoonal climate with a dry season and a heavy monsoon the rest of year. There is no cold season.
The best time to come is September through May.
INTERNET / WIFI
I had an Indian SIM Card from Airtel.
I had a strong 4G signal everywhere.
GETTING THERE
There are many regular trains running down the West Coast from Ahmedabad (Gurarat) in the far north to the southern tip at Kanniyakumari.
I was in Payyanur and paid 112rs to catch a 2nd class fan-only seat on the 22609 train to Kozhikode.
The journey took 1:45hrs.
KOZHIKODE TRANSPORT
UBER
UBER operates here.
TUK TUKs & TAXIs
Tuk Tuks SHOULD be metered. If not, here are their published rates:
SCOOTER RENTAL
I got onto Google Maps and searched for ‘Bikes On Rent’. I found 2 that were near my hotel and, using their Whatsapp Mobile numbers listed on Google Maps, messaged them for a quote. Only 1 replied to say that they had no scooters available.
I fell back on Royal Brothers. I booked a Honda 6G scooter from 10am Saturday to 6pm Sunday for (the higher weekend rate of) 873rs / US$11.
AROUND TOWN
Kozhikode is just an average Indian town. There are not many things to do nor famous places to see.
SM Street is a popular hang-out and shopping area.
THE BEACH(ES)
Beaches stretch for about 8km from Elathur Beach in the far north down to Kothi Beach in the south.
FAR NORTH BEACHES
These start in Elathur Beach and end at Vengali Beach.
Elathur Beach is nice but the rest are just rocks.
NORTHERN BEACHES
These start at Puthiyappa Fishing Harbour and end at Varakkal Beach.
No swimming is allowed and what sand does exist is badly littered.
LOCAL BEACHES
The Kozhikode Beach are.
No swimming is allowed and what sand does exist is badly littered.
MY ACCOMMODATION
I used all the ‘tricks‘ to use AGODA to book 4 nights in an Aircon Queen Bed room at the Hotel Beverly Plaza.
I paid a very discounted total price of 5,225rs which was subject to a 875rs Agoda Cashback. Thus, the final price was 4,350rs (about 1,088rs / US$13 per night).
The Beverly Plaza is still being built and everything is new. A room at this price was excellent value for money.
The downside is that (1) they didn’t have any hot water working (yet) and (2) the in-room wifi kept doing weird things that needed regular ‘sorting out’.
FOOD & DRINK
FOOD
We are still in ‘real India’ where meals are very cheap.
Out in the edges of town on my scooter, I had a set lunch for 60rs and paid an extra 70rs to add a grilled fish.
In SM Street, a Mutton Curry with 2 Parodas was 175rs.
DRINK
We are back to ‘non Goan’ prices where drinking is more of a ‘sin’ that deserves a ‘sin tax’.
The State controls liquor sales and runs ‘official’ stores / outlets. Here is a typical ‘outlet’. It is obvious that they don’t think much of the ‘types’ of people who drink alcohol.
In Kerala, the MRP of a 650ml Indian beer (e.g. Kingfisher) is 150rs. The cheapest 1 litre ‘plastic bottle’ local rum is 990rs.
Pubs and bars (as we know them) do not exist.
WHERE TO STAY
If you are going to stay (which I don’t recommend), I suggest that you stay just north of the Railway Station in the SM Street / Mananchira Square area.
GETTING AWAY
My next stop will be Kochi.
This is an easy 3.5 hour Sleeper Class train ride from Kozhikode Railway Station. The price was 125rs which becomes 149rs after ‘online convenience’ fees and credit card fees.
CONCLUSION
Kozhikode has beaches but it is not a ‘beach town’.
I wouldn’t come again.
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