Sightseeing in Beypore

Beypore is a coastal port in Kozhikode, one of the oldest in Kerala. Made famous by Vaikom Mohammed Basheer known as Beypore Sultan who settled here “so that his dreams became his address.” It’s where, like the migratory birds of Kadalundi, Arabs arrived and where locals smuggled themselves into “Uru” in search of greener pastures in the Gulf, an exodus which continues to date but now more by air.

There is a nominal entrance fee to get into the port. You need to ask the permission of the ship owners to board them.

What’s on Offer in Beypore:

·      KadalundiBird Sanctuary

·      Ship breaking yard

·      Purchase a a miniature model of the traditional country craft, “Uru”

·      Tasara weaving centre

·      Beypore lighthouse which is used by ships cruising Lakshadweep islands

·      Beypore harbour fishing nets and fishy things

·    Pulimutt sea bridge, 1 km away, best place to catch the sunrise and sunset and great camera pix

·      Dolphins frolicking in the sea, 15 minutes away

Reaching There

• Take the KSRTC bus from Kozhikode bus station. It’s 30 minutes away, around 11 km.
• Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.
•   Take the ferry, it’s just 200 m across from Chaliyam

Learn weaving and dyeing at Tasara

Tasara Centre for Creative Weaving
Tasara means weaver’s shuttle in Sanskrit. Instead of checking into a hotel, opt for Tasara’s package and practise your hand at batik, dyeing, weaving, printing while living in the midst of the local weavers of Beypore in Kozhikode. 

Tariff:-
1. Short-term Stay:
5 nights 4 days with food and accommodation:
Twin sharing @ 200 Euros / Single @ 280 Euros

2. Artist in Residence: This package is offered for all artistes of all media.
1 month with food and accommodation and 50 Euros worth raw material, individual looms and classes as well as a chance to immerse in the local culture.
Twin sharing @ 800 Euros /Single @ 1100 Euros

What to buy:
Tasara products of linen, wool, silk, cotton such as fabric and furnishings, wall hangings and carpets. They are exclusive as they use Tasara’s unique technique like applying dye directly into the warp and surface layering of colours.

Workshops at Tasara
Tasara conducts an annual workshop on Weaving, Dyeing and Printing.

Training at Tasara
Beginners and professionals can avail of Tasara’s training held throughout the year on all processes of dyeing, be it batik, chemical or natural as well as weaving techniques. 

Reaching There

• 30 minutes drive from Kozhikode to Beypore or take the KSRTC bus to Beypore and then an auto. 
• Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.

Contact Information: 
Email: vasudevantasara@yahoo.com
Email: tasara@sanchamet.in
Ph: 91 495 2414832

Uru boat builders of Beypore

Cheraman Perumal, the then king of Kerala, in Kodungallur, abdicated his throne and built an “Uru” or “dhow”, a country boat to reach Mecca way back in the 6^th century and embraced Islam. Visit Beypore and you can see the Khalasis, the traditional ship builders engaged in making Urus even today. Khalasi itself is an Arabic word meaning khalas, released as in released into the water. The “Uru” once used by Arabs for trading spice between Malabar and Arabia is a tourist craft now.

The “Uru” was created by hand by the khalasis using neither machine tools nor instruments nor design charts but from memory and mental mathematical calculations using traditional stanzas, each of which described a part of the ship. It was built from Malabar teak that floated down the Chaliyar river. To get the same teak today, you’ll have to visit Malaysia!

Reaching There
·   Take the KSRTC bus from Kozhikode bus station to Beypore. It’s 30 minutes away, around 11 km. 
·   Catch the train to Feroke and take an auto to Beypore, about 15 minutes away.