|
The
fabled ports of the Malabar coast played
host to multitudes of Romans, Phoenicians,
Jews, Chinese and Arabs. Embraced by the
mustique of Malabar, travellers left its
coast with a yearning to come back. The
splendours of the land and the hospitality
of its people held sway to all visitors
alike. When Vasco da Gama succeeded in
finding a new sea route to India and landed
at Calicut, it was a turning point in
history, leading to the influx of the
Portuguese, Dutch, French and English
mariners. The advent of steam ships and
new political polarisations gradually
nullified the pre-eminence of Malabar
and its glorious port, Calicut. Basking
in the glory of the past and steeped in
history and tradition, the land is still
there waiting to be rediscovered.
|
|