Velliyamkallu

An island of strangely shaped rocks that have witnessed many a battle, Velliyamkallu is located about 36 kilometres from Kozhikode. The two-acre rocky island was the site of numerous skirmishes, mainly between the Zamorin's fleet and the Portuguese. As evidence of this, many of the rocks here bear marks of cannon ball attacks. Velliyamkallu was also an important strategic location as it provided a vantage point to the Marakkars in their attack against Portuguese. In 1598, a Portuguese ship was attacked and its entire crew killed by the Marakkars. When the Portuguese finally conquered the area, they threw the local protestors from the Velliyamkallu rocks into the sea. Thereafter, the island became also known as Balikkallu or Sacrificial Rock.

One can reach the island through a one-hour boat ride from Payyoli Beach. The island is full of  treacherous rocks as well as caverns, both small and deep. Inside some of the caverns are deep wells. The natural engravings on some of the rocks are extraordinary. A plaque on the isle proclaims it as the property of the Government of India. This plaque is the only man-made thing in the whole of the island.