Payyoli
Payyoli, is a developed village or a small town 36 kilometres north of Kozhikode (Calicut) city in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Part of Malabar in the British era, it was under the Kurumbranad Taluk (province) ruled from Madras. In 1498, the discovery of sea route to India by the Portuguese traveller Vasco Da Gama, who landed at Kappad beach (21 km from Payyoli town) gave historic importance to Payyoli. The spices and wealth of Malabar attracted the Arabs, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to Kerala.
Today, Payyoli is an A Grade Panchayat (local authority) with all modern facilities like healthcare, education and other infrastructure and is one of the prominent places of Kozhikode district. The area has been blessed by the birth of many prominent personalities, who have marked their presence in the history as well as in the international arena of excellence.
Payyoli and Gulf
Payyolians started migration to Singapore and Malaysia in the forties and fifties in search of livelihood. In the sixties they started migrating to the Gulf countries which became an exodus in the eighties. Today, Payyolians are working worldwide and the modern day Payyoli is indebted to those Gulf expatriates for its progress and development. The Gulf money has played a significant role in the metamorphosis of the area from a small hamlet to a modern town with huge shopping centres and advanced residences and other facilities.
