Beypore in Kozhikode district of Kerala is the major centre for making urus in Kerala. It is also an important harbour in the Malabar region. Located about 10 km south of Kozhikode town at the mouth of the Chaliyar River, historically, Beypore several centuries ago was itself a prominent port. At one stage in history, Beypore was also an important centre for trade via sea, attracting Arab and Chinese travelers and later the Europeans. Beypore has a tradition of shipbuilding that is about 1500 years old. It once experienced great demand from Western Asia for ships, because of its fame as the home to excellent craftsmen. This ship-building industry at Beypore once had a healthy phase of growth until the invasion of iron and steel, posing a serious threat to its existence.
