Beypore is a coastal town located at the mouth of Chaliyar River located around 10 km south of Kozhikode. Earlier known as Vaypura and Vadaparappanad, it was also named as Sulthan Pattanam by Tippu Sulthan. During the days of the early Arab and Chinese travelers, Beypore held a special place as one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours and an important trade and maritime centre.

Ancient Beypore was much sought after by merchants from Western Asia, for its shipbuilding industry. The boat building yard here, famous for the construction of the Uru (the Arabian trading vessel), boasts a tradition of almost 1500 years. The age old knowledge of building these country ships is possessed by a selective group of traditional craftsmen called 'Khalasis'. Arabs used to buy these teak wooden ships which were in huge demand earlier and even today.