In which year did Vasco da Gama arrive at Calicut?

Key Fact(s)

In 1498, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese navigator, reached Calicut on the Malabar Coast of India, completing a historic maritime expedition. This voyage was undertaken under the patronage of King Manuel I of Portugal and involved sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. At that time, Calicut was a major hub of the Indian Ocean spice trade and was ruled by the Zamorin.

Da Gama’s arrival established a direct sea route between Europe and India, bypassing traditional land and Arab-controlled trade routes. This event marked the beginning of European maritime expansion and colonial presence in India and laid the foundation for Portuguese commercial and political dominance in the Indian Ocean region.