The Kallai River in Kozhikode is historically significant for its role in the timber trade, once being the hub for the second-largest timber trading center in Asia after Japan. Flowing through the heart of Kozhikode, the river was lined with sawmills and timber yards during its peak. Today, though the timber industry has diminished, the Kallai River remains a reminder of Kozhikode's industrial heritage and serves as a scenic waterway in the city.