Vasco da Gama's journey to India culminated in his arrival at the city of Kozhikode, known in the West as Calicut, on May 20, 1498. This voyage was significant as it was the first successful attempt by a European to reach India by sea, thus circumventing the overland routes that had previously dominated trade with the East. Departing Lisbon in July 1497, da Gama, commanding a fleet of four ships, navigated the western coast of Africa, rounding the treacherous Cape of Good Hope, and crossing the vast Indian Ocean. The voyage lasted nearly a year and was fraught with challenges, including hostile encounters and navigational difficulties.

Upon reaching Kozhikode, da Gama and his crew were met with initial skepticism from the local rulers and merchants, but he persevered in his mission to establish a trade footing in India. He aimed to secure a direct trade route to the rich spice markets, which were highly coveted by European nations. To facilitate this, da Gama engaged with local rulers, presenting gifts and seeking to negotiate trading rights. His arrival in India not only opened the door for Portuguese colonial expansion but also set the stage for centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia.

The arrival of Vasco da Gama in India catalyzed significant changes in the geopolitical landscape of the region. The Portuguese established various trading posts along the Indian coastline, and Kozhikode became an essential hub for the spice trade, a lucrative market that would eventually lead to conflicts and confrontations with other European powers in the following centuries. Da Gama's exploration paved the way for further expeditions and the establishment of an extensive network of trade routes that significantly influenced the course of world history and accelerated the Age of Discovery.