Stringed with coconut palms all over, Kannur is the place of sugary beaches adjoining Lakshwadeep Sea in the south Indian state of Kerala. Although not a fully commercialized tourist spot as of now, Kannur is quite a promising place for tourists traveling to Kerala. A land of a large number of forests and myriad rivers, the city also owns a rich history. Best known for its handloom and beedi manufactory, Kannur earlier used to be a major port area.
There are several beliefs associated with the name of Kannur. Some say that it is the Malayalam version of its previous name Canannore. Some others hold that the city has obtained this name from the word Kannan which means Lord Krishna and hence Kannur means the land of Lord Krishna.
Major tourist attractions
Though not a full-fledged holiday destination, Kannur still has some very interesting places to offer to its visitors. Most prominent of them are as follows:
- Dharmadam Island – A small private island situated between Kannur and Thalassery, Dharmadam Island stretches over an area of 2 hectares. Dotted with coconut palms, it is an immensely beautiful sight to watch it from Muzhappilangad Beach.
- St. Angelos Fort – Also known as Kannur Fort, it is situated at a distance of 3 km from Kannur city and was built by the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, Dom Francisco Almeida in 1505. It has preserved very well by the organization Archaelogical Survey of India and is a prominent tourist attraction of Kannur.
- Arakkal Palace – Dedicated to the only Muslim royal family of the state of Kerala, the Arakkal family, this is a palace situated at a distance of 3 km from the main city of Kannur and also has a museum in its complex. The royal family had ruled Kannur for several centuries.
- Payyabalam Beach – One of the most spectacular beaches in the state of Kerala, this beach is an ideal place to spend some time relaxing your body and mind. Most treasured picnic spot for localites, Payyabalam Beach is quite well maintained and also has beautiful gardens around it. Also there is a huge statue of a mother and baby around this place.
- Parassinkkadavu Snake Park – The most distinguished of all the attractions in Kannur is the Parassinkkadavu Snake Park. The park conserves and preserves a huge variety of snakes most of which are rare and the verge of extinction. These include poisonous as well as non-poisonous snakes. Other than snakes, there are a few varieties of other endangered animals as well.
Other spots that people travelling to Kannur can visit are –
- Kerala Folklore Academy
- Muzhapilangad Beach
- Meenkunnu Beach
- Kizhunna-Ezhara Beach
- Thottada Beach
Festivals and Fairs
All the rituals and festivals celebrated in Kannur, the most important is Theyyam. Also known as Theyyatom, this festival involves a unique combination of dance and music which depicts tribal culture of that region in its true colors. The festival lasts from 3 to 11 days and engages people of almost all age groups and religious communities.
Another major festival of Kannur is the Vaisakha Maholsavam which begins in the mid of May and lasts for 28 days. During this festival, tender coconuts are offered to Lord Shiva, the deity of Kottiyoor Shiva Temple. Lakhs of pilgrims throng to this temple to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati during the celebration of this festival.
Best time to visit
The perfect time to plan a vacation to Kannur is from the month of December to February when the city experiences pleasant weather conditions. Summers in Kannur are quite hot and soggy because of its location on the waterfront. From the month of June onwards, this city encounters storms which last upto the month of September. This is also the time of rains in this region, however, mild showers last till November.
How to Reach
By Air – Kannur city does not have an airport of its own. The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport at Kozhikode from where Kannur is 84km away. This airport is connected to all the major airports of the country. Another major airport is at Mangalore which is 128 km away from Kannur.
By Rail – Kannur Main is the name of the railway station of this place which enjoys a good connectivity from all the towns and cities of the country.
By Road – The entire state of Kerala has a good road network and same is with Kannur. One can also travel by state and privately owned buses plying to Kannur from all the major towns and cities of South India.
