Location : Kannur District of Kerala.
Tourist Attractions : Fort St Angelo, Arakkal Kettu, Meenkunnu Beach, Payyambalam Beach, Madayi Mosque, Valapattanam Backwater, Muzhapilangad Beach, Tellicherry Fort,Trichambaram Temple.
Best Activity : Beach walking, jogging, angling, house boat cruise, ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies and pilgrimage visits.
When to Visit : December to May
Part of the famous Malabar region, Kannur has historically always been in the thick of action. Kollathiri Rajas, Pazhassi Rajas, Ali Rajas, The Portuguese, The Dutch, The French, The British, then the freedom struggle etc are all part of its history. Forts, Temples, Beaches and the temple festivals make Kannur worth visiting. In and Out of Kannur Nearest airports are Manglore (150 km ), Calicut (110 km), Cochin (310 km) and Bangalore (324 km). Trains are a better way to reach Kannur. All major trains stop at Kannur. There are trains from Bombay, Goa, Mangalore, Madras, Trivandrum, Cochin, Calicut and Coimbatore.
Kannur district is bound in the east by the Western Ghats, in the west by the Arabian Sea, in the north by the Kasargode District and in the south by the Mahe region of the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
Formerly a major port, Kannur is now a city known for its handloom and beedi industries. Some of Kerala's finest weavers come from this district. Kannur is also the headquarters of the country's largest and best-run beedi cooperative which produces the famous brand, Kerala Dinesh Beedi. Marco Polo is supposed to have referred to Kannur as a great emporium of spices.
In the 15th century, the Portuguese arrived in Kannur to establish one of their earliest settlements. A reminder of this is the St. Angelo's Fort built in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy. Kannur's history is marked by foreign invasions and the activities of colonial powers.
Kannur district is endowed with sufficient number of rivers. Valapattanam river which originates from Western Ghats is the longest river in the district. Most of the rivers are navigable. Anjarakany, Kuppam, Mahe and Thalassery are the other rivers. Kannur district has extensive forest areas which may be classified under two heads namely reserve forests and vested forest.
How to Get There :
Kannur can be reached by all the means of transportation.
By Air : The closest Airport to Kannur is Karipur International Airport at Kozhikode which is at a distance of around 114 km. Flights from here connect daily to Coimbatore, Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai and Chennai. There are also flights to Goa (thrice a week), Trichy (twice a week) and Trivandrum (once a week). Taxis for Kannur are available, though a bit costly.
By Rail
By Rail : Kannur Station operates trains that run to Ernakulam and Trivandrum (Cannanore, Netravati and Parsurama Express), Mumbai (Netravati and Mangla Lakshadweep Express), Delhi (Mangla Lakshadweep, Trivandrum Rajdhani) and Chennai (Mangalore Mail).
By Road : By road, Kannur is connected to various destinations within and outside Kerala. The KSRTC Bus Stand opposite the Collector's office in Kannur is the starting point of many buses like Kasodgarh (89 km), Kozhikode (86 km) and Mangalore (138 km). Buses also run to Kalpetta, Ponnani, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Bangalore.
