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 Kannur or Cannanore
is one of the
important sea coast
towns of Kerala. It
was the capital of
the north Kothagiri
rajas for many
centuries. Kannur
once a premier port
of ancient Kerala,
has been a favourite
destination of
foreign travellers
from Europe, China
and Arab countries.
In his book of
travels Marco Polo
recounts his visit
to the area circa
1250 A.D and
referred Cannanore
as a great Emporia
of spice trade. In
the ‘Periplus of the
Erithrean Sea’ a
Greek work of great
antiquity, Kannur
finds mention as 'Naura'.
Other famous
visitors included
Fahian, the Buddhist
pilgrim and Ibn
Batuta, writer and
historian of
Tangiers. Kannur or
Cannanore has many
monuments of
historical interest.
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Fort St. Angelos : |
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 Fort St. Angelos is
in the West of
Kannur town. It was
built in 1505 by the
first Portuguese
Viceroy, Don
Francisco De
Almeida, with the
permission of the
Kolathiris, on the
promontory jutting
into the Lakshadweep
sea. The Dutch
captured the fort in
1663 and sold it to
the Ali Raja of
Kannur in 1772, and
in 1790 it came into
the possession of
the British. The
British rebuilt it
and made it their
most important
station in Malabar.
This fort is in a
fairly good state of
preservation, though
parts of it have
collapsed. A few
ancient cannons are
on display inside
the fort. The fort
is a protected
monument under the
Archaeological
Survey of India.
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Snake Park at
Parassinikadavu
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The snake park at
Parassinikadavu is
18 kms. away from
Kannur town. It is
one of the known
snake parks in the
state. The park is
dedicated to the
preservation and
conservation of
snakes, most of
which are becoming
extinct gradually.
There is a large
collection of
poisonous and
non-poisonous
snakes. Snake
demonstrations
conducted every hour
draw large crowds to
Kannur. |
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Payyambalam Beach :
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 This long secluded
beach is situated
around 2 km from Kannur. This beach
is a local picnic
spot. There is a
well laid out garden
and a massive
sculpture of mother
and child erected by
the famous sculptor
Kanayi Kunchiraman. |
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Thalassery Fort :
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 The British arrived
in Thalassery in
1683 and erected a
trading shed there.
They shifted their
commercial capital
to Thalassery from
Kozhikode, following
obstruction from the
Dutch. In 1700, the
British built the
Thalassery fort on a
small hill called
Tiruvellapadakunnu
and in 1708, it was
strengthened by
increasing its
height and with
bastions. The fort
is a square
structure built of
laterite and is
distinguished by its
massive ventilated
walls and strong
flanking bastions.
It was here that
Haider's captain was
imprisoned. The
famous St. Johns
Anglican Church is
behind this fort. It
is another tourist
attraction in Kannur. |
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Valapattanam (7 km
from Kannur) : |
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The small town also
known as Baliapattom,
on the Valapattanam
river is well known
for its wood-based
industries and
timber trade. The
port of Azhikkal and
Azhikkal Beach are
located nearby.
Western India
Plywoods Limited,
the largest
wood-based industry
in the country and
also one of the
largest of its kind
in South East Asia,
is a major
industrial concern
here. |
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Aralam Wild life
sanctuary : |
 It is situated 35 km
from Thalassery. It
is a tranquil
sanctuary on the
slopes of the
Western Ghats
covered with
tropical and semi
evergreen forests.
Herds of deer,
elephants, boar and
bisons are quite
common. Leopards,
jungle cats, various
type squirrels and
rare species of
birds have been
found here. Around
160 species of
birds, even some
species considered
extinct, have also
been found here. |
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Ezhimala : |
 It is situated 55 km
from Kannur. The
beautiful beach here
has a hillock nearby
(286 m high). Carved
stone pillars and an
ancient burial
chamber can be seen
at the foot of the
hills. The Ezhimala
hills are noted for
rare medicinal herbs
with mythological
significance. The
beach sand is of a
different texture
and the sea is bluer
than in other areas.
At the Ettikulam bay
one could enjoy
watching dolphins. A
Naval Academy is
being developed
here. Permission is
required for entry. |
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Pazhazzi Dam :
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37 km east of Kannur
near Mattanur, the
Pazhazzi Dam and
reservoir are scenic
awesome sight. An
ideal retreat for
tourists. One can
cruise down the
river in D.T.P.C.
boats often crossing
small islands
inhabited only by
birds. The Gardens &
Amusement park is an
added attraction.
The Buddha’s
mountain at Pazhassi,
sculpture of
Pazhassi King are
interesting places
to visit.
Accommodation is
available at the
Project Inspection
Bungalow and its
dormitories. |
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Madayi Para : |
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It is situated 25 km
from Kannur. The
Madayi Kavu Temple,
the Vadukunnu Temple
and the 12th century
mosque (1124 A.D)
built by Malik Bin
Dinar a Muslim
preacher, with white
marble imported from
Arabia, are the
major attractions
here. There is also
a dilapidated fort
at Madayi which is
supposed to have
been built by Tipu
Sultan of Mysore.
The view from the
fort is fascinating.
The Madayi Kavu and
Vadakkunnu temple is
of tourist interest. |
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Parassinikadavu (16
km north from Kannur
town) : |
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Parassinikadavu is
famous for the Snake
Park and the Sri
Muthappan temple, it
is the only place
where the
ritualistic dance 'Theyyam'
is performed all
around the year. Sri
Muthappan Temple
stands on the banks
of the Valapattanam
river. This pilgrim
centre is famous for
the 'Muthappan
Theyyam' performed
every morning and
evening. It is best
to visit the temple
when the pooja is
held between 5 and
8am or 6.30 and
8.30pm to watch the
Theyyam. Non Hindus
also can watch the
Theyyam performance.
The DTPC provides
boating service on
the river near the
temple, a pleasure
trip with
surrounding lush
greenery and the
river opening up to
the sea ahead.
Accommodation is
available nearby.
The Snake Park which
is situated here has
three snake pits,
fifteen glass cases
for snakes and two
large glass houses
for King Cobras in
the park. Snake
demonstrations
conducted every hour
draw large crowds of
visitors. (Open 0900
- 5.30 hrs
everyday). There are
frequent bus
services from Kannur
to Parassinikadavu. |
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Gundert
Bungalow:(20km from
Kannur) : |
 It is situated 20 km
from Kannur, near
Thalasseri town, on
the National Highway
at Illikunnu hill.
This Bungalow in
Tellicherry is of
historical
significance as this
was the residence of
Dr. Herman Gundert,
the revered German
missionary, scholar
and lexicographer.
He lived here for 20
years from 1839. It
was here that one of
the first Malayalam
dictionaries and the
first Malayalam
Newspaper - 'Paschimodayam'
- took shape. He has
also written 18
books in Malayalam
including a grammar
book. Gundert's
bungalow today
houses part of the
Nettur Technical
Training Foundation
a unique institution
started by the Swiss
Foundation. |
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Kottiyoor : |
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This place is 60 km
away from the town.
There is a Siva
Temple here on the
banks of the Bavali
River. Thousands of
devotees attend the
annual 27 day
festival during May
- June. |
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Malayala
Kalagramam(29 km
from Kannur) : |
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This renowned centre
for arts and culture
at New Mahe,
conducts courses in
painting, sculpture,
music, dance and
pottery. |
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Pythal Mala : |
 It is located 65 km
from Kannur town.
This enchanting hill
station, situated
4,500 ft. above sea
level near the
Kerala - Karnataka
border, is rich in
flora and fauna. It
is a 6 km trek to
the top of the
hills. |
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Thodikalam Siva
Temple : |
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It is located 34km
southeast of Kannur.
This temple is
famous for its mural
paintings. It is
believed to have
been constructed
2,000 years ago and
was closely
connected with the
Pazhassi Raja family
of Kottayam (Thalasseri
taluk). |
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Dharmadam Island
(100 metres away
from the mainland at
Dharmadam) : |
 The small 5 acre
island covered with
coconut palms and
dense bushes is a
beautiful sight from
the Muzhappilangad
beach. During low
tide, one can just
walk to the island
from the beach. It
is surrounded by
rivers and seas.
Permission is
required to enter
this privately owned
island. Dharmadam,
earlier known as
Dharmapattanam was a
Buddhist stronghold. |
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