What is famous about Kannur?

Well connected to the nearby cities. Considering the level of development in Kannur, the transportation in the city and the living options for tourists also acts as an alluring factor for the people.

Kannur Tourism (2025) - Kerala > Cannanore Top Places, Travel Guide

Kannur Travel Essentials

Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: October to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Cannanore

"Kerala’s coastal gem with forts and Theyyam"

Kannur Tourism

Located on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, Kannur (fondly known as Cannanore), is a beautiful city bundled with a plethora of sightseeing options like beaches, monuments, ancient temples and picnic spots.

Steeped in the distinctive local art forms like Theyyam, Kannur still has an aura of the bygone colonial era. The deep footprints of the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British and the Mysore Sultanate are still imbibed into the town and can be witnessed all around. The town is blessed with exceptional art of weaving that has earned it the title of the land of loons and huge cashew trees perhaps rooted by Portuguese. Take an evening stroll near the lighthouse beach or explore Portuguese history at St. Angelo's Fort while you are in Kannur.

St Angelo Fort

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

Arakkal Museum

Parassini Madappura Sree Muthappan Temple

Kannur Lighthouse

Payyambalam Beach

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Kannur Travel Packages

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7 Days / 6 Nights

Breathtaking Wayanad, Coorg & Kannur 3 Star Hol...

Bangalore(1N) → Coorg(2N) → Wayanad(2N) → Kannur(1N)

$186/person

8 Days / 7 Nights

Family Tour of North Kerala 7 Nights and 8 Days

Kannur(2N) → Wayanad(2N) → Kozhikode(1N) → Kochi(2N)

$ 465

11% off

$413/person

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Military Significance

Kannur has a history of being a militarily significant and strategic city for India and is one of the 62 military cantonments of the country. The city housed the British military headquarters of India's west coast till 1887. The Kannur or Cannanore Cantonment was established by the British and served as an army camp for the Europeans forces like the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British. The Cantonment is now the headquarters of the Defence Security Corps. The Indian Naval Academy is also located close to Kannur city, which is Asia's largest and the world's third largest naval academy.

History of Kannur

The city of Kannur, or Cannanore, as it was then called, takes great pride in its rich history. As an important trading centre since the 12th century, it had good connections with the Middle-East traders of the time. The city first came under the control of the Portuguese in the 16th century, who built the famous St. Angelo Fort. Kannur later passed into Dutch hands, and in the 17th century, this fort was sold by the Dutch to King Ali Raja of the Arakkal dynasty. Kannur then became the capital city of the only Muslim Sultanate in Kerala, and the strong Muslim influence in the city holds true to this day. The British captured Kannur in 1790, and the city housed the British military headquarters of India’s west coast till 1887. The British were later engaged in a guerrilla warfare with the famous ruler of the Kottayam province, Pazhassi Raja. The seeds of Communism, as well as Soviet Socialism soon spread across the city, and it continues to be a hotbed of political activity in Kerala, and one of the most politically charged cities in the state.

Pristine Amalgamation of Culture and Strength

Being the largest city in North Malabar region and an important military cantonment in the southern India, the place is a beautiful amalgamation of culture, history, and ethnicity. People belonging to different caste and creed live in harmony in this beautiful town, and somehow, it has still managed to preserve the ancient practices prevalent in the region. One of the striking examples is the loom and the weaving Industry, which is still functional in Kannur on a large scale, and the ritualistic folk arts held in the temples of the town.

Apart from being culturally rich, Kannur is a valuable asset to the country, having Indian Naval Academy, which is the Asia's largest Naval Academy. Lord Krishna is one of the principal deities worshipped in the area, and some other Hindu temples are spread throughout the city for the people to visit, thus making Kannur a place one must explore.

A Beauty To Behold

Kannur is one of the major cities of Kerela, with a population of more than 1 million people in the district. Located in the state of Kerela, the place has a vibrant cultural and administrative history associated with it. Once referred to as "Cannanore" during the colonial period, the name is still used in the Indian Railways. The city of Kannur still has an authentic Indian touch to it, with various imprints of the British colonialization still prevalent in the area.

The name of the city has been derived from "Kannan", meaning Krishna, the Hindu deity, and "Uuru", the land of Lord Krishna. Once an important military cantonment and an important trading town during the British Raj, Kannur has managed to remain important in the map of Kerela by now being an important religious centre. Many beaches, museums and wildlife sanctuaries allure the tourist to visit this beautiful place and to witness the beauty of it.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kannur

Kannur offers many restaurants and eating joints besides at the place of your stay. However, South Indian cuisine remains the pre-dominating cuisine in the town. Idli, Vada, coconut crepes along with raw mango-lemon chutney and Kerala pappadam are must try.
Do buy Banana chips to take back home and enjoy the Palada Payasam, which is the popular sweet dish served there. Savour some shakes and enjoy your meal at Bamboos and Regency.
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Suggested Itinerary for Kannur

Day 1: Start your trip with a visit to Ste Angelo's Fort. After that, visit the town of Taliparamba, home to two beautiful temples - the Shree Rajarajeswara temple and the Trichambaram temple. After exploring the town, end your day with a 40-minute drive from the town to visit the Meenkunnu beach, and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Day 2: Plan an early start to the day with a visit to Thalassery where you can chill by the backwaters and visit one of the toddy shops, which provide both great local alcohol or ‘kallu’ and tasty Kerala food. Kannur is also famous for the beautiful traditional folk performance of ‘Theyyam’, which takes place at different times throughout the year in one of the city’s many temples. In the evening, you can take a stroll around Payyambalam Beach.

Best Time to Visit Kannur

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How to Reach Kannur

How to Reach Overview

Kannur is well-linked with all the other cities through all the major modes of transportation, i.e. roadways, railways and airways. Kannur has its own railway station where a large number of trains including the Nizamuddin Express, Madgaon Express, Kochuveli Express, Mangalore Express, and New Delhi AC Express ply through. The nearest airport to Kannur is the Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode, located at a distance of about 85 km from the town. Kannur is linked to the nearby cities of Kerela through a well-developed network of roads, also a national highway, ensuring smoother travel down to the destination.

How to reach Kannur by flight

The nearest airport to Kannur is the Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode, located at a distance of about 85 km from the town. Many flights from all over the country, including Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai fly down to the Calicut International Airport. A few flights from outside the country as well are connected to the airport. Reach the airport and travel a distance of 120 kilometres approximately by the regular bus services or the private taxi service available for the tourists.

How to reach Kannur by road

With a well-developed road network sprawling through the city of Kannur, the connectivity of the town by roads acts as a positive point for people looking forward to visiting the place. NH66 connects Kannur to Kozhikode and Kasaragod, two of the most important nearby cities. Bus services from some nearby cities come down to Kannur, along with many taxi services assisting people to reach Kannur at their convenience in the least time possible. Kozhikode, acting as a connecting point to many the other main cities all throughout the country and Kannur, is well accessible by roadways from Kannur, thus alluring tourists to explore this place further.

How to reach Kannur by train

Kannur, in itself, is a major railhead of the state of Kerela. A large number of trains including the Nizamuddin Express, Madgaon Express, Kochuveli Express, Mangalore Express, and New Delhi AC Express pass through Kannur and thus provide many possible options for people to visit Kannur through the means of Railways. Autos available on the railway station will make sure to drop you at your location within the city, thus being an altogether comfortable experience for anyone looking forward to visiting Kannur.

How to reach Kannur by waterways

The nearest port to the city of Kannur is the Cochin port, which is also one of the largest port in India. Some passenger liners arriving at the port can be utilized by the tourists to plan their trip down to Kannur. Backwater Lake transportation has not yet developed in Kannur.

Local transport in Kannur

Kannur is a town that offers many options of commutating from one place to another. Besides walking, you may take a bus which is quite cheap. Auto rickshaw is another way of transportation that is regarded as cheap as well as efficient. One can also hire a cab which is best for the tourist visiting for few days. The town also houses many rental car companies where you can rent a car for self drive. A beautiful town like this offers several wonderful experience loaded with so much to visit however make sure you plan your trip wisely keeping weather conditions in mind.

Most frequently searched routes to Kannur

Route Name	Distance	Time	More Information
Bangalore to Kannur	312 km	6 hours 54 mins	View Details
Ernakulam to Kannur	267 km	7 hours 2 mins	View Details
Chennai to Kannur	649 km	11 hours 46 mins	View Details
Hyderabad to Kannur	886 km	14 hours 34 mins	View Details
Alleppey to Kannur	321 km	8 hours 12 mins	View Details
Goa to Kannur	499 km	10 hours 41 mins	View Details

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FAQs on Kannur

Who should visit Kannur?

For people having an eye for the culture and wanting to know more about the country, Kannur is a must visit. Families, couples, and young people, everyone can visit Kannur to satiate their hunger for witnessing something beautiful and pristine.

What are the places near Kannur?

The top places near to Kannur are Coorg which is 73 km from Kannur, Ooty which is located 153 km from Kannur, Wayanad which is located 81 km from Kannur, Thalaserry tellicherry which is located 18 km from Kannur, Madikeri which is located 73 km from Kannur

What are the things to do in Kannur?

The top things to do in Kannur are Payyambalam Beach, Muzhappilangad Beach, St Angelo Fort, Kannur Lighthouse, Parassinikkadavu Snake Park, Baby Beach. You can see all the places to visit in Kannur here

What is the best way to reach Kannur?

Being one of the most important cities in the state of Kerela, Kannur is well linked with all the other cities through all the major modes of transportation, i.e. roadways, railways and airways. Calicut, being one of the nearby major city, acts as a connecting node to Kannur through many cities, thus making it easier for people to travel down to Kannur. Kannur is linked to the nearby cities of Kerela through a well-developed network of roads, also a national highway, ensuring smoother travel down to the destination. Being on the major railhead itself, Kannur makes the travel easier for people looking forward to visiting the place.

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What is the local food in Kannur?

What is the best time to visit Kannur?

October to February is the best time to visit Kannur being a coastal city with a tropical climate. Tourists majorly prefer the winters in Kannur as it is the most convenient and comfortable time of the year with a pleasant environment. The temperature lies between a range of 20 to 25-degree Celsius. Monsoons are also ideal for a visit, however, make sure you're equipped with umbrellas and mosquito repellents. Summers, on the other hand, are the least ideal time as the temperatures might rise above 40-degree Celsius making it unbearable.
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What is not so good about Kannur?

The weather in the region is not suitable for visiting all throughout the year. The summers are humid, and the monsoon are unpredicted, thus inviting high tides and accidents and making it unfit for exploration.

Kannur

Kannur Travel Essentials

Cannanore

"Kerala’s coastal gem with forts and Theyyam"

Kannur Tourism

Places To Visit In Kannur

Kannur Travel Packages

Breathtaking Wayanad, Coorg & Kannur 3 Star Hol...

Family Tour of North Kerala 7 Nights and 8 Days

Top Hotels In Kannur