Kannur Tourism (2021) - Kerala > Cannanore Top Places, Travel Guide

"The Crown of Kerala"

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 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 the Portuguese history at St. Angelo's Fort while you are in Kannur.

Places To Visit In Kannur

Payyambalam Beach

Muzhappilangad Beach

St Angelo Fort

Kannur Lighthouse

Parassinikkadavu Snake Park

Baby Beach

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Top Hotels In Kannur

Orionis Kannur

8.3 (211 reviews)

$ 20 onwards

kannur west beach house

9.1 (95 reviews)

$ 20 onwards

Ivory Coaste

9.6 (64 reviews)

$ 21 onwards

Asokam Beach Resort

7.9 (107 reviews)

$ 31 onwards

Ocean Green Kerala

9.0 (48 reviews)

$ 22 onwards

Saj Rest' inn

6.5 (152 reviews)

$ 8 onwards

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Commuting within Kannur

Kannur Photos

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FAQs on Kannur

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.

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.

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 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 the local food in Kannur?

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 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 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