Kannur

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Day 1: Start your trip with a visit to the picturesque 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 Pythala Mala, a beautiful peak in the Western Ghats region. Post this, explore nearby towns like Palikunnu and Pappinesseri, and shopping at the local markets for traditional souvenirs. No visit to Kannur is complete without visiting its famous 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.