Come to Kannur! Nature’s bounteous beauty beckons you ! Kannur is a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. The ships of Solomon, they say anchored along our coasts to collect timber for building the ‘Temple of the Lord’. Kannur finds mention as NAURA in the ‘Periplus of the Erithrean Sea’ a Greek work of great antiquity.
Kannur has always been a favourite destination of the intrepid foreign traveller. Europeans, Chinese and Arabs have visited our coasts. In his book of travels Marco Polo recounts his visit to the area circa 1250 A.D. Other visitors included Fahian, the Buddhist pilgrim and Ibn Batuta, writer and historian of Tangiers.
The term Kannur is the compound of two words Kannan (Lord Krishna) Ur (Place). This will make it the place of Lord Krishna.
Attractions:
Pazhassi Gardens & Dam
37 kms. east of Kannur near Mattannur the Pazhassi dam & reservoir offers scenic vistas. One can cruise down the river in D.T.P.C. boats often crossing small islands inhabited only riverine birds. The recently built Gardens & Amusement park is an added attraction. The Buddha’s mountain at Pazhassi, sculpture of Pazhassi King are interesting places to visit.
Dharmadam Island
Beside the Muzhappilangad beach 100 metres offshore lies the Dharmadam island surrounded by rivers and sea. A conjunction of beach & island it is a matter of walk during lowtide. Being a Buddhist stronghold it was earlier known as Dharmapattanam.
Arakkal Palace :
Its about 2 kms. from Kannur Town, steeped in History; it was the Beebi (Queen) of Arakkal, Kerala’s only Muslim Royal family that controlled parts of the coast and even Lakshadweep.
Fort St. Angelo
Don Francisco D. Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, build the fort in 1505 AD. The fort had a chequered history. It changed hands to the Douche, then to the Ali Raja of Arakkal and finally to the British. The barracks, the magazine, cannons and the ruins of a chapel are all standing testimony history on the shores of the sea. Fort St. Angelo is a protected monument under the archaeological survey of India.
Ezhimala
The Ezhimala Mountain and beach lie at the northern boundary of Kannur. Rare medical herbs (Ramayana) with mythological significance grow on the strange seven-peaked range that is Ezhimalaaround 50 Kms. From here. There is an old tower of great antiquity here: the Mount Deli lighthouse. It’s maintained by the Navy and is a restricted area. The beach sand is of a different texture and the sea is bluer that in other areas. At the Ettikulam bay one could enjoy watching dolphins.
Madayi Mosque
This beautiful ancient mosque was originally built in 1124 AD by Malic Iben Dinar, a Muslim preacher. A block of white marble in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca by its founder, who came to India to spread the word of the prophet. Near by dilapidated fort believed to have been built by Tipu Sultan: the ruler of Mysore.
Aralam wild life sanctuary
A tranquil mega 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 have been found here. Certain species of birds, which are considered extinct, have also been found here. It is 35 kms from Thalassery Railway station.
Paithal Mala
This hill on the Kerala-Karnadaka border is 65 Kms.north of Kannur. Ideal for trekking; it’s around 1,372 metres above sea level. A base reception centre and a watchtower atop the cliff function for the benefit of tourists.
Access:
By Air
Kannur is easily reachable by air as the nearest airport is the Kozhikode Airport, which is located at a distance of 93 kilometers from Kannur to the south.
By Rail/ Train
Kannur has its own railway station and is an important junction in Kerala. Trains from many neighboring states also pass through this town to reach other places. Thus, it is well connected by rail to Kerala and other nearby states.
By Road
Kannur is well linked by a wide network of roads and can be reached from anywhere in Kerala.
