കണ്ണൂർ · Land of Looms and Lores

Explore Kannur

Between the Theyyams: the coast, the forts of three colonial powers, the weaving villages, the mangroves and the hills of the Western Ghats.

Beaches

Payyambalam Beach

Kannur town · 2 km from Kannur

Kannur's own city beach, with a landscaped garden, the famous "Mother and Child" sculpture and long walks along the promenade.

Forts

St. Angelo Fort (Kannur Fort)

Kannur town · 3 km from Kannur

A 1505 Portuguese sea-fort with cannons, laterite ramparts and sweeping views of Mappila Bay and the Arabian Sea.

Crafts & Handloom

Kannur Handloom & Weaving Villages

Kanhirode, Payyambalam, Azhikode · 12 km from Kannur

"The Manchester of Kerala": see weavers at work in cooperative societies, visit the Handloom Museum and buy GI-tagged furnishing fabrics.

Beaches

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

Muzhappilangad · 15 km from Kannur

Asia's longest drive-in beach: 4 km of firm sand where you can drive, cycle and watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea.

Food

Thalassery Food Trail

Thalassery · 22 km from Kannur

Thalassery biryani, kallummakkaya (mussels), unnakkaya, Mappila snacks and the bakeries that gave India its first cakes.

Hills & Viewpoints

Madayipara

Madayi, Pazhayangadi · 25 km from Kannur

A laterite plateau that turns blue with Kakkapoovu blooms after the monsoon; the Vadukunda lake, Madayi Kavu and an ancient mosque.

Backwaters

Kavvayi Backwaters

Payyanur · 40 km from Kannur

The third-largest backwater in Kerala, dotted with islands, mangroves and Valiyaparamba beach — with houseboats and kayaks.

Hills & Viewpoints

Paithalmala

Pottanplavu, Kudianmala · 65 km from Kannur

Kannur's highest hill station (1,372 m) on the Karnataka border — a 6 km trek through grasslands to a watch-tower in the clouds.

Adventure

Kannur Beach & Kite Festivals

Payyambalam / Muzhappilangad · 2 km from Kannur

DTPC's seasonal beach festivals bring kite flying, food stalls, music and Theyyam showcases to Payyambalam and Muzhappilangad.

Museums

Arakkal Museum (Arakkal Kettu)

Ayikkara, Kannur · 3 km from Kannur

The durbar hall of Kerala's only Muslim royal family, the Arakkal Ali Rajas, restored as a museum of Kannur's maritime past.

Heritage

Mappila Bay Fishing Harbour

Ayikkara, Kannur · 3 km from Kannur

A natural harbour below St. Angelo Fort where the morning fish auction is a slice of Kannur's coastal life.

Parks

Kannur Lighthouse & Sea View Park

Kannur Cantonment · 3 km from Kannur

Climb the 1903 lighthouse at Kannur Cantonment for a panorama of the coast and the fort.

Beaches

Thottada, Kizhunna & Ezhara Beaches

Thottada · 8 km from Kannur

A string of secluded beaches south of Kannur, popular with homestays and long-stay travellers.

Beaches

Meenkunnu Beach

Azhikode · 10 km from Kannur

A quiet golden beach at Azhikode, north of Kannur, with coconut palms and a laid-back fishing-village feel.

Parks

Kannur Kandal Park (Mangrove Park)

Pappinisseri · 12 km from Kannur

Boardwalks through a mangrove forest on the Valapattanam river, home to otters, kingfishers and mudskippers.

Wildlife

Parassinikkadavu Snake Park

Parassinikkadavu · 18 km from Kannur

A reptile park and traditional snake-bite treatment centre next to the Muthappan temple, with live demonstrations.

Islands

Dharmadam Island (Dharmadam Thuruthu)

Dharmadam · 18 km from Kannur

A tiny, thickly wooded private island 100 m off Dharmadam beach, reachable on foot at low tide.

Heritage

Overbury's Folly & Thalassery Pier

Thalassery · 22 km from Kannur

A cliff-top garden built by a British judge in the 1880s and the ruined iron pier, Thalassery's favourite sunset spots.

Heritage

Gundert Bungalow (Illikkunnu)

Thalassery · 22 km from Kannur

The 1839 home of Hermann Gundert, who compiled the first Malayalam–English dictionary and printed the first Malayalam newspaper.

Forts

Thalassery Fort

Thalassery · 22 km from Kannur

The 1708 British East India Company fort on a rocky cliff, with secret tunnels to the sea and the old lighthouse.

Temples & Shrines

Sree Rajarajeshwara Temple, Taliparamba

Taliparamba · 22 km from Kannur

One of the 108 ancient Shiva temples of Kerala, with a towering copper-roofed sanctum and a unique tradition of "Nei Vilakku".

Adventure

Kalaripayattu & Theyyam Art Studios

Thalassery, Kannur · 22 km from Kannur

Watch or learn Kerala's ancient martial art in a traditional kalari, and visit Theyyam artists' workshops where the mudi and ornaments are made.

Dams & Reservoirs

Pazhassi Dam & Garden

Kuyiloor, Mattannur · 37 km from Kannur

A picnic-friendly reservoir on the Valapattanam river, with a garden and DTPC speed-boat rides, close to Kannur airport.

Hills & Viewpoints

Ezhimala

Ezhimala, Payyanur · 40 km from Kannur

The 286 m "Mount Eli" of ancient sailors, seat of the Mushika kings and now the Indian Naval Academy.

Wildlife

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Aralam, Iritty · 55 km from Kannur

Kerala's northernmost sanctuary: 55 sq km of evergreen forest, elephants, and the annual butterfly migration in Dec–Jan.

Hills & Viewpoints

Palakkayam Thattu

Vellad, Nadukani · 55 km from Kannur

A mist-covered plateau at 3,500 ft with an adventure park, paragliding, camping and 360° views of the Ghats.

Temples & Shrines

Kottiyoor Temples & Vaisakha Mahotsavam

Kottiyoor · 65 km from Kannur

The "Dakshina Kashi" in the forest, where a 28-day festival is held every May–June at an open-air shrine by the Bavali river.