Trip planner
Plan your Kannur trip
When
- Theyyam: late Oct – May; peak mid-Jan to mid-Mar.
- Beaches & hills: Oct – Mar (dry, 24–33 °C).
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep): lush, quiet, Madayipara flowers in Sep–Oct; no Theyyam except Parassinikkadavu.
- Kottiyoor festival: May–Jun.
How long
- 1 day: Parassinikkadavu (evening Theyyam) + fort + Payyambalam.
- 3 days: add a dawn Kaliyattam, Muzhappilangad, Thalassery.
- 5 days: add Payyanur belt, Kavvayi, Madayipara, Paithalmala.
Where to stay
- Kannur town: hotels near the station; easy for all directions.
- Thottada / Kizhunna: beach homestays, 8 km south.
- Payyanur / Taliparamba: for the northern kavus and Kunnathoor Padi.
- Thalassery: for Andalur Kavu and food.
Book DTPC-registered homestays via Kerala Tourism or the partner listings on this portal.
What to carry
- Modest clothing (cover shoulders & knees)
- Shawl for cool dawn hours
- Torch / phone light
- Cash in small notes
- Water bottle
- Mosquito repellent
- Easy-to-remove footwear
- Power bank
Etiquette in brief
- Theyyam is worship; you are a guest.
- Footwear off; no flash near fire; never enter the arena.
- Ask before photographing artists; no drones without permission.
- Accept prasadam; do not consume the ritual toddy.
Help & emergencies
DTPC Kannur runs an official tourist information office near the Collectorate — phone +91 497 270 6336. District Hospital Kannur, Government Medical College Pariyaram, and private hospitals in Kannur, Thalassery and Taliparamba have 24-hour emergency care.