GUIDE · 6 min read
Kannur beyond Theyyam: beaches, forts, looms and hills
Between Theyyams, Kannur offers a drive-in beach, a Portuguese fort, weavers' villages, a mangrove park and a hill station.
Kannur Tourism Guide editorial · 1 November 2026
Coast
Muzhappilangad, Asia's longest drive-in beach, is the district's signature: 4 km of firm sand and a tidal walk to Dharmadam island. Payyambalam is the town beach with a promenade; Thottada, Kizhunna and Meenkunnu are quieter, homestay-lined coves.
Heritage
St. Angelo Fort (1505) and the Arakkal Museum sit side by side above Mappila Bay harbour. Thirty minutes south, Thalassery has its own fort, Overbury's Folly, the Gundert Bungalow and the best food in Malabar.
Looms
Kannur is the Manchester of Kerala. Visit Kanhirode Weavers' Society or the Handloom Museum at Payyambalam, watch the looms and buy furnishing fabric direct.
Water and green
Kandal Park at Pappinisseri walks you through mangroves. Kavvayi backwaters near Payyanur is the third-largest in Kerala with houseboats and kayaks. Aralam sanctuary hosts a butterfly migration each winter.
Hills
Paithalmala (1,372 m) is a 6 km trek to a watch-tower in the clouds; Palakkayam Thattu has paragliding and camping; Madayipara turns blue with wildflowers after the monsoon.