KERALA PLACES TO SEE


Kannur
With the Lakshadweep sea in the west, the Western Ghats in the east, and the Kozhikode and Wayanad districts in the south, Kannur is bounded by a wealth of natural beauty. The district itself, which shares much of this natural splendour, has been a key contributor to the cultural, religious, political and industrial heritage of the state. In addition, Kannur also enjoys the credit of having been the cradle of many a colourful folk art and folk music. Some of the popular beaches here are:

Kannur Places to See

Dharmadam Island (Beach) :
The small 5 acre island covered with coconut palms and green bushes is a beautiful sight from the beach. Permission is required to enter this privately owned island (100 metres away from the mainland at Dharmadam)

Kizhunna Ezhara (Beach)
This beautiful stretch of sand is one of the most secluded beaches in Kerala (11 km from Kannur).

Payyambalam (Beach)
The long, secluded beach is a local picnic spot (2 km from Kannur)

Ezhimala (Beach)
The beautiful beach here has a hillock nearby (286 M high). A Naval Academy is being developed here.

Aqua-Tourism is one of the most important constituent of Kerala.

Aqua-Tourism in Kerala can be broadly classified into three Zones of Kerala.
Payyambalam Beach (2 km from Kannur): This beach is a Local Picnic spot.

St. Angelo Fort (3 km from Kannur): This seafront Laterite Fort was constructed in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Don Francisco De Almeda with the consent of the ruling Kolathiri Raja. After changing hands from the Portuguese to the Dutch and then to the English, the fort became one of the important military centres of the British in Malabar. The fort, which is now under the Archaeological Survey of India, offers fascinating views of the Mappila bay fishing harbour.

Arakkal Kettu (3 km from Kannur): This was the residence of the former Arakkal Ali Rajas, the only Muslim Royal Family of Kerala.

Kizhunna Ezhara Beach (11 km from Kannur): This beautiful stretch of sand is one of the most secluded beaches in Kerala.

Meenkunnu Beach (12 km from Kannur) : Uncrowded, the beach is a tourists' paradise, with golden sand and surf.

Valapattanam (7 km from Kannur) : The small town on the Valapattanam river is well known for its wood based industries and timber trade. The port of Azhikkal and Azhikkal Beach are located nearby. Western India Plywoods Limited, the largest wood based industry in the country and also one of the largest of its kind in South East Asia, is a major industrial concern here.

Parassinikadavu (16 km from Kannur town) Sri Muthappan Temple stands on the banks of the Valapattanam river. This pilgrim centre is famous for the Muthappan Theyyam performed every morning and evening. The DTPC provides pleasure boating on the river near the temple. Accommodation is available nearby.

The Snake Parkis the only one of its kind in the State and perhaps the whole of India. There are three snake pits, fifteen glass cases for snakes and two large glass houses for King Cobras in the park. Snake demonstrations conducted every hour draw large crowds of visitors. (Open 0900 - 1730 hrs everyday)

Dharmadam Island (100 metres away from the mainland at Dharmadam) : The small 5 acre island covered with coconut palms and dense bushes is a beautiful sight from the beach. Permission is required to enter this privately owned island.

Muzhapilangad Beach (15 km from Kannur and 8 km from Thalasseri) : Black rocks protect this long, clean beach from the currents of the deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer's paradise. Perhaps this is Kerala's only drive-in beach where you can drive down the entire length of 4 km.

Gundert Bungalow (20 km from Kannur, near Thalasseri town, on the National Highway at Illikunnu) : Dr. Herman Gundert, the revered German missionary, scholar and lexicographer lived in this bungalow for 20 years from 1839. It was here that one of the first Malayalam dictionaries and the first Malayalam Newspaper - Paschimodayam - took shape.

Trichambaram Temple (20 km from Kannur, near Taliparamba town on the National Highway) : A sacred place of the Vaishnava cult, the deity of the temple is Sree Krishna. The sculptures on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum are in a class by themselves. The annual temple festival, usually held in March, is a colourful event.