Kannur is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the beautiful South Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Kannur district. This City was the ancient capital of the Arakkal kingdom. The name Kannur is said to have been derived from two Malayalam words 'Kannan' (Krishna) and 'Ur' (place), meaning Lord Krishna’s place.

It is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala and is popularly known as the city of Looms and Lores. Kannur is also famous for its beautiful virgin beaches and is of strategic military importance in the south of India.

The Languages Spoken here is Malayalam, Hindi and English.

Best For:

Kannur is best known for its beautiful Backwaters, Ayurveda treatments, Houseboats, Beaches and its Cuisine.

Kannur has a tropical climate and the summer gets very humid. There are heavy monsoon and it is wise to pack an Umbrella to this side of the country. Light Cotton for summer and woolen for winter is recommended clothing.

All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.

Kannur is comfortably accessible by air, road, rail, air and sea too as it is an ancient sea port. The nearest all-weather sea port is Mangalore,  in Karnataka . The nearest airport is Kozhikode.

By Air:
Kannur is easily reachable by air as the nearest airport is the Kozhikode Airport which is located at a distance of 93 kms. Taxi or Bus services  can be availed to reach Kannur from there.

By Rail:
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 and major cities.

By Road:
Kannur is on the National Highway 17 (NH-17) between Mahe and Talapady. The roads in the city are well laid out, although the condition of the roads is affected during the monsoon season, it is well linked by a wide network of roads and can be reached from anywhere in Kerala.

Local Transport:
To move around in the city, auto-rickshaws or taxis are the best option. Buses are also good enough. For excursions, one can use boats and taxis that are well maintained.

Many places of attractions are close to each other so you could walk between them

Kannur town and Kannur City: Kannur City is the old town, just a few kms from Kannur town. The major business establishments, government offices, shopping centres, hotels, and showrooms are located in Kannur town. Both Kannur town and Kannur City fall under the Kannur Municipal Council and are at a few kms. distance from each other.

The main tourist places of Kannur are:

St. Angelo Fort: This fort was built in 1505 by Sir Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian Sea about 3 km from Kannur town. There is a sea pathway behind the fort, stretching a little more than a km. into the sea.

Mappila Bay in Ayikkara, near the St. Angelo fort, is a major fishing harbor overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Payyambalam Beach: A famous beach in Kannur town, It has an unbroken coastline of a few kms. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar Coast, that is, beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) and moving towards Mangalore, Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). The well laid out garden and the massive landscaped sculpture of mother and child erected by noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman makes it extremely captivating.

Baby Beach is so called as it is smaller than its larger neighbour, Payyambalam Beach. St. Angelo Fort is adjacent to it. The baby beach is part of the Kannur Cantonment and access may be restricted at times.

Arakkal Museum: Located in Ayikkara, This is a museum dedicated to the Arakkal family, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala. The museum is actually a section of the Arakkalkettu (Arakkal Palace). The durbar hall section of the palace has been converted into a museum by the Government of Kerala. It was opened in July 2005 after a Rs. 9,000,000 renovation and is managed by the Arakkal Family Trust.

The Kannur Lighthouse: Another interesting place, this was the first lighthouse at Kannur built in 1843 by the British at St. Angelo's Fort. Over the years, the lighthouse improved and in 1948 it was moved to the current location.

The Azhikkal Ferry near Azhikode, about 10 km from Kannur town is where the Valapattanam river joins the Arabian sea. The Azhikkal ferry gives a magnificent view of the sunset. The granite pathway here stretches 2 km into the sea.

Kizhunna Ezhara Beach: 11 kms from Kannur, this beautiful stretch of sand is one of the most secluded beaches in kerala.

Pazhassi Dam and Gardens: It is the only reservoir with gardens in Kannur district. The reservoir is mainly used for irrigational purposes. The gardens are really worth a visit if one is interested in boating. The District Tourism Promotion Council boats are available to navigate through the river enjoying the silent beauty of Pazhassi dam. The garden is a good attraction with children’s park and sculptures.

Apart form the above mentioned, Meenkunnu Beach at Azhikode, Muzhappilangad beach and Kizhunna beach are other beautiful beaches to see in Kannur.

Where To Eat:

The good places to eat in Kannur are: Airlines Restaurant, Royal Omars, Indian coffee house, Palmgrove, and The Mascot Beach Resort which serves relishing 32 Varieties of Dosas and for Continental and Chinese Cuisines, Lakshmi Homestay is a good option

Where To Stay:.

The best places to stay while here are: Cliff Exotel International, Malabar Residency, Mascot Beach Resort, Costa Malabari, Royal Omar's, Kamala International and Palmgrove Tourist Home Resort

Kannur when covered alongwith the other places of Kerala is more enjoyable.