Kannur, Kerala

Kannur is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, and has an estimated population of 5,74,876 in 2010. Kannur is known as the Land of Looms and Lores.

The name Kannur may have been derived from Kanathur, an ancient village. Another opinion holds that Kannur was originally a portmanteau derived from two Malayalam words: Kannan(Krishna), a Hindu deity, and Ur (place)—making it "the place of Lord Krishna". One support for this theory is that the deity of the Kadalayi Srikrishna Temple was originally installed in a shrine at Kadalayi Kotta in the southeastern part of the present Kannur town. During the British Raj, the city was known as Cannanore, the anglicised form of the Malayalam word Kannur.

Transport

Places to See:

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary houses a wide variety of flora and fauna. Among the evergreen plants, one can find species like Calophyllum, Cullenia, Elatum and Vellapine among others. Among the semi-evergreen variety, one can find trees like Cinnamomum, Hopea, Mallotus, Zeylanicum and Philippinensis. The animal kingdom flourishes in animals like mouse deer, wild boars, elephants, Indian bison, leopards, jungle cats and various types of squirrels. Apart from the big animals, one can find many snakes and birds in this sanctuary.

Dharmadam Island

This beautiful island is located near the Muzhappilangad beach and is basically a Buddhist dominated region. This island was previously known as Dharmapattanam. 

Jagannatha Festival

The Jagannatha festival is an eight-day long festival held in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, around February-March. It is one of the most important festivals of this region. The Jagannatha temple comes alive with festivities during this time. 

Madayi Mosque

Malik Iben Dinar, who was a Muslim preacher, built this mosque in approximately 1124 A.D. It is a beautiful mosque and a popular tourist attraction. The mosque has a slab of white marble that was brought from Mecca by the founder who came here to disseminate the teachings of the Prophet. 

Moppila Bay

This bay is a famous fishing harbor that is situated near St. Angelo's fort. The place has the latest fishing harbor, equipped with latest fishing technology. It has been built under the Indo-Norwegian treaty and is a joint collaboration between the two countries. 

Arakkal Palace

The Arakkal Palace belonged to the only Muslim royal family of Kerala. The palace is of much historical significance and is a popular tourist attraction of Kannur.

Muzhappilangad Beach

The only drive-in beach of India, Muzhappilangad Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Kerala. It is also the longest beach in Kerala. This beach is located at a distance of 15 kilometers from Kannur. 

Ezhimala Beach

Located on the northern periphery of Kannur is the lovely Ezhimala beach. The beach is bordered by seven hills from which the beach derives its name. "Ezhi" means seven and "mala" means, "hill". Thus it is called by the name Ezhimala. The hills have bountiful herbs and plants that have rare medicinal value. 

Gundert Bungalow

This bungalow is of much historical significance and all admirers of Malayalam consider the Gundert Bungalow as a very respectable place. It is situated at a distance of 20 kilometers from Kannur. 

Pythal Mala

Located at a distance of 65 kilometers from Kannur is a scenic cliff called Pythal Mala. It is located at a height of around 1372 meters above sea level. The cliff provides an ideal place to go for trekking and rock climbing. On top of the cliff is a watchtower that provides a breathtaking view of the valley............
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