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Kannur 

The Land of Looms and Lords

Welcome to Kannur! A land that revels in historical and legendary anecdotes. According to one historical story, a princess was once saved by a Muslim youth and they subsequently fell for each other. The father of the princess agreed to the marriage and thus paved way for the foundation of the only Muslim royal family in the state of Kerala.

           For a tourist, Kannur holds forth a number of attractions. Just walk along its shoreline, play with its seawater as well as backwater, enter the sacred temples, purchase the handloom products or forget yourself while watching Theyyam (an ancient ritualistic folk art) in any of the Kannur Kavus -the choice is yours.

           Interacting with the people and knowing their custom over a traditional Keralese dinner is also an excellent option if you desire. Kannur will instill in you freshness not just with its beauty but also with its overall ambiance.

Kannur History

Kannur is located in the northern part of Kerala and is supposed to draw its name from two Malayalam words, Kannan meaning Krishna and Ur meaning place. Thus the place associates itself with Lord Krishna. The name Cannonore is the angilicised version of Kannur.

           The history of the district is traced back to the Neolithic age (there are rock cut caves and megalithic burial sites of that time). During the second stint of the Chera rulers in Kerala, the Kannur district formed part of their empire. The capital was at Mahodayapuram. During this time, another kingdom, Mooshaka, was flourishing in the Chirakkal and Kasaragod areas and by 14th century they established themselves well. The kingdom of Mooshaka now came to be known as Kolathunad and the rulers were called Kolathiris. The power of the Kolathiris in the north Kerala had risen to the extent that they became a rival of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.

         After the arrival of the Portuguese in the scene, a contact was made with the Kolathiris (though Vasco da Gama never visited the place himself). The rivalries of the two powers, Zamorins and Kolathiris, helped Vasco da Gama take an advantage in securing a monopoly over the pepper trade. Later, Portugal sent Francisco De Almeda to construct a fort in a specific area. This gave rise to the Kannur Fort in the year 1505.

         At this point of time the Zamorins successfully convinced the Kolathiris of the evil intentions of the Portuguese and the two power joined hands to rise against the foreign power. They captured the fort yet could not completely eliminate the Portuguese power in the region. The British East India Company came into picture in the end of the 17th century when they established a fort and a factory at Thalessery. Despite resistance, the Company managed to gain a control over the trade. The Kolathiris and Portuguese had lost their power and could not influence their rise. The Mysore rule tried to assert their control but ultimately end up ceding territories to them.

      However, a serious revolt was making its way to the British. Unhappy by the revenue policy of the British, revolutionaries rose up led by Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam family. The British tried to settle the matter with the Raja and even tried to threaten the people assisting him. This did not quiet affect the revolt and for a while the British supremacy was in grave danger of being eroded. Finally, the raja was shot dead and with this the revolt also died in 1805.

     Kannur made its presence felt during the Indian freedom movement was on. The Malabar District committee (1908) and Communist Party of India (1939) were formed and the region actively participated in the Khilafat movement and Satygrah movement. Post independence, Kannur became a part of the Kerala state in 1956.

 

Places of Interest

Fort St Angelo

This Fort is the prime attraction of the Kannur town and is located around 3 km west of it. It was originally built by Don Francisco De Almeda (a Portuguese Admiral). However, the Dutch took away the fort from the Portuguese in the 17th century and sold it to Ali Raja of Kannur. Later, the Fort also passed into the hands of the Britishers. Currently, St Angelo Fort, also known by the name of Kannur Fort is under the care of ASI. From the fort, you can have some striking views of the Moppila Bay and Dharmadom Island. The bay is a natural fishing bay and today serves as a fishing harbour. As for the Dhramadom Island, it is just 5 acres in area and is located at a distance of 100 m from the mainland into the Arabian Sea.

Arakkal Kettu

This was the residence of the only Muslim Royal family of Kerala, the Arakkal. Some recent construction works have been done on this palace. The descendants of the Raja still reside in an area closeby

Meenkunnu Beach

This beach is located around 11 km from the Kannur city. As you pass through the rough patches of coconut groves, you hardly expect anything stunning, but this is actually what you get. Blue water splash the rocks producing loud noises, the golden sands invite you to sit on it and the breezes play around with your hair as much as they want.

Payyambalam Beach

This one is the biggest beach of Kannur and attracts people accordingly. At the entrance is a garden along with a statue of a mother and child, a work of famous sculpture Kanayi Kunhiraman. More people come to this park in the evening, however a little further, you can be with yourself and watch the sunset in a calm atmosphere.

Shri Muthappan Parassinikadavu

This Temple is located around 18 km north of Kannur on the banks of Valapattanam river and is dedicated to a hunter form of Lord Vishnu, Shri Muthappan. The legend associated with temple states that a childless couple found and adopted an abandoned baby boy. As the boy grew, much to the disappointment of his conventional father, he became a flesh eater. When the desperation of the father grew, he decided to give up his life. At this point of time, Lord Vishnu revealed his identity and took the name of Muthuppan. Still later, the boy, being refused toddy by a tapper, converted him into a stone in anger. Finally, he found his toddy in a lower caste family's house near the Valapattanam River. Even today, the legend has its impact strong on the people and the member of the same family acts as the Theyyam to carry out the rituals. Women need to dress up in a saree and men in mundu to visit this temple.

A Snake park is also of interest nearby. A wide variety of reptiles can be seen here. The Park is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Valapattanam Backwater

The Valapattanam River originates in the Western Ghats of Kodagu and is one of the lengthiest one in the Malabar region. DTPC gives you an opportunity to enjoy a motor boat ride on the river. The ride starts from Parassinikadavu Temple and you also have a chance to stay overnight on a houseboat.

Muzhapilangad Beach

This beach lies at a distance of 15 km from Kannur and 8 km from the Thalasseri and boasts of being one of the longest beaches in Kerala. The beach is a delight for both who wish to laze around in solitude as well as those who want to swim in the sea water. Since the beach is not very crowded, it is relatively cleaner than the other beaches around. Also, this beach happens to be the only drive in beach of India

Subramania Peralassery

Located 14 km from Kannur, the Subramania Peralassery Temple marks the place where Sri Rama along with Lakshman halted on their way to free Sita from the clutches of Ravana in Lanka. The temple has a number of bronze and copper idols of snake everywhere. There is also a temple tank worth seeing in this place.

Tellicherry Fort

This fort is located around 22 km from Kannur and is perched on a rocky hill on the Thalasseri beach itself. The fort was built in the year 1708 by Lord Wellesley and mainly served as military purposes. Standing on the fort rampart, you can enjoy a good view of the ruins of St Rosary Church and an old Angelican Church holding the cemetery of Edward Brennan

Gundert's Bungalow

The erstwhile residence of a German scholar, Dr. Herman Gundert, the bungalow is a typical example of colonial mansion. There are wide verandah, massive doors and deep eaves for you to see and roam around. Though you need to get permission from the principal of NTTF (a technical training institute).

Trichambaram Temple

This is a temple considered holy by the Vaishnava cult. Lord Krishna is the presiding deity of this temple that is located at a distance of 20 from Kannur. Worth seeing in this temple are the carvings and the murals, though the latter has deteriorated a lot for want of proper care. The temple becomes a centre of attraction in March during the 14 day annual festival of Trichambaram utsavam.

Aralam Wild life sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is at a distance of 35 km from Thalessery (22 km from Kunnur) and is home to tropical and semi evergreen forests. Within these forests animals like Deer, Elephants, Boars, Bisons, Leopards, Jungle Cats, various type Squirrels and rare species of birds are found.

Pazhassi Dam

This Dam is an ideal place if you want to relax and have fun boating. The dam is located at a distance of 37 km from Kannur and has a garden and an Amusement Park as an additional attraction. Other worth visiting sites here include Buddha's mountain at Pazhassi, sculpture of Pazhassi Rajah.

Kottiyoor

Standing on the banks of Bavali River, Kotiyoor has a famous Shiva Temple that attracts a number of devotees from all over. The 27 day annual festival sees a lot more people pouring in to offer their prayer to Lord Shiva.

Pythal Mala

Admire the scenic beauty of this hill station that is located at a height of 4500 feet above the sea level. The abundant flora and fauna of this hill station is sure to uplift your heart and spirit. Its distance from Kannur town is 65 km.

Ezhimala

A beautiful beach and a 286 m high hillock wait to allure you on your visit to Ezhimala. The water here appears much clean and blue. The hill produces a lot of medicinal herbs. Chances of dolphin spotting are available from Ettikulam bay. Also, a Naval Academy is being developed here. However, permission is required to gain access to it.

Art Forms

Folk Dances

Folk dances of great originality and colour evolved among the large population of the oppressed classes and the tribals. These were possibly manifestations of the tribal need to communicate to the ruling classes their frustrations and social anger. Some folk dances evolved as a result of their ceremonies to propitiate their gods, singing and dancing with gay abandon in the process. Each tribe had its own collection of folk plays and dances which are performed during festivals. Among the Adiyans there is a folk play in which an old man plays on a thundi (drum) and the men sing and dance to the beating of the drum. Though the women do not participate in the dance, they join in the community singing.

The Malayans had among them an interesting form of mock fighting called Vishanti, in which they use wooden shields supplied by members of other castes and the actual Vishanti or blowing was done with the stems of plantain leaves. This kind of mock fighting has now practically disappeared. The Malayans have the Thiyyattom ceremony which consists of dancing with huge and colourful masks and the Ucchavali ceremony which is symbolic of human sacrifice. The Paniyars have their characteristic devil dance, Godamuri. This is an entertaining folk play of a quasi religious nature which is performed in the central parts of Kannur district by the Malayans who are experts in devil dancing.

The central figure in the performance is a boy in a girl's make-up enclosed in a frame-work of the spathe of the arecanut tree modelled in the shape of a cow with head and tail. The boy is accompanied by a drummer and a number of men who wear fantastic masks and their bodies smeared with ashes. The performers recite a song, the theme of which is the sacredness and the virtues of the cow and its benefits to mankind. The cow is called Godaveri from which this ceremonial play derives its name. The Godaveri group of players confines their visits to agricultural families, thus emphasising the character of the play as a fertility rite. Vedan Padal or Vedan Pattu is a peculiar ceremony observed in certain parts of the district during the monsoon month of Karkidakam (July-August) which coincided with the season of scarcity in Kerala in the olden days.

Kalari and Circus

Thalassery is the seat of the martial art Kalari Payattu, the forerunner of Karate & Kung-Fu. Around 40 Kalari arenas of the martial art are spread around the district. Kalari Chikitsa, a special type of physiotherapy treatment for diseases as well as toning up the body is also a specialty here.

The best circus artists in the country invariably are residents of Thalassery. They are much in demand as artists as well as coaches in the county & abroad. The SAI Gymnastics Centre is a training ground for budding gymnastics & sports personalities.

Shopping

Kannur is renowned for its high quality handloom products like house linen, bedcovers, and table linen and fine cotton saris. The prices of these products are within a reasonable limit so you do not really need to bargain hard (as you would in many other parts of country). One of the best places to buy Kannur handloom products is the Handveev, which is operated by the government.

Apart from handloom, other product worth a buy in Kannur includes brass and bell metal lamps. These are available in all shapes and sizes.

Kannur City Centre Mall is the largest and the busiest shopping place in the city.

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