Must See Attractions in Kannur During Your Kerala Travel

A coastal town in the Malabar region of Kerala, Kannur has its own distinct features to please a traveler. If you are a lover of beaches, history and Theyyam, it is your right destination to explore and experience. It can also be termed as the land of Communists as the place has such a large concentration of people who believe in that ideology.

Kannur (formerly Cannanore) shares it borders with Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Wayanad and the neighboring state Karnataka. To add beauty to the land, the Arabian Sea lies on its West side.

Kannur is a heritage rich destination and was a colony of the Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British at different times. Arab traders had settled here even before that and thus the Mappila (Muslim) community came into being.

Places of Interest

Kannur’s main charm is its enchanting beaches. Besides, it has temples, mosques, churches, parks and some historic monuments. Let’s begin our sightseeing trip. The following are the popular outing joints in and around Kannur.

• Payyambalam Beach
• Muzhappilangad Beach
• Lighthouse & Walkway
• St. Angelo Fort
• Arakkal Kettu Museum
• Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
• Vismaya Water Theme Park
• Thalassery Fort
• Mahe

Payyambalam Beach

An ideal spot to spend your evening. Definitely an excellent location to watch the beautiful Sunset. It is clean and linked to Fort Angelo though a pathway.

St. Angelo Fort

2 km from Kannur town. The fort was built by the Portuguese in 1505. Later, it was held by the Dutch and by the British. The historic monument still preserved in good condition. You can see here some Canons used during the old times.

No entry fee. Visit time: 8 am – 6 pm

Light House & Walkway

The seaside walkway along the PWD Guest House is an excellent option for a blissful stroll. It has enough seating arrangements to enjoy the spectacular scenery around. You will love the time spent here.

Visit time: Seaside walkway 2 – 7 pm & on holidays 10 am – 7 PM

Lighthouse: 4.30 am – 6 pm.

Arakkal Kettu Museum

This is to exhibit certain artifacts, antiques, coins, old furniture and memorabilia of the Arakkal Ali Rajas. The museum conveys the past glorious story of the Muslim dynasty in the area. Also, there is a Mosque and Art Gallery to watch. The Gallery displays the local artists’ commendable works.

Vismaya Water Theme Park

It is a wonderful place to enjoy and relax. The park is clean and has some wonderful rides to experience. The famous Snake Park is nearby.

Location: Parassinikadavu.

Contact No: 0497-2782850

Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple

The temple draws a large contingent of devotees whose sole aim is to meet ‘Muthappan’, the local deity. Fish, meat, toddy and other types of liquors are welcome here and the entry of these ‘strange things’ is its interesting feature. You can read more about Muthappan in my article titled “Parassinikadavu Sri Muthappan Temple-A Unique One in Kerala“. Click here to read the same.

Mahe

It was a French colony once. Though geographically Mahe is in Kannur (Kerala), it is actually a part of the Puducherry (Pondicherry) state. It has a beautiful beach, park and you can see the French influence even now. Some of its citizens still hold French citizenship and speak French. For more details, please read my article “Mahe, A Formerly French Colony in Kerala, South India". Click here for the Mahe story.

Thalassery

20 km from Kannur/70 km from Kozhikode.

Thalassery often described as "the Town of 3 Cs" that is Cakes, Cricket and Circus. The Indians first played Cricket here. Beautiful colonial building is an added attraction of the town. A striking feature of Thalassery is that it is the first place where the British established their regular settlement in Kerala in 1683. Dr. Gundert, a famous European scholar of Malayalam built a church here. There is a college in his name at Thalassery.

Thalassery Fort

An amazing structure built by the English East India Company (EEIC) in 1708. It is on a rocky cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea. A must watch monument if you have a passion for history. The scene of the lighthouse is still spectacular. Please watch the Video appended on the right side to know more.

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

6 km north of Thalassery.

Muzhappilangad is the only drive in beach in Kerala. Here, you get a wonderful opportunity to make 4 km long drive watching the spectacular scenery around. You will love the coconut groves and the rock formation here apart from your pleasant driving experience. To feel the thrill, please watch the Video appended on the right side of the screen.