Kannur the Land of Ageless Charm

I had written this, long back. Thought it might be good to share.....

Kerala, God’s Own Country has many beautiful and exotic places. And Kannur is its Crown. Kannur is flanked by the lofty Western Ghats in the east and Lakshadweep Sea in the west. It has a long coastline interspersed with many rivers, coconut - fringed lagoons and beautiful backwaters.

The district is bounded by Kasargod in the north and Wayanad, Kozhikode and Mahe (PondicheryUnion Territory) in the south. The district is endowed with many rivers. Valapattanam River is the longest followed by Kuppam, Mahe, Anjarakandy, Thalassery, Ramapuram, Perumba. Apart from this there are numerous small rivers.

The district has a flourishing traditional handloom industry both in the rural and urban area. It was also a thriving center for hosiery industry but has subsequently declined due to various reasons. Kannur is also the center for production of cashew nut, copra (Dried Coconut used for making Coconut Oil), rice, tiles, electric bulb, hard board and plywood.

For long, local Rajas (Kings) held sway over the land. The Kolathiris (A Dynasty) were based at Chirakkal. The Pazhassi Raja (A famous King who fought the British) ruled from Kottayam in Tellicherry (Place where I was Born ;-) ) (Thalassery) taluk. The Beebi (Queen, Muslim name for Queen) of Arakkal, Kerala's only Muslim Royal family controlled parts of the coast and even the Laccadive (Lakshwadeep Islands in the Arabian Sea, 200 Kms off the shoreof Kerala) Islands.

The quest for spices lured several European powers to this land. The advent of the Portuguese (1498) marked the beginning. They were followed by the Dutch and the English. Forts at Tellicherry and Fort St. Angelo attest to their arrival. Solemn Churches surrounded by mildewed grave stones also silently speak of the European presence.

The march of time has left his its imprints. Ancient monuments, mosques, temples and churches offer the visitor eloquent testimony of a rich cultural heritage. The Sri Rama Temple at Tellicherry traces its legends back to millennium or more!!! As early as the 7th century Malik Bin Dinar built the first mosques at Madayi & Dharmapattanam (Dharmadam).

Kannur has always been a favorite destination of the intrepid foreign traveler. Europeans, Chinese and Arabs have visited our coasts. In his book of travels Marco Polo recounts his visit to the area circa 1250 A. D. Other visitors included Fahian, the Buddhist pilgrim and Ibn Batuta, writer and historian of Tangiers. The lure of the orient, the quest for spices or just the thirst for adventure attracted these distinguished visitors to Kannur. However, for the modern tourist, while these reasons may still hold good, there is also the added attraction of completely unwinding at some of the most scenic locations in the world.

Kannur Beckons Travelers, Old and New !

Tucked far away from madding crowd, lies Kannur, the most enchanting district of Northern Kerala. The scene is breath taking. The Lakshadweep Sea washes the sands of sugary beaches laced with rows of green coconut palms. Long rivers break into silvery spray and merge into the blue green waters of the sea. Obviously Kerala is the most beautiful of all Indian states and Kannur undoubtedly shows Kerala at its best!

Come to Kannur ! Nature's bounteous beauty beckons you!

Kannur is a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. The ships of Solomon, they say: anchored along our coasts to collect timber for building the 'Temple of the Lord'. Kannur finds mention as NAURA in the 'Periplus of Erithrean Sea' a Greek work of great antiquity.

Come to Kannur ! Land marks !

Kannur is a major railway station on Shornur - Mangalore line. By road Kannur is 155 KMs south of Mangalore and 535 KMs north of Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest Airport is atCalicut that is 110 KMs south and Mangalore Airport is 170KMs north. There is a proposed Aiport in Kannur. Hopefully by the time ou read it is operational :).

Handloom, Spices & Cashew

Important spices like black pepper, ginger, turmeric & cinnamon grew in profusion in Kannur. Anjarakkandy has got the biggest cinnamon estate in Asia. Portuguese introduced cashew tree here. Today cashew nut is a major export earner for the State.

The Malabar coast has been famous for its Cotton handlooms since time immemorial. Along with spices they formed an important item of foreign trade. Kannur proudly maintains that tradition even today. Several weaving centers and handloom export houses flourish here.

General Information

Total Area		: 2997 Sq.KM
Population (1991)		: 22,51,727(As on January 2003)
Women (1991)		: 11,52,889
Men (1991)		: 10,98,838
Literacy Rate (1991)		: 79 .41%
Population Density		: 749 / Sq. KM
Population Growth Rate		: 16.27%
No. of Families (1991)		: 3,71,221
Municipalities:	Taluks:
Kannur Thalassery Taliparamba Payyannur Koothuparamba Mattannur	Taliparamba Kannur Thalassery

PLACES TO SEE IN KANNUR

Dharmadam Island

This small Island, which is situated in the sea like a green spot just 100 m away from shore, becomes a blissful experience to tourists. It was previously called Dharmapattanam because of Buddhist influence. This Island is full of coconut trees. There is only a well here as the symbol of human presence. One can reach this place by boat from southern part of MoithuBridge in the national highway. During ebb (Low Tide) time one can reach here by foot. From this Island one can see the rocks around and the beauty of Muzhuppilangad beach and the distant beauty of Thalassery town. When Dharmadam Island was an important trading center, this Island was in the possession of Chirakkal king. Later it passed into the hands of the English and now it is in the hands of private individuals.

Muzhuppilangad Beach

It has a length of 4.5 kms. The special feature of this beach is that the vehicles can be driven without getting stuck into the sea sand. This is why the beach is considered to be the only drive in beach in the State. This beach, which extends from Muzhuppilangad to Moithu Bridge, is considered as swimmers’ paradise since there are no waves in this part due to the rocks here and there and the sea is not deep. This beach is 15 kms away from Kannur in the south direction and 8 kms away from Thalassery in the north direction. A tourist can reach this beach through five panchayat roads starting from the National Highway.

Parassinikkadavu Temple

It is a famous temple in south India. It is situated 20 kms away from Kannur. This temple lies on the shore of Valapattanam River. The God at this temple is supposed to be very powerful. It is famous for its natural beauty. Boating facilities are available for tourists.

Payyambalam Beach

The Payyambalam beach located near the Kannur town is one of the beautiful beaches in the state of Kerala. This beautiful stretch of sand and surf is the best locale for a relaxed evening.

Meenkunnu Beach

Situated at Azhikode it’s hardly few kilometers from the town. The virgin beach is a tourist’s paradise with golden sand & surf.

Fort St. Angelo

Facing the sea, this is one of the most attractive centers in Kannur district. It is also known as Kannur Fort. This fort is 3 kms away from Kannur town in the western direction. The fort stands close by the Arabian Sea. This fort proclaims the strength and beauty of Portuguese architecture. The two sides of the fort facing the sea were built in a triangular shape. It was Don Francisco De Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy, who laid the foundation stone of this fort with the permission of Kolathiris in 23 October 1505.

The Dutch captured the fort in 1663 and sold it to the Ali Raja of Kannur in 1772 and in 1790-it came into the possession of the British. This fort is now under the control of Archaeological Survey of India.

The Arabian Sea, the dense coconut trees, the fishing boats and natural harbor moppila bay are the unforgettable sights, one can have from this fort. Arakkal kettu of historical importance can also be seen from this fort.

Thalassery Fort

The picturesque Thalassery fort stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Built in 1708 the flourishing pepper trade was controlled from this fort.

Paithal Mala (Meaning Infant Hill in native language)

This hill on the Kerala-Karnataka border is 65 Kms north of Kannur. Ideal for trekking; it’s around 1,372 meters above sea level. A base reception center and a watchtower atop the cliff function for the benefit of tourists.

Aralam wild life sanctuary

It is the one and only wild life sanctuary in Kannur, covers an area of 55 sq.km. It is about 40 kms from Kannur town. This beautiful place is situated in the slopes of Western Ghats, covered with tropical evergreen forest. Elephants, bear, deer, monkey, wildcats and a large variety of birds are found here.

Madayi Mosque

Malic Iben Dinar, a Muslim preacher, originally built this beautiful ancient mosque in 1124 AD. A block of white marble in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca by its founder, who came to India to spread the word of the prophet. Near by dilapidated fort believed to have been built by Tipu Sultan: the ruler of Mysore.

Pazhassi Gardens & Dam

37 kms. east of Kannur near Mattannur the Pazhassi dam & reservoir offers scenic vistas. One can cruise down the river in D.T.P.C. boats often crossing small islands inhabited only riverine birds. The recently built Gardens & Amusement park is an added attraction. The Buddha’s mountain at Pazhassi, sculpture of Pazhassi King is interesting places to visit.

Ezhimala

The Ezhimala Mountain and beach lie at the northern boundary of Kannur. Rare medical herbs (Ramayana) with mythological significance grow on the strange seven-peaked range that is Ezhimala around 50 Kms. From here. There is an old tower of great antiquity here: the MountDeli lighthouse. It’s maintained by the Navy and is a restricted area. The beach sand is of a different texture and the sea is bluer that in other areas. At the Ettikulam bay one could enjoy watching dolphins.

Arakkal Palace :

It is about 2 kms. from Kannur Town, steeped in History; it was the Beebi (Queen) of Arakkal, Kerala’s only Muslim Royal family that controlled parts of the coast and evenLakshadweep.

ARTFORMS IN KANNUR

Theyyam

The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of North Kerala, particularly now found in the traditional Kolathunadu, of the present Kannur and Kasargode districts. As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam (means GOD in Malayalam).

Kalaripayattu

Kalari is the ancient martial art of the State. It is considered as the forerunner of all martial arts, Karate, Kunngfu.

The Kalari is treated as the temple of learning. Religious worship with its own rituals is also done inside the Kalari. The Gurukkal system wherein the teacher is respected and revered. Rigorous physical training besides training in self-discipline. The weapons used are the sword, shief, Dagger, short sticks and spears. The co-ordination of the body and mind is given maximum importance

Kannur is a land with a resonant past. Myths and legends abound. The ships of Solomon, they say: anchored along our coasts to collect timber for building the 'Temple of the Lord'. Kannur finds mention as NAURA in the 'Periplus of Erithrean Sea' a Greek work of great antiquity.