Monday, September 7, 2009
Eight is Good Enough :)
Monday, July 27, 2009
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
The district is bounded by Kasargod in the north and Wayanad, Kozhikode and Mahe (
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.
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
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
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 '
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 at
Handloom, Spices & Cashew
Important spices like black pepper, ginger, turmeric & cinnamon grew in profusion in Kannur. Anjarakkandy has got the biggest cinnamon estate in
The
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 | ||
|
| | |
|
|
This small
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
It is a famous temple in south
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.
Situated at Azhikode it’s hardly few kilometers from the town. The virgin beach is a tourist’s paradise with golden sand & surf.
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
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
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
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
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
It is about 2 kms. from
ARTFORMS IN KANNUR
Theyyam
The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of
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