Kannur, India: travel guide
North Malabar's old Kolathunadu capital on the Laccadive Sea — the Portuguese St. Angelo Fort of 1505 faces the Arakkal palace across Mappila Bay, and Muzhappilangad is Asia's longest drive-in beach.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- CNN
Top places to visit in Kannur
Bekal Fort
fort · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹200, Indian adult Rs 25; children under 15 free (ASI). Foreign rate not verified.
Bekal Fort 55km north of Kannur is the largest and best-preserved fort in Kerala — a massive circular bastion on a headland surrounded on three sides by the sea. The keyhole observation tower gives extraordinary views.
Fort St Angelo Portuguese Kannur
fort · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₹50
Fort St Angelo is the finest coastal fort in North Kerala — built by the Portuguese in 1505 CE, later occupied by the Dutch and British. The red laterite bastions rise dramatically over the Arabian Sea at the mouth of the Kannur harbour.
Theyyam Ritual North Kerala Kannur
festival · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
Theyyam is the defining cultural experience of North Kerala — divine ritual performers wearing enormous costumes embody deities in all-night ceremonies at hundreds of temple venues across the Kannur-Kasaragod region from November to April.
Payyambalam Beach Kannur Sunrise
beach · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Payyambalam Beach is the main public beach in Kannur — a long sandy shore with a well-maintained garden and walkway, popular with local families in the evening. The sunrise over the Arabian Sea is excellent.
Muzhappilangad Drive-In Beach
beach · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Muzhappilangad is the longest drive-in beach in Asia — a 4km stretch where vehicles can drive on the firm sand along the Arabian Sea. An extraordinary experience unique to North Kerala.
Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
temple · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Parassinikadavu Sri Muthappan Temple is the most important temple for the Muthappan deity — a unique folk deity of North Kerala accessible to all castes and faiths. The daily Theyyam performance here is one of the most accessible in…
Moplah Biryani and Street Food Kannur
cafe · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Moplah (Mappila) cuisine of Kannur is the finest Muslim food tradition in Kerala — the Moplah Biryani uses Jeerakasala rice with whole spices, the Unnakkai (sweet stuffed banana) is unique, and the seafood preparations are…
Fort St Angelo Bastions Sunset View
viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹50
The bastions of Fort St Angelo give extraordinary views over the Arabian Sea and the Kannur harbour at sunset — the fort walls turn vivid orange against the sea sky.
Kannur Pilgrimage Circuit Parassinikadavu Madayi
district · 4.7 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
The classic Kannur pilgrimage circuit — beginning at Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, continuing north to Madayi Kavu, and returning via the Chirakkal temples — covers the most important sacred sites in one day.
Kannur Handloom Weaving Cooperative
crafts · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Kannur is the handloom capital of Kerala — the city produces the finest hand-woven cotton fabrics in South India. Several large cooperatives and family weaving sheds open to visitors showing the traditional loom process.
Caltex Baby Beach Kannur Cove
beach · 4.1 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Caltex Beach (Baby Beach) is the most local of Kannur beaches — a small cove used by local families and swimmers, with an authentic evening scene and good seafood stalls nearby.
Kannur Coastal Evening Sunset Walk
viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The coastal walk from Fort St Angelo along the Kannur seafront at sunset — the fort bastion, the fishing harbour with returning boats, and the Arabian Sea light all combine for a perfect Kannur evening.
Things to do
- Kannur Muzhappilangad Drive-In Beach Heritage Sightseeing · 1.5 h
- Kannur Bekal Fort Day Trip Heritage Kasaragod Heritage · 5 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Kannur Fort Heritage British St Angelo Heritage · 2 h · from INR 100 per person
- Kannur Muthappan Temple Night Ritual Valapattanam Heritage · 5 h
- Kannur Parassinikadavu Snake Boat Muttathu Park Boat · 4 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Kannur Theyyam Performance Sacred Night Ritual Heritage · 6 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Kannur Weaving Heritage Handloom Factory Heritage · 3 h · from INR 500 per person
- Kannur Arakkal Palace Heritage Arab Kingdom Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 200 per person
Where to stay in Kannur
Hotels
- Ayisha Manzil Heritage Kannur 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- Ayisha Manzil Boutique Thalassery 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 30,000 per night
- Costa Malabari Resort Kannur 4-star · INR 7,000 to INR 20,000 per night
- Nileshwar Hermitage Kannur 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 30,000 per night
- Kannur Marriott Resort 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 27,000 per night
- Malabar Ocean Front Grand Kannur 5-star · INR 10,000 to INR 30,000 per night
Where to eat
- Assad Hotel Kannur Thalassery, Biryani, Malabar · about INR 400 per person
- Thalassery Biriyani House Classic Thalassery, Biryani, Heritage · about INR 400 per person
- Kannur Muslim Hotel Classic Malabar, Muslim Cuisine, Biryani · about INR 350 per person
- Kannur Evening Chai Kadai Chai, Malabar, Street Food · about INR 40 per person
- Kannur Malabar Porotta Corner Malabar, Street Food, Non-veg · about INR 200 per person
- Payyambalam Beach Food Stalls Street Food, Snacks, Kerala · about INR 150 per person
- Kannur Porotta and Beef Corner Malabar, Street Food, Non-veg · about INR 200 per person
- Kannur Biryani Hub Famous Malabar, Biryani, Kerala · about INR 400 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.