Kannur
is known as the land of Looms and Lores and it is famous for its pristine
beaches
Kannur, also known as Cannanore, rivals its neighbor Kozhikode in its ancient history subdued by the bustle of later centuries
At the very heart of Kannur is the Muthappan Temple and
the Railway Station. Just south of these is the DTPC office, opposite the Mariamman Koil and
the KSRTC Bus Stand on NH66. To the west is the Thavakkara area, and turning
south, HQ Road leads to Burnassery Cantonment, beyond which is St. Angelo’s
Fort and Mappila Bay.
Things to See in Kannur
Jawaharlal
Nehru once said that Kannur is the garden of India. Set against the background
of the moody Lakshadweep Sea, it does offer an exciting array of sights and
experiences. From exploratory walks around town to picnic lunches at local
sights to visits to numerous temples, Kannur has plenty to offer to its
visitors.
Fort St. Angelo, Kannur
Dramatically
silhouetted against the sea, Fort St. Angelo’s massive laterite blocks give it
a faintly menacing air. Built by the Portuguese and maintained by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a thousand people once lived within the
ramparts of the fort. Commanding views of the sea and of Moplah Bay, checkered
with boats and small crafts, offer visitors a good photo opportunity. Within
the compound are numerous cashew trees, said to have been planted by the
Portuguese. The latter introduced the plant to India, and in Malayalam, cashews
are called parangi
mavu or ‘foreign mango’.
Arakkal Kettu, Kannur
The
Arakkal Kettu, the former residence of the Arakkal Ali Rajas, has been
transformed into a museum. Located 3 km from Kannur, the monument has been
conserved and protected by the ASI, and some artefacts have been removed for
safe custody. There are two mosques near the Arakkal Kettu, one right next to
it and one around the corner. The descendants of the rajas live nearby.
Theyyams of the Kannur Kavus
North
Malabar’s unique, ancient, ritualistic folk art is known as Theyyam. The word
itself is a corruption of the Malayalam word daivam meaning
god, while the art form is a dramatic blend of dance, music, Kalaripayattu and
worship, usually dedicated to specific deities. It is in many ways a reflection
of religious harmony. For example, some of the deities to which the art has
been dedicated are Mappila Muslim heroes. There are nearly 450 types of Theyyam
that are performed in the many kavus, or sacred groves, that dot Kannur District.
These
are the two short articles written on regional festivals:
ONATHAR THEYYAM
"Onathar aadi varunne.." Keralites might have heard
this phrase from a
popular Malayalam song from late 80s, from the film
'Varavelpu'. Written by
Kaithapram and composed by Johnson, the song and the movie
itself are part
of the Malayali nostalgia, especially of villages. And
listening the song,
many don't know what is this 'Onathar'. The lyricist
Kaithapram Damodaran
Nampoothiri might have found this from his native village
memories, from
Kaithapram, near Payyannur in Kannur district.
'Onathar' is a Theyyam, a ritual art form, that is performed
during Onam
season. First of all, Theyyam is divine folk art, having
its historical
roots from the Tamil Dravida era, and widely observed in Kannur
district. It is
interesting that in Kannur we see Theyyam is emotional,
personally and
spiritually more popular than Onam among natives. Why this
happens, unlike
rest of Kerala? The simple answer is Onam is a celebration,
but Theyyam is
God itself. The word 'Theyyam' comes from 'Theyvam', a Tamil
word, meaning
God. It hints the strong roots of Kannur with its Dravidian
age and tribal
history. When you watch a Theyyam, you are also experiencing
a piece of
ancient era--that may range from Neolithic and Chalcolithic
ages to 19th
century. Onam too has a Dravidian back story to tell. Then in
Kannur, Onam
is marrying the land's Theyyam culture and thus here a new
color of Onam
is born.
'Onathar' is donned by boys below 12 years old from Vannan
community in
Kannur. That gives the Theyyam an innocent figure. He is
adorned by a head
gear similar to that of Kathakali but stitched of rachis of
peacock
feather. He wears red costumes, with the neck adorned with
garland with its
locket being projected on the midriff. 'Pachcha' (green),
cobalt blue and
'chayilyam' (red substance) is used for facial make-up. It
carries a
copper bell jingling and small bow made up of bamboo known as
'onavillu' in
hand. Traveling along the rural paths during Onam days--from
'Atham' to
'Thiruvonam', Onathar sings of the greatness of Mahabali's
reign, dances
and visits to every house. The residents gift him freshly
harvested rice and
agricultural products. The sight is visually 'poetic' and
soothing and
cooling to the mind, evoking an unrequited nostalgia; for
many people, it
is highly devotional also.
The origin of the art is unknown but the Nileswaram Rajahs,
who ruled the
the area in the pre-modern era, have promoted it vehemently. Then it
was widely
observed in Kannur district. It is believed that Onathar
itself is the
incarnation of Lord Mahabali, but in some folk tales, he is
believed to be
the spirit of Vamana; hence Theyyam being a child. If the
latter is
considered, Onathar would be part of late revival of the
Vaishnavism
movement in Kerala which, unlike Shaivism, had not made much
impact on the
state's Theyyam culture.
Presently, you can see Onathar at some villages in Nileswar,
Kasaragod and
villages in Payyannur such as Panappuzha, in Kannur district.
To meet
Onathar surely, a tourist can come this Onam season to
Kadinhimoola village
in Nileswar--3.5 km from Nileswar Railway Station, where this
art is yearly
performed by custom.
VAYALTHARA VELLATTAM
As we know, most of Theyyam festivals are conducted as part
of agrarian and
tribal culture of the villages which is deeply incorporated
into the faith
of that land. 'Vayalthara Vellattam' is the one which has
more courtesy to
its paddy field. This is where at Punnakkulangara, a small
agricultural
village near National Highway, Bakkalam, Taliparamba-- 13 km
from Kannur
town. The entire region is a land of myths; from Neeliyar
Kottathamma to
Vayalthara Bhagavathi. Only a small shrine is placed as the
idol of worship
at the corner of the paddy field, and rest of the faith
remain in the minds
of the people. The theyyam, regionally known as 'vellaattam',
is conducted
every year summer, in March or April months, at the harvested
field. The
time is from noon to afternoon; this is usually lasting to
early night.
With theyyam performing, the instruments 'chenda' and 'tudi'
are
continuously played. The belief behind the annual performance
of
'vellaattam' is that seeking the benison from 'Devi' for the
prosperity and
well being of the farming land and farming community
throughout the year.
According to some beliefs, at the end of the performance, the
land is
blessed with an unusual rain, despite being summer.
Early years, it was a very small ritual without much
involvement from
people. However, now, it is interesting that with the time
being
modernized, rituals like this are not fading, but gaining
popularity,
preserving its cultural significance.
Shri Muthappan Temple
Parassinikadavu
The
Parassinikadavu Temple, dedicated to the toddy and fried fish-loving deity,
Shri Muthappan, sits picturesquely on the banks of the Valapattanam river.
Muthappan is an incarnation of Maha Vishnu, and also believed to be the son of
Shiva and Parvathi.
Regarding
the toddy and fried fish, the legend is that a childless couple found and
adopted an abandoned baby boy. As he grew up, he took to hunting and eating
flesh, although these were taboo to his parents. The father was so disappointed
that he wanted to kill himself. But the boy appeared to him in the form of God
Vishnu as the hunter, taking the name of Muthappan. In another legend, the boy
was refused toddy by a toddy-tapper and turned the latter into stone. He then
proceeded to Paracchinga Katavu, the ‘ghat of thorny plants’, on the
Valapattanam River, where a low-caste family recognized his divinity and
appeased him with toddy and fish.
The ritual continues to this day, in the form of a Theyyam performance at the
temple, where a member of the family continues to play this role.
The
morning performances entail acts by two performers. Visitors wanting to catch
this show will not only have to wake up early but don saris or Mundus
Location 18km north of Kannur.
Kannur’s Beaches
The
biggest and most popular of Kannur’s beaches is Payyambalam.
At the entrance to the beach is a beautiful garden with a massive sculpture of
mother and child, by the renowned artist Kannayi Kunhiraman. While the beach is
a bit crowded, especially in the evenings, a brisk 10-minute walk along the
shoreline leads to a more secluded area where one can watch the sun go down
peacefully, seemingly tracing a molten path upon the sea.
Payyambalam Beach, Kannur
The Payyambalam
Beach is an impeccably maintained destination in Kannur. This secluded location
is known for providing one with the opportunity to simply relax or enjoy a
family picnic in absolute tranquillity. Surfing and swimming options are also
available for those who seek a little adventure. The gentle waters form a
picturesque setting that has been featured in many South Indian movies as well.
Being close to Kannur town has made it a favorite haunt for tourists and
locals alike.
Muzhappilangad
Drive-in Beach, Thalassery
It is
largest drive-in beach in Asia. Muzhappilangad Drive-in
Beach is a beach in the state of Kerala in
southwestern India. It is located
parallel to National
Highway 66(formerly National Highway 17) between Thalassery and Kannur.Muzhappilangad
Beach is famous for being Kerala's only drive-in beach. At about 7km from Thalassery
in Kannur, you have a 4 km stretch of sand that awaits you to simply drive
along as you soak in the view of the beautiful Malabar Coast. Along the
way, one gets to munch on delicacies from a number of shacks that offer
authentic Malabar cuisine. It is often considered a swimmers paradise
Baby Beach
Much smaller than Payyambalam, and much quieter, can only be accessed
through the Burnassery Cantonment. This beach is ideal for spending long,
blissfully relaxing hours.
Meenkunnu Beach
The beach is situated in Azhikode, about 11km from Kannur can be approached via a
bumpy road, along Azhikode Road past Payyambalam through a patch of coconut
groves. But it offers a stunning vista of blue breakers dashing against rocky
outcrops. Steps lead down to golden sand take visitors to a beach that is
breezy and isolated, with only the sea for miles around.
Kannur’s Temples
Kannur district is scattered all over with small, ancient shrines, set among groves of
coconut and banana. Most of these temples are elegant houses of god, reflecting
a sort of ancient piety. They are simple structures of wood and brick, no
bigger than a large house. Their attraction lies in their hallowed quietude,
impressive oil lamps hanging within, lit for the evening poojas lighting
up a dark interior.
To
enter most temples, men must be bare-chested and wear a mundu and
women must wear a sari.
Shri Subramania Temple, Peralassery
The
Shri Subramania Temple at Peralassery is believed to be the place where Rama
and Lakshmana halted on their way to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita. Inside the
temple are bronze and copper idols of snakes. This temple also has a beautiful
stepped tank, newly renovated.
Taliparamba Temples
The
best known temple in the little hamlet of Taliparamba is the Trichambaram Temple.
This Krishna temple is said to predate the 10th century. The carvings and
murals within go back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
Also
in Taliparamba is the Sri Rajarajeswara Temple,
dating back to the 10th century. An unusual custom followed here is that women
are allowed to worship inside only after 8.00pm; it is said that Lord Shiva is
present with Parvathi then and therefore grants all their wishes. The main
festival here is the Maha Shivarathri in Kumbham (February–March).
Subramania Swamy Temple, Payyanur
Payyanur,
about 21km north of Taliparamba along the NH17 (46km from Kannur) is home to
the Subramania Temple. The famous pavithra modiram rings are available here; made
with gold and the holy darbha grass, these are worn by brahmanas while
performing rituals. However, they are made on order and can only be worn after
being sanctified at the temple.
Foods
The Kannur cuisine has been shaped by centuries of
seasonings and food traditions from across of the world, including Arabian,
Persian and European...
Thalassery Chicken Biryani
Thalassery biryani is simply the king of all biryanis in Kerala. It is a
must-have for all those who visit in Kannur. If you are hoping for a regular
white rice biryani with a layer of masala lying underneath while ordering this
one, you will be disappointed. Rice, chicken, and spices are cooked together in
a pot to make Thalassery biryani, which is ultimately a heavenly mishmash of
white rice and golden brown masala.
Unnakkaya
The one sweetmeat that found fans across the state, Unnakkaya is a snack that
you can find in every street of the Kannur area. The dish is so famous that it
has almost become synonymous with Malabar. Unnakkaya is something that you can't
miss when you are in Kannur.
Also known as Kadukka,
kallumakkaya or mussels is the one seafood that can play as the brand icon for
Northern Kerala cuisine. This one dish, unique to the region, can be found on
almost every nook and corner of Kannur. It takes some effort to make the
perfect mussels as it is hard to clean and process them. But it’s worth the
effort. Nothing can beat this chewy and fleshy seafood when blended with the
right spices.
Thalassery
mussels biryani
Thalassery biryani
itself is one of a kind. So, when it is made with marinated mussels, it’s just
heavenly. Dig into this sumptuous layers of rice, condiments, and masala from
restaurants in and around Kannur and devour the rich and diverse flavors.
Malabar beef roast
Malabar beef roast is
a spicier and tangier version of the popular Kerala beef roast recipe. The beef
pieces are then roasted in it. Served with rice, appam, porotta and puttu, this
yummy beef recipe is the best thing you can have for dinner and lunch.
Neypathiri
Neypathiri or
neypathal is a type of deep-fried rice roti, commonly made in traditional
Muslim households of Kannur during the time of Ramadan. Although it is eaten
with a non-veg curry for dinner, you can have it plain as a snack too. These
golden discs can be found in the wooden shelves of small tea shops around the
town.
Chatti pathiri
Chatti pathiri is a
sweet and crunchy layered pastry snack exclusive in Kannur. These crepes are
layered with 'muttamala', another sweet which is made of eggs and sugar.
Mutton korma
This coconut flavored
curry has been a breakfast favorite for the Thalassery region. Paired with
appams, rotis or parathas, this delicious curry is the best thing you can have
to kick start your day during the festival.
Although, Kannur is a
wonderful place to visit to see and feel the beauty and taste the different
flavors with spices. Once that I can promise everyone that you will never
forget about this taste and the memories from which are seen and felt from
here.
Catering Companies in Kannur
H2O Catering Services, Thalassery
WaterMelon Catering Services, Kannur
Ruchikuttu Catering Services, Mattanur
Best Hotels in Kannur
·
Onden Hotel, Kannur
·
Paris, Thalassery
·
Rara Avis, Thalassery
·
National Hotel, Thalassery
·
MVK. Kannur
·
Ithathaas, Thalassery
·
Gokulam, Thalassery
·
Navaratna, Thalassery
·
Western, Thalassery
·
Kairali, Kannur
·
Modern, Thalassery
·
Mughal, Thalassery
·
Asoka, Thalassery
·
MRA, Kannur
·
Surya Residency, Kannur
·
Chandravillas, Thalassery
·
Ameen, Thalassery
List of Auditoriums in Kannur
- Sangamam Auditorium, Thalassery
- Dinesh Auditorium, Kannur
- RifthaHall, Valapattanam
- Ashoka Auditorium, Chirakkal
- CR Auditorium, Mattanur Road
- Dream Palace Auditorium, Thaliparambu
- Thalassery Cooperative town Bank Auditorium, Thalassery
- Lotus Auditorium, Thalassery
- Kairali Auditorium, Pillathara
- Rubco Auditorium, South Bazar
- Navaneetham Auditorium, Kannur
- Town Hall Auditorium, Thalassery
- Shazi Mahal Auditorium, Thalassery
- Kailas Auditorium, Mattanur
- Taj Auditorium, Mavilayi
- Pearl view Regency, Thalassery
- Saadhoo Kalyana Mandapam, Thaana
- Anchor Lake Resort, Eranholly Palam, Thalassery
- Surya Residency, Nadal
Malls in Kannur
CapitolMall
Gmall
Downtown Mall
- Kanbay Beach Resort, Thottada
- Club7 Beach Resort, Thottada
- Asokam Beach Resort, Kannur
- The Malabar Beach, Thottada
- The Tranquility, Dharmadom
Best Education Consultants in Kannur
Courses
- Medical
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Arts and Science
Services
Free education counseling
Helping Course Selection
College Visit
Selecting College
Admission procedures
Bank Loan Assistance
No Service Charge
For Queries: +91-9744723206
Builders, Interior Designers, and Contractors in Kannur
PK Interiors and Builders, Chirakkara
+91-9744723206
Shankar Associates, Kannur
Malabar Interiors, Thalassery
Job Consultancy in Thalassery
(Courtesy: various sources)
