Kannur is one of the districts in Kerala state of India.  Kannur is the headquarters for the district.  Its earlier name was Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur.  Kannur is surrounded to the North by Kasaragod District, to the South by Kozhikode District, and to the Southeast by Wayanad District, to the East by Western Ghats, which also is the border for the state of Karnataka, in its district of Kodagu, and last to be West lies Arabian Sea.

Kannur is also called as the land of looms and lores due to loom cottage industries operating in the district.  The district is important center of Theyyam, a ritual dance of Northern Kerala.  Small temple called as kavus associated with the Theyyam dot the district.  Kerala Government has proposed for international airport here and it is fourth International Airport in Kerala.

Kannur History

It can be recognized as Naura in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.  From 12th century AD afterwards, Kannur had a port at Kolathunadu and this was ruled by Kolathiris.  This place city was major port on the Arabian sea and facilitated trade with Persia and Arabia in early part of 12th and 13th centuries.  This town was British military�s headquarters in India on the West Coast until 1887.  In combination with Tellicherry, it was the third biggest city on the Western coast for British during 18th century next only to Bombay and Karachi.

Forst named St. Angelo was constructed in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, who is also the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, located on the Arabian Sea about 3 km from Kannur.  The fort was plagued by the local ruler in the Siege of Cannanore in 1507.  The possession of the fort has changed hands many times, Dutch captured it in 1663 and they sold the fort to the Arakkal royal family in 1772.  At the same time, the Arakkal sultanate began issuing coins. The British captured it in 1790 and they used it as one of the major military stations on the Malabar Coast and this is well conserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.  Painting of this fort and the fishing ferry as a background is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.  Kunjali Marakkar's head was removed from his body and exhibited in the Fort after his assassination.

In 17th century, Kannur was capital city of the Muslim Sultanate of Kerala, also called as Arakkal.  Prior to that, Kannur was under Kolathiri Raja of Chirakkal.  During the British rule, Kannur was part of the Madras province in the District of North Malabar.

Kannur Climate

Kannur has a wet climate with an cruel hot weather from March to the end of May, followed by the Southwst monsoon, which continues until September. October and November is being post-monsoon. In April and May, daily max temperature is about 35 C and it is low in December and January and the minimum temperature is about 20 C.  On many days the night temperature may go down to 16 C.  The yearly average rainfall is 3438 mm.  The rainfall during July is considered to be very heavy and the district receives 68% of the yearly rainfall during this season.

Kannur Tourism

Tourist places in Kannur
Fort St. Angelos
Thalassery Fort
Muzhappilangad Beach
Payyambalam Beach Resort
Ezhimala
Malayalakalagramam
Pazhassi Dam
Pythal Mala
Snake Park at Parassinikkadavu
Moppila Bay