FORT ST. ANGELOS was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese Viceroy of India, reputedly the first to represent Portugal, and set the launching pad for some other fortress of Portuguese in India on the Arabian Sea coast. The fortress is about 2 km west of Kannur town. The Portuguese lost the fortress to the Dutch in 1663 who renovated it with relevant architectural features that are major attractions of the present structure. Britain gained control over the fort in 1790 and used it as their chief military station in Malabar till about 1947.
THALASSERY FORT is built in 1708 by East India Company. The square shaped fort has huge walls with certain secret tunnel ways leading to the sea and superbly designed doors extremely big in structure and form.
MUZHAPPILANGAD BEACH is a Drive-in Beach of 5.5 km length located at Kannur district in the State of Kerala.
This beach is considered length wise the longest Drive-In Beach in India. The beach has its festival celebrations in April with many glitzy driving in cars and bikes being performed. About a 100m from the beach is a beautiful little island, which low tide prevailing can be reached out by walk.
In case driving from Tellicherry towards Kannur, take a left turn before first railway crossing that come across after crossing a certain Moidu bridge. The beach is at a distance of 5 km long and curves wide and allows a superb view of Kannur Town on the north. Beachgoers are normally allowed to drive 4 km directly on sands along the beach. The beach walled with black rocks prevents any undue influx of strong currents stemming from the ocean.
PAYYAMBALAM BEACH is a serene and quiet beach as much as to be considered to be the final resting place for many of the States famous personalities, mostly political leaders of the genre of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pilla, A.K. Gopalan, K.P. Gopalan, Pamban Madhavan and K.G. Marar to name a few. The white sandy beach is an elegance of a space to spend a peaceful holiday.
Moreover it is very clean and safe with the blue-green water rich in marine life and a thick tree cover parallel to the sandy beach giving it a heavenly look. The beach is about three km along the coast.
The beach offers water sports like parasailing, jet skiing, swimming and snorkeling.
The best time to visit the Payyambalam Beach is between October and April.
Ezhimala is a beautiful hill terrain with an altitude of about 286 meters near Payyannur in Kannur District of Kerala. It is a considerable group of hills, near sea and was also a flourishing seaport and a relevant trade centre. Many historically important battles have also reportedly been fought at Ezhimala. Lord Budha is considered to have visited Ezhimala. Portuguese used to call it Monte D’Ely and the British Mount Delly.
A mosque, containing mortal remains of Shaikh Abdul Latif, a Muslim reformist, is considered to be here.
The hill is also famous for its richness for medicinal herbs.
The Kalagramam provides youngsters a work shop to refine their talents and skills in fine art. The malayalakalagramam was launched in January 1994. The music and dance courses will be open to children of 10 to14 years and painting and sculpture to youngsters A guest House welcomes and if necessary accommodates up to ten persons mainly intended for visiting artists and other dignitaries. ‘Annapoorna’ a canteen provides at a cheap rate yet quality food.
About 29 km from Kannur, Malayala Kalagramam is at, Cochin House, New Mahe ,Kerala State, India.
Pazhassi Dam is otherwise named Kulur Barrage is built in stone and named after the king Pazhassi Raja who fought against the British Imperialism. The irrigation dam and surroundings are quite a sight to behold.
37K.M. east of Kannur the place is ideally a retreat with pleasure boating facilities available at the reservoir.
( 65 km from Kannur Town ): A hill station which provides breath taking view since 4500 feet above sea level with D
DR.Herman Gundert is a father figure for the land since it was he who prepared the one among the first dictionaries for the local language Malayalam. The bungalow he lived for 20 years is preserved since it was here he gave birth to the first amongst Malayalam dictionary as well here was the first Malayalam newspaper ‘Rajyasamacharam’ conceived.
Snakes are beautiful to watch and that’s the convenience we get at the park with some of the rare species live and there about at your front and near.
The Snake Park 18 km from Kannur town is one of the known snake parks in the country, dedicating itself to the preservation and conservation of snakes, most of which are becoming extinct gradually and have a large collection of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes.
Moppila Bay, a natural fishing harbor, near Fort St. Angelo’s having a sea wall projecting from the fort that separates the rough sea and inland water was famous during the past centuries as a commercial harbor that linked Kerala with Lakshadweep and foreign countries in imports now a day has turned into a modern fishing harbor, developed under the Indo-Norwegian Pact.
The temple at Parassinikadavu, 20-km from Kannur town with deity Muthappan who is very powerful and solves the problems of the devotees as much as even people intending to start new business come here to seek blessings for success and submit offerings. A galore of devotee’s visits the temple. The deity is in a hunter’s attire with a bow and arrow held and have canines as companions. The rituals varies as compared to normal temples. Theyyam a cardinal ritual here and a glimpse of the theyyatam is possible daily since it is enacted twice at 6.30-8.30am and 5.45-8.30pm before the assembled worshippers and the resident priest. The Theyyam dancer represents and gradually manifests as the presiding God, dances and pronounces like the God. The dancer is believed to possess powers to solve problems of devotees and announces solutions.
The shrine situated at Thaliparambu, 23-km away from Kannur town, on NH 17 with deity Shiva known as Rajarajeswara with devotees calling the Lord in other pet names also like – Perumthrikovilappan, Perumchellurappan, and Thampuran Perumthrikovilappan.The deity Shiva is in the form of Jyothirlingam and is three times more powerful in divinity than any other Shiva temples. The legend for this extra ordinary phenomenon is of interesting.
As Sage Parasurama, incarnation of Vishnu visited the shrine it was in a bad shape. The poignant Sage searched the cause. Sage Narada duly appeared and explained for the pathetic condition of the temple. Sage Sankara and his company churning the disk of the Sun to lessen heat shaped three shining Shivalingams using and presented them to Lord Brahma.
Brahma entrusted the same to Parvathi, the wife of Shiva. Parvathi, in turn, gave one each to three Kings, who one after the other following a specific condition that they should not be installed at places where death occurred or a body cremated. after long search landed at a small obscure place where a Thalika (a metal dish-plate) can be accommodated put the Shivalingam in a plate and installed. The place thereafter came to be known as Thaliparambu. King Maandatha was the first to have come however the idol, after some time, disappeared and the place became vacant. The place however became shining and divine.
The King Muchkundan landed at the spot next but this too vanished after some time. But the place became doubly shining and doubly divine.
The third King Shathasoman who received the third Jyothirlingam from Parvathi also landed at the very spot. When this idol began sinking into the earth,the perturbed King started praying to Sage Agasthya who duly responding to the Kings prayers appeared and after hearing out the Kings narration of events the Sage lighted a ghee-lamp and prostrated 12 times before the idol and half-way on the 13th prostration the idol stood firm on the ground. The sacred spot thus became three-fold divine and there-fold shining.
On hearing thus from Sage Narada , Sage Parasurama constructed a temple there. Sage Agasthya appeared in the temple premises and made Abhishekam (ceremonial washing) on the idol. The Sage also lighted a ghee-lamp which flared all these years. The ghee required for the lamp is provided by devotees as offerings.
The two-tiered Sanctum- Sanctorum is shaped rectangular with four doors, one at each side. Goddess Parvathi seated on the west side of the sanctum sanctorum has the door of the shrine always kept closed. Before visiting Rajarajeswara temple a devotee is required to visit and worship Lord Krishna in Vasudevapuram temple. This temple is located on the southern bank of the big temple pond of Rajarajeswara temple. This is a custom and tradition. Again, before worshipping Rajarajeswara a devotee is required to worship Sree Bhoothanatha (Kumbodharan) at his shrine.Rajarajeswara and the deities of Trichambaram (Lord Krishna) and Kanhirangad (Sree Vaidyanatha) are inter-connected and administered by a single authority, Thaliparambu-Trichambaram-Kanhirangad Devasom.
This particular Sree Ramaswami temple is the oldest among the four temples with main deity as Lord Rama in Kerala. Situated 23km from Kannur, near Thalasseri fort the temple is well-known for its exquisite carvings on the walls which are believed to be 400 old. The temple roof since made of copper sheets, is locally known as 'chempadicha melkoora' (brass pagoda). Even though in the18th century, some portion of the temple was destroyed by Tipu's troops the temple was saved from damage by God’s miracle. The seven day long annual festival of the temple, 'Vishnu Mahotsavam' is held in the month of Medam (April -May). The festival that commences on the Vishu day, is a colourful event with elephant pageantries, processions, fireworks and Panchavadyam. Ramnavami is also celebrated here with great enthusiasm
Two ancient Shiva temples, Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor located in the dense forests on opposite shores of River Bavali in Kottiyoor, 60km from Kannur are a favorite place of worship for many devotees. The Diety in Akkare Kottiyoor temple is considered self-evolved ('swayambhoo lingam') and thus kept on the ground ('Manithara') within a small heap of stones. Thousands of devotees visit this temple during the Vaisakha festival celebrated in the month of May-June every year that lasts for 27 days. Akkare Kottiyoor temple remains open only on these festival days. The 'abhishekam' (offering) here is with milk, ghee (clarified butter) and karikku vellam (tender coconut water). Pilgrims to the temple, before trekking to the holy hills, take a bath in the River Bavali, which is considered to be divine. Daily worship is held at Ikkare Kottiyoor temple. An interesting feature is that this temple remains closed during the 27 day long festival in Akkare Kottiyoor temple.
The Annapurneswari temple, situated at Cherukunnu near Thaliparamba, is believed to have been constructed by Parasurama. Legend is that Annapurneswari of Kasi (Banaras) came to Cherukunnu in a ship with three maid servants and a number of their followers. Later, the goddess proceeded to the spot where the temple is now situated.
East Nada, Guruvayoor
Thrissur : 680 101, Kerala
