Top Things to Do in the Kannur | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Kannur

Places To Visit In Kannur

Paithalmala

A small hill station tucked in the forest of Kodagu in the Kannur district of Kerala, Paithalmala is one of the most beautiful peaks in the Western Ghats that mesmerizes anyone who has been here. Standing tall at 4500 ft, Paithalmala is the tallest peak in the district of Kannur and a very popular trekking destination for all the nature and adventure lovers out there. An enchanting hill station with captivating beauty, thrilling trekking trails and abundance of lush greenery - Paithalmala is a perfect getaway. Trekking is the best activity one can indulge in here, allowing you to absorb and be mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the place and its surroundings. A 6 km long trek from the base to the top of the hill takes you through dense forests and grasslands, ultimately leading to a watch tower at the top. The watch tower is the highlight of the whole trek as one get to see breathtaking scenery of the Kodagu forests, Coorg Forests and the adjoining areas. Small detours to the nearby ponds or lakes located via the help of the local people can add to your experience of Paithalmala. Read More

Your trip to this beautiful beach town is incomplete without shopping. The pace is a hub of many bazaars and is a shopper's paradise. Do buy local handicrafts, saris and earthenware products. You can visit Krishna Jewellers if you wish to buy some good quality gold. Local spices are some of the other things to take away. Wooden Kathakali face masks are also a specialty of the place used for decoration purpose. Fort Road, Fortlight Complex and Kannur City Center are the major shopping hubs in the town. Read More

St Angelos Fort is definitely one of the most popular and frequently visited attractions of Kannur and for more reasons than one. The polished yet prehistoric structure of this fortress oozes with unadulterated elegance and overwhelming power. Standing ashore in the Arabian sea, St Angelos Fort enjoys a panoramic and unobstructed view of the diorama created by the merger of the magnetic waves and the azure waters. It also overlooks the mesmerising Mopilla Bay, a natural harbour. St Angelos Fort is mainly famous for the gripping history and the intriguing tales it has to tell. This fort was a point of interest for many dynasties of domestic as well as the international origin and has seen many bitter battles in the quest to conquer it. The Portuguese Viceroy, Dom Francisco de Almeida had imprisoned his successor, Alfonso de Albuquerque because he did not want to give up the reins of his power. This led to a series of bitter events and conspiracies that have been etched in the history of Portugal as well as Kannur forever. Walking around the walls of this majestic fort, you can almost picture the battles that this fortress has seen. There are tombstones of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the fort, barracks and an old chapel here that you can explore. Kannur's first ever lighthouse also stands next to the fort and adds to its already hypnotic glory. Read More

A very popular and frequently visited temple of the south, the Sundareswara Temple in Kannur is essentially a place like heaven for all the Lord Shiva devotees. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped and adulated as Lord Sundareswara, the 'God of Beauty'. Naming the temple Sundareswara was an attempt to remind every visitor that 'Everyone is beautiful' and that one should look for the beauty in everything. Famed as one of the largest temples in the Kannur district, this majestic temple was built in 1916, and its grandiose and splendor cannot be expressed in mere words. The interiors of this opulent temple are designed and decorated by the renowned artist and ardent Shiva devotee, Sri Chaithanyaall Swami. Sree Narayana Guru, probably the most respected and esteemed social reformer of Kerala, who dedicated his entire life to help and uplift the deprived, came up with the initiative to build this temple and laid down the foundation brick himself. The idea behind it was to bring a social reform, where people from backward classes were no longer barred from entering places of worship. Building the Sundareswara Temple also aimed at putting an end to inappropriate methods of worship like practicing ruthless animal sacrifice and following irrational superstitions. Read More

Taliparamba, a small city in Kerala is situated at a distance of 25 km from the Kannur town. The Valapattanam River and Kuppam River flow through enhancing the natural beauty of the place. The city is surrounded by lush green fields all around along with ancient tile-roofed houses which together make the place appear so much more beautiful. The greenery offers a peaceful environment and a perfect getaway from the usual fast life of the city. The city of Taliparamba is full of temples, mosques, and churches. However, the one which is most frequently visited by the tourists is the Taliparamba Sree Krishna Temple which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. A saint named Maharshi Shambara meditated here, and he is the one after whom the temple is named. The front elevation of the temple is simple, but as one gets inside the temple, the main chamber of the temple is filled with exquisite accompaniments belonging to the 15th and 16th century. Kanjirangad Vaidyanatha Temple, St. Mary's Forane Pilgrim Church and the Syed Nagar Mosque are some other tourist attractions in the city. Taliparamba is an important trading center of hill produce and spices. The surrounding hills make the place appear much more beautiful. History has it has the origin of Taliparamba was the Perinchalloor Brahman settlement. Initially, there were 2000 Brahman families but eventually, all of them moved out leaving only 45 families today. Being rich in lush green lawns, crystal clear waters and rolling hills, the beauty of this city is unparalleled. The District Agricultural Farm, which evolved in the year 1905, and the hanging bridge at Kuttiyeri and Kooveri are famous in the city. Being a scenic beauty with so much to offer, this place is a must-visit. Read More

Bringing life to intriguing myths and exciting legends, the Theyyam festival is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals of the vibrant city of Kannur. Drawing the attention of thousands of people every year from across the country, this festival is renowned as the most remarkable and riveting art form of Malabar, the northern part of Kerala. This joyous celebration includes performances of over four hundred different traditional folk dances and is celebrated to appease the many local deities, gods, goddesses and heroes of the gripping ancient legends. Performers are dressed in attractive traditional costumes, captivating headgear and alluring ornaments with colourful face paints and creative face masks on. It is usually celebrated in the premises of a local shrine or an open space with a temporarily built sanctuary called 'Pathi'. The concept of the festival is quite a different yet beautiful one - after performing the due rituals and chanting the right shlokas, the resident deity of the shrine temporarily manifests itself into the body of a worthy man, the performer, and enlightens him with a divine experience. The performer and the viewers immensely respect this dance and are dedicated to preserving its ritualistic heritage. Witnessing the alluring magic and irresistible charm of this festival in action is sure to make you fall in love with the rich and vibrant culture of South India and will definitely leave you yearning for more. Theyyam is celebrated at more than 100 locations across the entire state of Kerala, however, Kannur is one of the most popular and frequently visited destinations when it comes to witnessing the celebration of this auspicious and awaited festival. Source Read More

Between the coastal towns of Kannur and Thalassery along the Malabar Coast lies the scenic Thottada Beach. Ideal for sunbathers and those looking to unwind by the beach, this virgin beach remains one of the cleaner beaches of the coast due to being relatively unexplored as compared to the other beaches of the coast that receive more publicity. The cleanliness, solitude and tranquillity are part of the charm of the beach, making it the ideal getaway for anyone looking to escape the noise of the city and reconnect with nature and themselves. The serene vibe of the beach complements the lovely natural elements that form this alluring atmosphere. The clear blue waters of the Arabian Sea crash onto the shimmering golden sheets of sand across this 800-metre stretch, with gorgeous coconut palms towering over the rocks of the shore, coloured between the spectrum of red and black. This beach is also the site where the Thottada river meets the Arabian Sea. Near the beach, the river forms swamp-like areas where one can find some interesting natural diversity. A number of guest houses and beach houses fringe this quiet beach, where one can admire the natural beauty of the coast at its best. Read More

Located near Taliparamba in Kannur in Kerala, Vismaya Water Park is a water themed park which is replete with a plethora of amusing rides and thrilling water sports. Spread across 30 acres of land area, the water park was inaugurated in August 2008, the water park boasts of a host of splash pools in addition to other facilities like a conference hall, prayer halls, restaurants and casual shops etc. The amazing decor complements the cosy infrastructure and adds to the overall ambiance of the park. Thronged by several tourists all around the year, the park is a common favourite among kids and adults alike. Managed and maintained by Malabar Tourism Development Co-operative Limited (MTDC), the park is one of its kind in the country to be promoted by a Co-operative society. Read More

A hill station in Kannur, Kerala, Cherupuzha is a part of the Western Ghat mountain ranges in India. Because of the hillside location, this town is surrounded by nature and has dense forests towards the eastern side that borders the state of Karnataka. This is one of the many reasons tourists flock to this land to seek the remoteness and tranquility of nature. Cherupuzha is well-connected to most of the famous cities such as Bangalore (326 km), Mangalore (121 km), Thiruvananthapuram (524 km), Ernakulam (332 km), and Kozhikode (150 km). Also, Cherupuzha is easily reachable via the east district of Kannur and Payannur. Cherupuzha and its neighboring towns were once ruled by royal lineages, such as the Kingdom of Mysore’s Tipu Sultan, Kolathunadu’s Chirakkal dynasty, and Ezhimala’s Mooshika dynasty. Later, it was taken over by the British Raj. Today, there are many attractions and activities that tourists can indulge in during their visit to Cherupuzha. Read More