Kannur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kannur | |
  Kannur
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Kerala - Kannur |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
63,795 - |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 670 0xx - +91 497 - KL-13 |
| Website: www.kannur.nic.in | |
- For the district with the name Kannur, see Kannur District.
Kannur, (Malayalam:കണ്ണൂര്) formerly known as Cannanore, is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Kannur district. Kannur is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala with a population of 498,175. It is popularly known as the city of Looms and Lores. Theyyam is the famous performing art of Kannur. Kannur is also famous for its beautiful virgin beaches.
Contents |
[edit] History
Kannur was an important port on the Arabian Sea which carried out trade with Persia and Arabia in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and it was the British military headquarters on India's west coast up to 1887. In conjunction with her elder sister Tellicherry it was the third biggest city in the western coast of British India in the eighteenth century, next only to Bombay and Karachi. Mahe River, which divided the British Tellicherry and French Mahe was then famed as the British Channel of India.
[edit] St. Angelo's Fort
St. Angelo's Fort, built in 1505 by Sir Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, is situated near the sea coast and is about 2 km away from Kannur town. This fort has a legendary past. Having witnessed several wars for seizing the control of the fort,In 1663 this fort captured by the Dutch then in 1772 they sold this to the Arakkal muslim royal family of Kannur then the British flag flew over it finally in 1790. Even now, it is in a fairly good state of preservation, and is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind the fort can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Historic map http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/india/cannanore/cannanore.html
[edit] Kannur town and Kannur City
- Kannur town - is a town and the administrative headquarters of Kannur District.
- Kannur City - Just 3 kilometres from the modern town of Kannur, is the old town known to locals as 'The City'. It was a thriving business area till about 50 years back, and had ships coming from Lakshadweep and Minicoy docking at the small harbour located there.
[edit] Beaches
- Payyambalam Beach: It is the beach of the Kannur town. It has an unbroken coastline of a few kilometres. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar coast, that is, beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) and moving towards Mangalore, Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). The well laid out garden and the massive landscaped sculpture of mother and child erected by noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman makes it extremely captivating.
- Baby Beach: It is called so as it is smaller than its bigger neighbourhood, Payyambalam Beach. The famous St. Angelo Fort is adjacent to it.
- Meenkunnu Beach: Situated at Azhikode, it is hardly a few kilometres from the town. The virgin beach is a tourist’s paradise with golden sand and surf.
- Thottada Beach: Situated at Thottada just 2 km from the NH 17 connecting Kannur and Thalassery, it is hardly 7 km from Kannur town. The virgin beach is ideal for sun bathing. Tourists could stay at the beach house or guest house near the beach.
- Mappila Bay: Situated near the St. Angelo’s Fort, the Mopila bay has a historical background. Centuries ago, it was the seat of Kolathiri Kings. The Kadalayi Fort and Sree Krishna Temple were quite famous. The remnants of the fort and the temple are still seen in Mopila Bay. A fishing harbour, built with Indo Norwegian project assistance, can be seen at this bay. Boating in the sea, if the weather permits, will be an unforgettable experience.
- Azhikkal Ferry: Situated near Azhikode around 10 km from Kannur town. There is the Valapattanam river joining the Arabian sea. Azhikkal ferry gives a magnificent view of the sunset. There is a granite pathway around 2 km into the sea at this place; once you reach the edge of the pathway one will be surrounded by sea from all sides.
- Dharmadam Drivein beach: Situated at Dharmadam near Thalaserri (Telicherry) around 20 km from Kannur town. It is unique in a sense that even normal 2 wheel drive vehicles can be driven due to the hard nature of the sand. during certain seasons, there jeep driven parasailing is conducted.
[edit] Places near Kannur town
The places near Kannur town are accessible by the Kannur town bus service, which has a bus stand near the Kannur District Hospital. The well know Sree Krishna Temple at Kadalayi is situated at a distance of 5 km from Kannur Town. The other well known place in Kannur is Parassinikadavu temple.
[edit] See also
- Kannur District
- Chirakkal Raja
- Arakkal Adi Raja
- Muthappan
- Muthappan Theyyam
- Sree Annapoorneswari Temple Cherukunnu
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Kannur had a population of 63,795. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kannur has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 83%. In Kannur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] External links
- Payyanur
- All about Theyyam
- The Land of Theyyam
- Official website
- More about Kannur: Theyyam, Kalarippayatt and its enchanting Beaches
 A view of St.Angelo's fort |
