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KANNUR
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Mananthavady
: Mananthavady lies on the Western Ghats of Kerala,
South East of Cannanore, at a height of about 500 mt.
It is was the last resting-place of Pazhassi Raja thus
a historically important place. He was cremated here with
full military honours. The tomb of Pazhassi Raja and the
park built in his memory are reminders of this great ruler.
Payyambalam Beach : The Payyambalam beach is one
of the beautiful beaches in this State and is an ideal
place to visit. Quiet, secluded, this beautiful stretch
of sand and surf is the best locale for a relaxed evening
irrespective of seasons. It is 2 km from Kannur town.
Sree Muthappan Temple :
Sree Muthappan Temple dedicated to Lord Muthappan, believed
to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva. This is the only
temple in Kerala where Theyyam, the ritual dance form
of North Kerala is performed daily. The temple's non-conformist
nature is also evident in the unusual custom of offering
dried fish and toddy to the deity.
There is also a Kathakali club in the temple which will
arrange shows on request. The performance begins after
11 pm and lasts 4½ hours. Also near the temple
is the Parassinikadavu Snake Park.
St.
Angelo's Fort : The Fort of St.Angelo's is now
a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India,
the Fort St.Angelo's is in the west of Kannur town. It
was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Don
Francisco De Almeida, with the permission of the Kolathiris.
It is still a landmark in Kannur. Though parts of the
fort have collapsed, it is still in a fairly good state
of preservation. A few ancient cannons are on display
inside the fort.
Madayi Mosque
: The Madiya Mosque was built in 1124 AD by Malik
Ibn Dinar, a Muslim preacher. A block of white marble
in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca
by its founder, who came to India to spread the word of
Muhammad, the Prophet.
Dharmadam
Island : Dharmadam Island is a beautiful beach,
located 17 km from Kannur. The small 5-acre island covered
with coconut palms and green bushes is a beautiful sight
from the beach. Permission is required to enter this privately
owned island. It is 100 mt away from the mainland at Dharmadam.
Thalassery Fort : Constructed
in 1708 AD, the Thalaserry Fort was the military centre
of the British, located at a distance of 22 km from Kannur.
In 1708 AD, when the British East India Company established
its settlement on the Malabar Coast, they built the Thalaserry
Fort, as a testimonial to their colonial imperialism.
The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels
to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing
structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalaserry's
development.
Gundert Bungalow
: Dr. Herman Gundert, the revered German missionary,
scholar and lexicographer lived in this bungalow for 20
years from 1839. It was here that one of the first Malayalam
dictionaries and the first Malayalam Newspaper - Paschimodayam
- took shape. It is located at distance of 20 km from
Kannur, near Thalasseri town, on the National Highway
at Illikunnu.
Ezhimala :
The beautiful beach here has a hillock nearby (286 mt
high). Carved stone pillars and an ancient burial chamber
can be seen at the foot of the hills. The hills are noted
for rare medicinal herbs. A Naval Academy is being developed
here. Permission is required for entry. Situated at a
distance of 55 km from Kannur.
Trichambaram
Temple : 20 km from Kannur, near Taliparamba town
on the National Highway is A sacred place of the Vaishnava
cult, the deity of the temple is Sree Krishna. The sculptures
on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum are in a class by
themselves. The annual temple festival, usually held in
March, is a colourful event.
Muzhapilangad
Beach : Located at a distance of 15 km from Kannur
and 8 km from Thalasseri. Black rocks protect this long,
clean beach from the currents of the deep, making its
shallow waters a swimmer's paradise. The palm groves fringing
the beach is a cool hideaway from the tropical sun. Perhaps
this is Kerala's only drive-in beach where you can drive
down the entire length of 4 km.
Parassinikadavu
: Sri Muthappan Temple stands on the banks of the
Valapattanam river. This pilgrim centre is famous for
the Muthappan Theyyam performed every morning and evening.
The DTPC provides pleasure boating on the river near the
temple.
The Snake Park is the only one of its kind in the State
and perhaps the whole of India. There are three snake
pits, fifteen glass cases for snakes and two large glass
houses for King Cobras in the park. Snake demonstrations
conducted every hour draw large crowds of visitors. Parassinikadavu
is 16 km from Kannur town.
Valapattanam
: The small town on the Valapattanam river is well
known for its wood-based industries and timber trade.
The port of Azhikkal and Azhikkal Beach are located nearby.
Western India Plywoods Limited, the largest wood-based
industry in the country and also one of the largest of
its kind in South East Asia, is a major industrial concern
here.
Valapattanam is also a famous fishing harbour as well
as the main source of the irrigation project in the district.
It is a fascinating experience to watch the traditional
mode of timber transportation - by tying long pieces of
timber together and allowing them to float down the stream.
Situated at a distance of 7 km from Kannur. |
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