Last updated on April 7th, 2021 at 10:44 am
I love everything Kerala – the beaches, backwater, art & culture, food, and its people! Kannur, a small beach city in Kerala, is just the perfect destination to unwind over a weekend. Kannur tourism is probably not as hyped as other parts of Kerala. But as you read through this post and discover Kannur, you will get the feeling as to why this place is a gem.
Lots of greenery, offbeat beaches, a fortified area, a tiny museum, a mind-blowing art form, and good food – Kannur, Kerala has a plethora of experiences on offer. Read on for the things to do in Kannur in 2 days.
Also read about other South India Destinations
1) Where is Kannur in Kerala?
Kannur is the largest city in the north Malabar region of the South Indian state of Kerala. The proximity to Bangalore makes it a perfect weekend destination.
2) How to Reach Kannur, Kerala
By Road: Kannur is at a distance of 311 KM from Bangalore and takes close to 8 hours to reach via Mysore road if starting early in the morning. The time may vary depending on the traffic on the road. We traveled to Kannur by road on a weekend trip from Bangalore and had started as early as 4:30 AM to bit the traffuc.
By Air: New Kannur International Airport is now operational. Else, the other nearest airport is the Calicut International Airport about 85 Km from Kannur. Calicut Airport is also well-connected with major cities in India.
There is also a railway station in Kannur. It takes approximately 14 hours by train to reach Kannur from Bangalore.
3) Things To Do In Kannur, Kerala
3.1 Drive in the Muzhappilangad Beach
How about the idea of driving right ON the beach?
Yes! That’s exactly what Muzhappilangad beach is known for. It is the only drive-in beach in Kerala. The sand here is slightly grey and strong enough to withstand the load of a car.
The 4 km stretch of land running along the sea is the perfect backdrop for a unique drive. I had never been to a drive-in beach before. So, this was a unique experience for me.
Head on to this beach around late afternoon before sunset and enjoy the glistening Malabar coastline. The beach has provisions for refreshments like a quick snack or a beverage.
It is an amazing experience and one of the top things to do in Kannur – I can assure you.
Entry fee: Very nominal (less than a dollar).
Timings: Best enjoyed in the late afternoon.
3.2 Walk up to Dharmadam Island
Dharmadam Island is a small private island in Thalassery, Kannur located 100 meters away from the Dharmadam beach.
You can walk up to Dharmadam island from the seashore during low tides (requires prior permission) and that’s what makes it unique.
This beautiful island densely covered with coconut grove once used to be an important pilgrimage center for the Buddhists.
Even if you can’t walk up to the islands, spend some time on the Dharmadam beach. The huge rocks along the shoreline add to the natural beauty of the surroundings and the beach also is calm and quiet.
The beach is accessible via Dharmadam Beach Park (nominal entry fee). The park includes facilities like a small restaurant, an ice cream shop along a kid’s play area.
3.3 Immerse in the beauty of Payamballam Beach
Very near to the Kannur town is the beautiful Payyambalam beach.
This is another gem of its kind owing to the peacefulness. Sunset probably is the best time to visit the beach. There’s also a green park for visitors to sit back and relax.
Payyambalam beach is quite secluded making it a perfect place to unwind along with family.
3.4 Marvel at St. Angelo Fort
The majestic St. Angelo fort also known as Kannur Fort stands tall overlooking the Arabian Sea.
It was built by the Portuguese over five hundred years ago and is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
You will get to see the insides of army barracks as well as old cannons still in position as they used to be years ago. A large section of the place has now been transformed to great use as a lovely public park with a lot of greenery, picnic spots, and play areas.
Kannur fort is at a beautiful location overlooking the Moppila Bay Harbour. It is a perfect place to sit in silence, unwind, and admire the breathtaking view from the fort ramparts.
Quick facts:
Visiting time: 8 AM to 6 PM
Best Time to visit: Early Morning and before 4 PM to avoid the crowd
Entry fee: Nominal Charges for Entry and Parking
There’s enough parking space available. Ensure to wear comfortable footwear.
3.5 Experience Theyyam
One of the major attractions in Kannur is experiencing the thousand-year-old dance form of Theyyam.
Theyyam is a religious and ritualistic folk-art encompassing dance, music, and mime where the performer dons a divine or mythological character. The colorful costumes and elaborate & intricate makeup are the prominent highlights of Theyyam.
Dating back to a thousand years of tradition, Theyyam is a commingle of heritage, ancient culture, and rituals. It is certainly more than a folk-art form and is spectacular in one word!
Where to watch Theyyam in Kannur:
Theyyam is performed every day at Muchilot Bhagavathy temples, Pulimuthappan Kavu Temples in Kannur.
If you are visiting Kannur between November to May, you can witness the Theyyam Festival which is unique to northern Kerala.
Viator.com offers several tours to help you experience Theyyam.
3.6 Visit Arakkal Museum
Does getting to know local history excite you? Then a visit to the Arakkal Museum is a must.
Dedicated to the Arakkal family (the only Muslim royal dynasty of Kerala), the tiny Arakkal museum looks unassuming from the outside. The museum interiors depict the rich history of the family and its contribution to Kannur.
The Arakkal family came into prominence during the 15th century and had good marine trade relations with the Portuguese and the Dutch. There are a plethora of exhibits on display speaking about the bygone glory of the family. A lot of the artifacts on display here also evidence trade relations of the Arakkals with European colonial powers.
Apart from the heritage items, other interesting items on display are the royal copies of the Holy Quran, an old-fashioned telephone, swords & other artillery used by the family.
A must-visit if you are a history buff.
4) Where To Stay in Kannur
Kannur is a small place and most of the good beach resorts are across the beach road offering a nice view of the Arabian sea. Booking.com offers some of the best options.
We stayed at Asokam Beach Resort – It’s a tiny beach resort with spacious beach-view rooms, a beautifully landscaped garden overlooking the sea, good food, and most importantly, great hospitality.
Right across the resort is the beach and incidentally, this part of the beach is almost vacant and very clean giving you the feeling of a ‘private’ beach. Needless to mention that we spent a good amount of time on the beach. An afternoon or morning walk along the beach road is certainly going to freshen up the mind.
Also highly recommended is the Ayurvedic Treatments and Panchakarma Therapies offered in the resort tailored to your needs.
5) What to eat in Kannur
Kannur is considered one of Kerala’s sought-after destination for culinary indulgence. The cuisine has shaped up over centuries under the influence of varied cultural diversity. There are many good cafes and restaurants in and around Kannur.
If you want to try Kerala cuisine, then try out Thalaserry Chicken Biryani or Malabar Beef Roast. Thalaserry is well known for its coastal cuisine. We tried out a simple Polao and coconut flavored (coastal influence) Mutton Korma and believe me, it was heavenly!
If looking for some continental food, Sahib’s Grill Kitchen is the perfect place to indulge in steaks and sizzlers. I have fond memories of celebrating my birthday there while indulging in some mouth-watering sizzlers and desserts.
Closing thoughts on Kannur
Kannur is certainly unique and a great getaway for a short weekend trip.
Have you been to Kannur? Share your experience in the comment section below.
I love reading about the local history and seeing beautiful beach view. I see why you recommend this place. The food looks amazing!
Yes. The local history certainly gives a different perspective!
This is right up my alley! I’d love to see the Theyyam Festival. It sounds like so much fun!
Yes Linda. Theyaam is a unique experience altogether.
Kerala is such a beautiful state, I was only able to visit for a short time and see the backwaters and kochi area. Would love to go back an explore Kunnur next time
this is definitely a place I’d love to be at this very moment! it must be wonderful walking from the shore to the Dharmadam island – what an adventure. then, I’d love to finish the day by enjoying this fantastic curry – the rice alone looks so tasty.
Yes indeed and the food in Kerala is yumm!
That sounds like a great trip and very near Bangalore. The biryani looks great, too!
Driving on the beach is such a fun thing to do and not something you can experience very many places. I would definitely do that if I ever find myself in Kerala.