Area 30.61 Sq km
Population 4,20,600
Best time to Visit September to May
Languages Malayalam
STD Code 0495

Location:

Kannur is a major railway station on Shornur - Mangalore line. By road Kannur is 155 KMs south of Mangalore and 535 KMs north of Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest Airport is at Calicut which is 110 KMs south and Mangalore Airport is 170KMs north.


Access:

Air: nearest airport Karipur(23 km from Kozhikode (Calicut) town) with daily flights to Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and the middle east. The Chennai flight also touches Coimbatore and Madurai .

Rail: links to all the major cities and tourist centres in india.

Road: well connected to all the major cities and tourist centres in india.


History:

"Calicut is a port for the whole Indian sea, which God forbid any craft to cross, and whoever saw it, will not get over it healthy, everything is cheap and servant and maids are very good". Associated with the Zamorins is Kottaparambu where stood their ancient palace. Mananchira was the bathing tank of the members of the Zamorin’s household.


Climate:

The weather is overall pleasant in these parts of Kerala although humidity might be something that bothers.The best time to visit Kozhikode is around the year. Although to enjoy a good climate the best time would be anywhere between the months of September to March.


Museums and Art Galleries :

Pazhassirajah Museum : Situated 5 km from Kozhikode. Here exhibits of copies of ancient mural paintings, antique bronzes, old coins and models of temples and megalithic monuments are seen. The next door to the museum is the Art Gallery and Krishna Museum which has an excellent collection of paintings by Indian artists and wood and ivory carvings. Open from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays.
Art Gallery : Art Gallery is near to the museum. It has an excellent collection of paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Raja Varma.
Krishna Menon Museum : This museum is dedicated to late V K Krishna Menon, the former president of India. His personal belongings and souvenirs are displayed here.
Kirtads : (7 km from Kozhikode) This unique museum houses the tools and devices used by the ancient tribal communities of Kerala. A good library with books on Anthropology and Sociology is an added attraction.


Pilgrimage Centres :

Temples : Pishakarikavu, Lokanarkavu Temple, Mannur Temple, Ponmeri, Varakkal Devi Temple, Jain Temple, Parsi Anju Amman Baug, Buddha Vihar, Tali Temple
Churches : Catholic Church, Mother of God Church
Mosques : Jami Mosque, Mucchandipalli, Mithqalpalli, Mishkal Masjid, Kuttichira.


Fairs and Festivals :
Pooram at Arakkal Temple (Mar/Apr)
Lokanarkavu Temple (Two annual festivals Mar/Apr, Nov/Dec )
Utsavam at Pishrikavu temple (March)
Sivarathri
Utsavam at Sreekandeshwara Temple (Feb/Mar)
Revathy Pattathanam The Pattathanam takes place at thali temple during the month of thulam. It is said that this unique intellectual gathering commenced during the fag end of the 13th century. The seven-day debate starts on Revathi day and concludes on Thiruvathira day of the Malayalam moth of Thulam.
Utsavam at Sree Venkateswara Temple It is celebrated for 7 days during Sivaratri week. Elephant procession, exhibition, fair and fairworks are conducted during the festival
Malabar Mahotsavam (Jan-Feb) It is a grand festival of the Malabar region. The traditional and cultural art forms make it a spectacular cultural extravaganza .
Jalotsavam Three Jalotsavams (water fiestas) are held every year as part of the Onam festivals. It is conducted by the sports clubs at Korappuzha, Moorad and Pongilodippara.


Places to visit :
Beypore : (10 km south of Kozhikode) Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar river, Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre. Ancient Beypore was much sought after by merchants from Western Asia, for its shipbuilding industry.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary : (25 km from Kozhikode) The estuary at Kadalundi is a heaven for migratory birds. Terns, gulls, herons, sandpipers, whimbrels and other exotic birds flock into this place in November and return home in April.

Kakkayam : (45 km from Kozhikode) This picturesque damsite, teeming with exotic wildlife, offers excellent trekking and rock climbing opportunities. The best time to visit is between November and April.
Tusharagiri : (50 km from Kozhikode) Tusharagiri is located near Vythiri in Wayanad and is famous for its trekking tracks. Trekkers start early morning from the second waterfall and climb uphill through the pristine, dense evergreen forests populated with exotic birds and wildlife to reach Vythiri by evening.
Thikkoti Light House : The 33.5m light house was erected in 1847.The lighthouse which overlooks Velliyamkallu off Moodadi coast was built after a shipwreck, the remains of which can still be seen here. The region around the Velliyamkallu rock is the transit home of migratory birds.
Mananchira : The center of the Kozhikode is marked by Mananchira, a large tank with a park on the north side.
Kallai : The major center of Kerala's timber industry. The yard is said to be the second largest in the world. Elephants are still widely used for hauling. A steel bridge built by the British is still intact here.
S M Street : Sweet Meat Street is the busiest street in Kozhikode and derives its name from the times when the street was lined with sweetmeat stalls.
Peruvannamuzhi : (60 km from Kozhikode) The Peruvannamuzhi damsite set amid hills is a beautiful picnic spot. The reservoir here provides facilities for speed and row boat cruises during which one can see the Smarakathottam - a garden built in memory of the freedom fighters of the region. Uninhabited islands, the bird sanctuary and a crocodile farm add to the charm of the place.
Wayanad Ghats : The green ghats enroute to Wayanad has nine hairpin bends, each turn taking one to a higher altitude offering a better view of the picturesque plains below.
Mananchira Maidan : The palace tank of King Mana-Vikrama is an architectural wonder. The musical fountain inside the maidan and the meticulously landscaped lawns surrounded by traditional buildings in the Kerala style, fascinate visitors.
Vellari Mala : Scintillating waterfalls and velvet green landscapes make this an ideal spot for trekking.


Excursions :

Kakkayam (45 km), vadakara (48 km), tusharagiri (50 km), peruvannamuzhi (60).

Beaches :
Kappad (16 km from Kozhikode): This is the historic beach where Vasco da Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea
Kozhikode Beach : This beach is a favourite haunt of sunset viewers. The old world charm retained in the old lighthouse and the two crumbling piers, each more than a hundred years old, that run into the sea is adding to its natural beauty.

The Backwaters Of Kozhikode :
Unexplored, unspoiled, the backwaters of Kozhikode hold great promises of enchanting holiday options. Elathur, the Canolly Canal and the Kallai river are favorite haunts for boating. Kadalundi, with its beautiful bird sanctuary is a charming site. Korapuzha, the venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam is fast becoming a popular water sport destination