- Best time
- October to March (Theyyam season)
- Nearest airport
- Kannur International Airport (about 30 km)
- Nearest railway station
- Kannur
- Distance from Kozhikode
- About 80 km
- Known for
- Theyyam, St Angelo Fort, beaches
A short history
Kannur was an important trading port long before Europeans arrived. The Portuguese built a fort here in 1505, the Dutch later took it over, and in the late 1700s the local rulers backed Tipu Sultan in his wars with the British. After that, Kannur became a British garrison town, and it still has an army cantonment today.
Theyyam
Theyyam is a ritual form of worship, not a stage art. It takes place in kavus (sacred groves) and small family shrines across Kannur and Kasaragod, with some in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. The performer, in elaborate make-up and costume, is believed to become the deity for the duration of the ritual, and devotees seek his blessings. Performances often last many hours, with drumming and chanted songs telling the story of the god or local hero.
The evening before the main performance there are usually preliminary stages: Thottam, when the story is sung with little or no make-up, and Vellattam, with partial make-up. At most shrines you can also watch the make-up being applied if you arrive two to three hours early. Because it is worship, Theyyam cannot be staged privately for tourists.
When to see Theyyam
The season starts in late October (from the Malayalam date of Thulam 10) and runs until about April, with the busiest months from December onwards. Outside the season, the Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, about 20 km from town, holds Muthappan Theyyam daily, so you can see it at any time of year.
What to see
Beyond Theyyam, leave time for these:
- St Angelo Fort (Kannur Kotta), the 1505 Portuguese laterite fort with bastions, a moat and views over Mappila Bay; it is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Mappila Bay fishing harbour and Dharmadam Island, both visible from the fort.
- Arakkal Museum, in part of the Arakkal family palace.
- Payyambalam and Muzhappilangad beaches, the latter known for its long drive-in stretch.
- Sree Mavilakkavu Temple, known for its Adi Utsavam festival.
Best time and how to reach
October to March is the most pleasant time and coincides with the Theyyam season. Kannur International Airport is about 30 km from town, Kannur railway station is on the main west-coast line, and the town is well connected by bus to Kozhikode, Mangaluru and Wayanad. We can arrange a North Malabar trip timed around Theyyam dates.
Places to see in Kannur
Also nearby
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