Tourists like Kannur a lot. The Lakshadweep Sea kisses the sand spread on the western coast of this city full of natural beauty and the tall palm trees on the other side of the coast make the environment more picturesque. There are many stories associated with this city rich in cultural heritage and art. It is believed that King Solomon’s ship came here to collect wood to build the temple. The Thayam dance tradition here is world famous. The many buildings here reminiscent of the past like mosques, temples and churches seem to tell their own story.
Kannur was the headquarters of Kolathunadu, one of the four most important dynasties on the Malabar Coast, along with the Zamorin of Calicut, Kingdom of Cochin and Kingdom of Quilon. The Arakkal kingdom had right over the city of Kannur and Laccadive Islands in the late medieval period. Kannur municipality was formed on 1 November 1866 by the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns Act 1850) of the British Indian Empire, along with the municipalities of Thalassery, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Fort Kochi, making them the first modern municipalities in the state. It was upgraded into a municipal corporation in 2015.
Kannur Cantonment is the only cantonment board in Kerala. The Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala is Asia’s largest, and the world’s third-largest, naval academy. Muzhappilangad beach is the longest drive-in beach in Asia and appeared among the top six best beaches for driving in the world in a BBC Top Gear article. During British rule, Kannur’s chief importance laid in producing Thalassery pepper.
