The tourism potential for Kannur district is high. The St.
Angelos Fort in the Kannur Cantonment, which was constructed in 1505, is
a symbol of Portuguese architecture and attracts plenty of tourists. The
Thalassery Fort is an important tourist centre. Kannur beach and Ezhimala
are known for scenic beauty. Places of historic importance, like the house
of
Gulldert, who composed the first Malayalm- English Dictionary and the mosque
at Madayi
constructed in 1124, using marble brought from Mecca attract many tourists.
Fort St. Angelos 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, on a promontory jutting into the Lakshadweep sea. The Dutch
captured the fort in 1663 and sold it to the Ali Raja of Kannur in 1772 and
in 1790 it came into the possession of the British. The British rebuilt it
and made it their most important station in Malabar . This fort is in a fairly
good state of preservation, though parts of it have collapsed. A few obsolete
guns areseeh at the place. The fort is a protected monument under the Archaeological
Survey of India.
The British arrived in Thalassery
in 1683 and errected a goods shed there. They shifted their ommercial capital
to Thalassery from Kozhikkode, following obstruction from the Dutch. In 1700,
the British built the Thalassery Fort on a small hill called Tiruvellapadkunnu
and in 1708, it was strengthened by increasing its height and with bastions.
The fort is square structure built of laterite and is distinguished by its
massiv ventilated walls and strong flanking bastions. It was here that Raider'
captain was imprisoned.The famous St. John's Anglican church is behind this
fort.
(15.K.M from Kannur and 8 K.M from Thalasseri)
Black rocks protect this long ,clean beach from the currents of the deep,
making it shallows waters a swimmer's paradise.Perhaps this is Keralas
only drive- in beach. Where you can drive entire length of 4 K.m .
The Payyambalam beach is one of the beautiful beaches in this State and
is an ideal place to spend evenings, irrespepcti ve of seasons. It is very
near Kannur town. ,The mortal remains or' Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pilla,
A.K. Gopalan, K.P. Gopalan, Pamban Madhavan and K.G. Marar are laid to
rest near this resort.
Ezhimala, the capital of the ancient Mooshika kings, is considered to
be an ancient historical site. It is a onspicuous,isolated cluster of hills,
forming a promontory, 38 kms. north of Kannur.
A flouriIshing sea port and centre of trade in ancient Kerala, it was
one of the major battle fields of the Chola-Chera war of the II th century
.I It is believed that Lord Budha had visited Ezhimala. An old mosque,
believed to contain the mortal remains of Shaikh Abdul Latif, a Muslim
retormlst, is also located here. The hill is noted for rare medicinal herbs.
Bordered by sea on three sides, Ezhimala is set to occupy a prominent place
in the naval history of the country, consequent to the proposal for ommissioning
the N.aval Academy here.
(29 K.M from Kannur)
: This renowned centre for arts and culture at New Mahe
conduct courses in painting, sclpture,music, dance and pottery.
(37K.M. east of kannur ) : An ideal retreat for rourists ,the damsite
is famous for its scenic beauty. The D.T.P.C provides pleasure boating
faciliaties at the reservoir. Accommodation is available at the Project
Inspection Bungalow
and its dormitories.
( 65 km from Kannur Town ): This enchanting hill station ,situated 4,500
ft. above sea level near the Kerala - Karnataka border ,is rich in flora
and fauna. It is a 6 km trek to the top of the hills.
(20.K.M.from Kannur, near Thalasseri twon on the national high way at Illikunnu):Dr;
Herman Gundert ,the revered German Missionary, scholar,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 Rajyasamacharam
took shape.
| Snake Park at Parassinikkadavu |
The Snake Park at Parassinikkadavu is situated 18 kms. Away from Kannur
town. It Is one of the known snake parks in the country . The park is
dedicated to the preservation and conservation of snakes, most of which
are becoming extinct gradually. There is a large collection of poisonous
and non-poisonous
snakes.
Moppila Bay is a natural
fishing harbour, lying near Fort St. Angelos. A sea wall projecting from
the fort separates the rough sea and inland water.
The bay was famous during the Kolathiris' regime as a commercial harbour
that linked Kolathunadu with Lakshadweep and foreign countriea, in imports.
Today , Mopilla bay has turned into a modernised fishing harbour, developed
under the Indo-Norwegian Pact.
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