Kannur Hill Station Tours

Kannur, the sea coast town in the northern Malabar area was for many centuries the capital of the Kolathiri Rajas, the rivals of the Zamorins of Kozhikode. Formerly a major port area, Kannur is now a city known for its handloom and beedi industries.

Some of Kerala's finest weavers come from this district. Kannur is also the headquarters of the country's largest and best-run beedi cooperative. Marco Polo is supposed to have referred to Kannur as a great emporium of spices.

In the 15th century, the Portuguese arrived in Kannur to establish one of their earliest settlements. A reminder of this is the St. Angelo's Fort built in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy. Kannur's history is marked by foreign invasions and the activities of colonial powers.

The Portuguese factory built by Cabral in 1501 AD, was captured by the Dutch in 1633. In 1708, the British built a fort at Thalasseri (Tellicherry), just outside Kannur. The nearby town of Mahe was developed as a trading centre by the French in the 18th century. Around 1792, after the Mysore Wars, the British took over Kannur.

Getting There:
The nearest international airport is at Kozhikode (Calicut). It is also well connected to all major cities railway stations like Kozhikode, Kochi, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram etc.
Places to Visit:
Pythalmala (65 km from Kannur town)
This hill station is situated at the height of 4500 ft above sea level. This hill station is rich in flora and fauna.

St Angelo Fort
The Portuguese built St Angelo Fort in 1505 on the promontory northwest of town. It’s a peaceful place, and the tourist police here are happy to give you a guided tour. There is a good view of Kannur town and the ocean from the top.
Ezhimala (55 km from Kannur town)
At an altitude of 286 m Ezhimala has fascinating scultured stone pillars scattered all over the beach. There is also an ancient mosque on a hill nearby.