Kannur enjoys the credit of having been the cradle of many a colorful folk and folk music of Kerala

Kannur is that part of the legendary Malabar Coast where King Solomon's ships anchored to collect timber to build the 'Temple of the Lord' and to secure most needed spices. Here in the little hamlet on the banks of the river Valapattanam, is a giant Company of the modern timber industry  and  the largest wood-based industry in South East Asia

Merchants and travelers visited this political hotbed by turns-from the Arabs to the Portuguese, Dutch and English. They left their traces in forts, lifestyle, architecture and cuisine. For if the Arab influence can be traced in the delectable Malabar biryani, the Portuguese left their mark in the crunchy cookies found in most confectioneries here. The Kinnathappams, tapioca chips and Kallumakais (Mussels) are indeed a Kannur exclusive delicacy

2 km from Kannur town is the quiet, secluded,  beautiful stretch of sand. The Payyambalam beach is a popular picnic spot of the local people and holds much potential for development into a tourist resort

The Parassinikkadavu Snake Park is committed to the preservation and conservation of snakes as most species of the reptile are on the verge of extinction. There are about  150 varieties of snakes including the spectacled cobra, King cobra, Russel Viper, Krait and Pit Viper living in the park

The park also has a large collection of non-poisonous snakes including pythons. A research laboratory to extract venom from snakes is proposed here

22km from the land of the exotic art form of theyyam-the northern district of Kannur – is the small town of Thalassery. In this town stands an imposing historical monument – the Thalassery Fort

The East India Company which had established its settlement on the Malabar Coast in 1683 built the monument as a testimonial of their colonial imperialism in 1703. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalassery’s development

The imposing square fort has massive walls, huge, intricately carved doors and secret tunnels to the sea – all in all, the perfect setting  to get an authentic taste of some local history and heritage

Other interesting spots include Pazhassi Dam and Gardens which is ideal for backwater tourism.  Gundert Bungalow, 20 km from Kannur, is near Thalasseri. It was here that the German missionary , scholar and lexicographer, Dr. Herman Gundert, compiled the first Malayalam dictionary. Thalasseri Fort was built by the British in 1708 and served as an important military centre

Fort St Angelo, built by the Portuguese Viceroy; Don Francisco De Almeida in 1505 A.D. and passed on successively to the Dutch and the English, offers a breathtaking view of the Mappila Bay. Under the Archeological Survey of India today, this historic monument is a must-see.An ideal gateway from the daily grind, Kannur has three beautiful beaches to frolic in-from the vast and exhilarating 4 km long drive-in beach atMuzhappilangad, to the green and golden Meenkunnu and the calm Payyambalam in the heart of the town