Kannur or Cannanore offers seclusion to the beach lovers. The long carve of sea, sand and surf is highly marked in the tourism circuit in India and is the best place for day-trippers. The magic of the pristine twin beaches of Kizhunna Ezhara and Thottada presents the dramatic view of birds pick at crabs, the school of dolphins, the rolling waves and more, which stands apart from the messy scene of the city life.

Things to do and See in
The beaches in Kannur is free of undercurrents and therefore allows safe swimming. Beach-lovers are usually seen enjoying a leisurely walk or brisk jogs on the coastlines. Needless, to say that Kannur is a dolphin country and as such, visitors performing an early morning walks along the beach can hold the breathtaking sights of dolphins splashing about in the great sea.

Payyambalam Beach
An instant excursion to Payyambalam beach is full of sightseeing. It is situated just 2 kms west of Kannur Town and is vast enough to attract beach lovers. The beach comes to live during the evening hours, when people gather to watch the shimmering sunset and play with the sand. Visitors are also seen with kicking the football and walking along the laterite cliffs.

Mappila Bay
Located 3 kms from Kannur, Mappila Bay is a popular fishing harbour in Kerala. The beach depicts history since the time of Kolathiri Kings, who in 14th century hold over the whole North Malabar region. Several country boats abound the bay, which provides an unforgettable experience of boating on the sea. Riders can enjoy the picturesque scene of fishermen work in untangling nets and harvesting their catch.

Fort St. Angelo
While experiencing a boat-ride on Mappila Bay, travelers can halt at Fort St.Angelo, which holds a lot of sea-facing cannons and the laterite walls. The fort show case the power and freedom of two main dynasties- the Portuguese and the Dutch.

Arakkal Kettu
This must-visit palace is very close to Fort St. Angelo and is a landmark of royal architecture in Kerala. It was formerly, the residence of the Arakkal Ali Rajas, the royal family of erstwhile Kerala. The palace complex has beautiful residential quarters, which are built in laterite and and timber, a mosque in the precincts, a royal storehouses and a bell-tower at the entrance.

Parassinikadavu Temple
Devoted to Sri Muthappan, the three-tired temple at Parassinikadavu is located on the bank of the Valapattanam river and is 18 km north-east of Kannur. This is the only temple, which witness the Theyyam trance dance, performed twice daily except the moonless nights.

Meenkunnu Beach
The palm-fringed Meenkunnu beach is an ideal place for beach-activities like swimming, walking, bird-watching. Visitors can easily access the beach by traveling on the way to NH17.

Shopping at Kannur
The coastline of Kannur do not hold any serious shopping attractions. Yet, compulsive shoppers can pick up a range of handloom products including linen, saris and dhotis from the government-run Hanveev, located on Sri Narayanana Road, close to Payyambalam beach.

Eating at Kannur
Eating joints in Kannuar beach are a few stand alone restaurants and food courts at the staying hotels. Biryani and seafood cooked in Malabar style are ever ready to tantalize the taste bud of the visitors. These special dishes are spread out in the dinning table at Mascot Beach Resort and Royal Omars Paris Restaurant. The Grand Plaze restaurant at Malabar Residency samples delicious fare ranging from local Malabari to Chinese, Mughlai to Contenintal dishes. Stuffed mussels and kannur-style fish curry are also the specialty of the place. Vegetarian can look for dosas and idlis in Indian Coffee House, Bharat Restauarnt, Lodge House and Chaithram Hotel.

Getaway from Bekal Beach
Thalassery
Getting around the Thalassery port town is offers somw worthy watch of Muzhippilangad Beach, Dharmadam Island, Thalasser Fort and the popular Cinnamon Estate. It is situtated 22 km south east of Kannur and attracts enthusiasts swimmers from all across the world.

Place of accommodation in Kannur
Kannur has a number of staying hotels, which are close to the beach. Costa Malabari, KK Heritage, Kannur Beach House, Kala Holiday Home, Mascot Beach Resort and Sagar Heritage Home are some comfortable options on the beaches. Visitors, who desires to stay in Kannur town can opt for booking rooms at Royal Omars, Yatri Niwas, Malabar Residency etc. Besides, homestays of Burnassery, Payyambalam and Thottada are greatly popular among the tourist, planing to spend days here.

When to visit
An ideal time to visit Kannur Beach is from December to May

How to reach Cherai
By Air:
Karipur Airport in Kozhikode is situated 112 kms away from the Kannur. Tourist, on reaching the airport can hire the available pre-paid taxis and reach the beach.

By Rail:
Train Station at Kannur is well-connected to all major cities in Kerala and most metros. It is connected to Delhi via Mangala Lakshwadeep Express; from Chennai via Mangalore Mail; from Mumbai via Netravati Express and from Bangalore via Yeshwanthpur-Cannanore Express.

By Road:
NH17 connects Kannur to Kozhikode, Mangalore, Panaji and Mumbai. KSRTC bus operates regularly from one cities to another in Kerala.