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Voykit pocket guide · India
Muzhakkunnu
Half a day is enough: visit the Mridanga Shaileswary Temple and see the valley. Not a base — sleep in Kannur or Thalassery.
Muzhakkunnu is a small village in the Puralimala valley, known for the Mridanga Shaileswary Temple, one of Kerala's 108 ancient temples and the family temple of Pazhassi Raja. The main draw is the temple and the surrounding hills. Most visitors stop for a couple of hours on a day trip from Kannur or Thalassery.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Apr–May (heat), Jun–Sep (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,000–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
Get in
By air
- CNN · Kannur International Airport
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) away; check for operational flightsAbout 9.3 mi (15 km) away; check for operational flights
- CCJ · Kozhikode International Airport
- About 100 km (62 mi) awayAbout 62 mi (100 km) away
Typical fares
- Kannur → Muzhakkunnu by bus
- about ₹50–70, about 1 h (check)
- Thalassery → Muzhakkunnu by bus
- about ₹50–70, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi Kannur → Muzhakkunnu
- ₹1,200–1,800 one way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable; the temple is about 200 m from the main road. To reach the valley viewpoints you need a taxi or auto-rickshaw.
See and do
Known for
- Mridanga Shaileswary Temple
- Puralimala valley scenery
- Pazhassi Raja heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kannur | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Thalassery | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Parassinikkadavu | Taxi, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Taliparamba | Taxi, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Muzhakkunnu village
- Very limited options; most visitors stay in Kannur or Thalassery and day-trip.
- Kannur
- 42 km (26 mi) away; full range of hotels and guesthouses.26 mi (42 km) away; full range of hotels and guesthouses.
- Thalassery
- 42 km (26 mi) away; good mid-range hotels and local food.26 mi (42 km) away; good mid-range hotels and local food.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | നമസ്കാരംnamaskaram |
| Thank you | നന്ദിnandi |
| How much? | എത്രയാണ്?ethrayaanu? |
| Where is the temple? | ക്ഷേത്രം എവിടെയാണ്?kshethram evideyaanu? |
| Yes / No | അതെ / ഇല്ലathe / illa |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Temple timings vary: check before you go; dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered).
- Roads from Thalassery and Kannur are narrow and winding; allow extra travel time.
- No ATMs in the village — carry enough cash from Kannur or Thalassery.
Muzhakkunnu is a quiet village with low crime. The main risks are road accidents on narrow winding roads and stray dogs at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Muzhakkunnu yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mridanga Shaileswary Temple
- Puralimala valley scenery
- Pazhassi Raja heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Muzhakkunnu, revision 5311188 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5311188
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/muzhakkunnu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.