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Major city · India

Kannurകണ്ണൂർ

Give Kannur 2 nights: one for the fort, Arakkal and Payyambalam, one for a Theyyam or Parassinikkadavu run. Skip it if you only have a week in Kerala.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Nov–Feb
avoid Jun–Aug (southwest monsoon), Apr–May (heat and humidity)
Airport
CNN
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Kannur is north Kerala's fort-and-loom town: a Portuguese-built sea fort, the Arakkal royal house, long empty beaches and the Theyyam ritual season that runs roughly October to May. It is a working city, not a resort, so you stay for the culture and the coast rather than for polish. Two nights covers the core; add a night if a Theyyam date lines up.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kannur, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeTea or coffee at a teashop₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmAuto, 5 kmcheck₹90–120 (≈ US$2)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,200 (≈ US$6–14)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹600 (≈ US$7)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room₹3,500 (≈ US$40)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per room₹8,000 (≈ US$95)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₹3,500 (≈ US$40) · High ₹8,000 (≈ US$95)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

St. Angelo's FortArakkal Palace and MuseumTheyyam ritual performancesPayyambalam and Muzhappilangad beachesHandloom weaving
Airports
CNN Kannur International Airport (About 25 km east of the centre, near Mattanur; domestic flights from Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, plus Gulf routes.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kannur: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C

22°C

1 rd

Feb

32°C

23°C

1 rd

Mar

33°C

25°C

2 rd

Apr

33°C

26°C

5 rd

May

32°C

26°C

10 rd

Jun

29°C

24°C

22 rd

Jul

28°C

23°C

24 rd

Aug

28°C

23°C

20 rd

Sep

29°C

23°C

14 rd

Oct

30°C

23°C

12 rd

Nov

31°C

23°C

6 rd

Dec

32°C

22°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Autos are the default: about ₹30 for the first kilometre then roughly ₹15 per kilometre (2026 estimate, check the meter or agree the fare first). City buses are cheap and start from the Prabhath stop at the end of Bank Road; longer routes leave from Thavakkara bus station. Parking in the centre is a real problem, so park at the beach side and take an auto in. Walking is fine along the beach and in Thottada, unpleasant on the main roads.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Thalassery

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Train or bus north, about 30–40 min

Fort, cricket history and the bakery street; easy half day.

Parassinikkadavu

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus or auto, 18 km north-east

Muthappan temple with daily Theyyam and free food; dress and behave accordingly.

Taliparamba

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus from Thavakkara, about 20 km

Trichambaram temple and the home of muttayappam.

Muzhappilangad drive-in beach

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Bus or auto south, 15 km

Long flat sand you can drive on; go early or at sunset.

Payyanur

caution

Door to door: 1.5 h

Train north, about 1 h

Only worth it if you are heading further north anyway.

Kannapuram

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Train or bus south, about 30 min

Small weaving village; combine with Thalassery.

Iritty

overnight

Door to door: 1.5 h

Bus east, about 40 km

Gateway to the Aralam hills; a day return is rushed.

Mattanur

skip

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus or auto east, 25 km

Only useful as the airport run.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Payyambalam and the beach road

Walking distance to the fort, Arakkal and the beach; quietest part of town for a short stay.

City centre (Caltex, Bank Road, Old Bus Stand)

Banks, bakeries, restaurants and the stadium shopping block; handy if you are moving by bus and auto.

Thavakkara

Around the private bus station, with shops, teashops and cheap eats on several levels; good for early bus departures.

Thottada and Kizhunna

Beach guesthouses 7–10 km south of town; you need an auto or scooter for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,500–2,800 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
Mid
₹2,800–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
High
₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 2 nights × ₹3,500₹7,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₹3,500₹14,000
Airport bus or shared taxi, CNN to town, one way2 × ₹300 · check₹600
Auto, town centre to Payyambalam1 × ₹120 · check₹120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹900₹1,800
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹2,350
Trip total≈ ₹6,470 per person per day, bed included₹25,870≈ US$300

2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Tea or coffee at a teashop₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
Masala dosa₹35–90 (≈ US$1–2)
Kerala meals (rice, curries, sides)₹60–150 (≈ US$1–2)
Biriyani₹120–250 (≈ US$2–3)
Fish fry or seafood plate₹150–400 (≈ US$2–5)
Auto, 5 kmcheck₹90–120 (≈ US$2)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,200 (≈ US$6–14)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Kannur is generally safe for visitors, including solo women in the centre and at beach guesthouses. The real issues are strong sea currents, monsoon rain, unlit beach roads after dark and the etiquette around Theyyam shrines.
  • Theyyam is a religious ritual, not a show: ask before photographing, never touch the performer or the shrine, and follow what locals do.
  • Beach currents on this coast are strong; several stretches have no lifeguards. Swim only where locals do and never alone.
  • Monsoon months bring heavy rain and rough sea; some beach and hill plans simply do not work then.
  • Trains and long-distance buses sell out around Onam and other festival dates: book ahead.
  • Auto drivers may quote a flat tourist fare instead of the meter; agree the price before you get in.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Ambulance
108
Tourist helpline (Kerala, 24 h)
1800-425-4747

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

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Kannurകണ്ണൂർ

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ഈ വിലാസത്തിൽ കൊണ്ടുപോകൂTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies112
  • Ambulance108
  • Kerala tourist helpline (24 h)1800-425-4747

Embassy

No embassies in Kannur; most countries are represented in New Delhi, with consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru or Kochi. Check your own country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Auto, first kilometre: about ₹30 (≈ under US$1), then roughly ₹15 (≈ under US$1) per km (check)
  • City bus, short hop: about ₹7 (≈ under US$1) for 3 km (check)
  • Train Kannur → Thalassery: about ₹20–60 (≈ under US$1) depending on class, 30–40 min (check)

Say or show

  • നമസ്കാരം — Hello / Namaste (namaskaram)
  • നന്ദി — Thank you (nandi)
  • എത്ര രൂപ? — How much is it? (ethra roopa?)
  • മീറ്റർ ഇടൂ — Please use the meter (meter idoo)
  • ടോയ്ലറ്റ് എവിടെ? — Where is the toilet? (toilet evide?)
  • വേണ്ട, നന്ദി — I don't want it, thank you (venda, nandi)

Theyyam dates are set by temple calendars and shift each year: confirm locally or with your guesthouse before planning a night around one.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kannur. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Jun–Aug (southwest monsoon), Apr–May (heat and humidity) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CNN: last bus and taxi options field-checked, plus a late-arrival rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: fort and Arakkal, Payyambalam, Caltex and stadium block, Thavakkara.
  3. Theyyam calendar page with verified dates and etiquette rules, so the ritual season can be planned rather than guessed.
  4. Place pages with verified cutoffs (fort, Arakkal Museum, Muthappan temple) and eat pages with last orders.

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources