complete kerala guide

Know more about kozhikode

Kozhikode is the third largest city in Kerala.During classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. It was the capital of an independent kingdom ruled by the Samoothiris (Zamorins) in Middle Ages and later of the erstwhile Malabar district under British rule. Muslim Arab merchants traded with the region as early as 7th century, and Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kozhikode on May 20, 1498. A Portuguese factory and fort was intact in Kozhikode for short period (1511–1525, until the Fall of Calicut), the English landed in 1615 (constructed a trading post in 1665), followed by the French (1698) and the Dutch (1752). In 1765, Mysore captured Kozhikode as part of its occupation of Malabar Coast.Recently Kozhikode was given the tag of "City of Sculptures" (Shilpa Nagaram) because of the various architectural sculptures located in various parts of the city.

The famous tourist places at Kozhikode

1) Beypore port

Beypore is 180 km North of Cochin and 391 km away from Trivandrum. .It is situated 10 km south of Calicut. Beypore port is the second biggest port in Kerala after Cochin and currently handles about 100,000 tones of cargo and 7500 passengers per annum. The port has a depth of about 4 meters alongside wharf and approach channel. Beypore port is one of the oldest ports in Kerala from where trading was done to the Middle East.

2) Canoly canal

It was constructed in the year 1848 under the orders of then collectorof Malabar, R. Canolly. The Canoly Canal is 11.4 km long and connects the Korapuzha river in the north and the Kallai River in the south. The Canoly Canal Development Samithi in Calicut has recently decided to start speedboat service on the canal from Karaparamba to the Sarovaram park site in September 2009.

3) Kappad Beach

The Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on May 27, 1498. A small stone monument commemorates the landing with the inscription, "Vasco da Gama landed here, Kappakadavu, in the year 1498. An ancient temple on a hillock, facing the deep sea, is an added attraction.

4) Peruvannamuzhi Dam/Kuttiady Dam

Peruvannamuzhi Dam is one of the most beautiful dams in Kerala. Being It is approximately 60km from Kozhikode district. You can enjoy boating in Peruvannamuzhi artificial lake. While riding through the artificial lake, there you can see 'Smaraka Thottam', a garden made in the memory of great leaders of freedom struggle. The garden also offers a great enjoyment to you. It also gives you happiness, joy and refreshment.
There is also a crocodile farm and a bird sanctuary situated here at Peruvannamuzhi. There are more than twenty crocodiles here in different pools. The bird sanctuary also offers you with birds of varieties more than 90 species. The Peacocks of Peruvannamuzhi is famous. But it is now considered as vulnerable species. The Peruvannamuzhi dam belongs to the Kuttiady irrigation project. The water stored here is used for the production of electricity as well as for irrigation. This Peruvannamuzhi Dam is used for providing water to three main districts- Kozhikode, Malapuram and Kannur.

5) Mananchira Square

is a park in the centre of Kozhikode, Kerala state, southern India. The historic maithan, adjacent to Manachira has been converted into an arcadia with trees and plants, an artificial hill, shrubs, sculpture, an open air theatre, and a musical fountain.
Mananchira Square is named after the man-made lake Mananchira around which it is situated in the centre of the city. It is named after Manadevan Samoothiri, the erstwhile ruler of the Kozhikode Kingdom, known as Mana-vedan Chira (pond) and later transformed to Mana-an-Chira.

6) Samoothiri Tower

is a proposed multistorey tower located in the southern Indian city of Kozhikode. The tower will be built as the information centre for the tourism of Malabar. The tower will stand 62m tall when completed and will have a historic museumin the first two floors along with a viewing gallery on the 14th floor from which the panoramic views of the whole city can be enjoyed.
The tower is named after the famous rulers of Calicut, the Samoothiri. The tower will be twinned with a garden which is in the name of Kunhali Marakkar and will also have an underground access from the nearby attraction Mananchira Square.
The design of the building is approved and the Kerala government has sanctioned the tower.

7) Sarovaram

is an eco-friendly development near the city of Kozhikode in the southern Indian state of Kerala, situated adjacent to Canoly Canal. The project has been developed with an eco-friendly theme and is located in an ecosystem consisting of wetlands and mangrove forests containing bird habitats. The construction has been done in traditional Kerala style.

8) Thusharigiri

a waterfall located in Kozhikode district .Thusharagiri offers endless scope for trekking, rock climbing and wild life sanctuary visits. It is around 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Kozhikode. The nearest town Kodencherry is around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Thusharagiri. The other main towns situated here are Thiruvambady which is 18 km away and Thamarassery which is 17 km away. One has to purchase all necessary things for trekking from here.

Know about Kasaragod

It is the northern most district of kerala. There are many tourist attraction near kasaragod district. Kasaragod share borders with kannur district and Karnataka state. The main languages spoken in kasaragod are Malayalam, thulu, Marathi, Konkani and kannada. There are minorities those who spoke’s hindi and urdu.

The famous tourist places at kasaragod

Anathapura lake temple

1) Anathapura lake temple

This is the only lake temple in kerala. The temple's lake is also home to a crocodile, which is supposed to be the guard of the temple. When one dies, another mysteriously takes its place.

2) Bekal fort

This is the one of the largest fort in india. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim mosque nearby bear testimony to the age-old religious harmony that prevailed in the area. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort show the defense strategy inherent in the fort.

3) pallikere beach

This beach is near to bekal fort

4) kappil beach

This beach is a major tourist attraction. This beach is 6 km from bekal fort.

5) Chandragiri fort

This fort is situated 3 km from kasargod. This fort is said to built in the 17^th century by sivappa nayak of bednore. In earlier days, the river was considered to be the border of two powerful kingdoms - Kolathunadu and Thulunadu. When Thulunadu was captured by the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kolathunadu kings lost the Chandragiri region to them. During the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the area was administratively looked after by the Keladi Nayakas of Ikkeri. When the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 16th century, Vengappa Nayaka declared independence. LaterShivappa Nayaka took over the reins. He built a chain of forts of which Chandragiri is part.

6) Kottancheri hills

This is an area of rain forest near konnakkad 30 km from kanhangad. This place is ideal for tracking. The kottancherry wildlife sanctuary is situated here. Wild elephants, wild deer, wild pigs, rare birds, butterflies are seen here.

7) Madhur temple

This is one of the most famous Ganapathi temples of six ganpathi temples of ancients Tulunadu . Devotees from all over throng during the various festivals that happen here. Currently the temple is managed by the government. The temple also offers veda classes to young vatus.

8) Malik deenar mosque

It is located 1 km from kasaragod. The mosque is dedicated to Malik Ibn Deenar who arrived from Arabia with his family on a mission to spread Islam on the coast of Kerala. It was originally built in around 642. Years later, the mosque was reconstructed in 1809.

9) Ranipuram

Is called ooty of kerala is a hill station located 48 km from kanhangad.

10) Ranipuram Shola National park / wildlife sanctuary

The proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary / National park consists of various Flora and Fauna which are endemic to Westernghat and yet to studied biodiversity hotspot. It merges with Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karanata. The Ranipuram hill station which falls in Panathady reserve forest is an ideal area to convert in to a National park/wild life sanctuary. The evergreen and shola forest seen only here in this district. Elephants, Leopard, wild dogs, Deer, wild boar, macaques, jungle cats,leopards, slender loris, porcupine, malabar giant squirrels, malabar civet and rare butterflies and medicinal plants are found in these forest.

Know more about Kannur

Kannur one of the northern district of kerala is called as the land of looms and lores. Kannur is a major center of theyam, a ritual dance of northern kerala.

The meaning of kannur is the land of lord kirishna. In early day’s kannur was under chera kingdom and later kannur was the capital of kolattiri rajas.

In 1498 vasco d agama visited kannur and thereafter kannur become a Portuguese settlement. The famous St angelo’s fort was built in 1505 by Portuguese . In 1663 dutch captured this fort and in 1772 they sold the fort to Arakkal kingdom. In 1790 the british captured this fort. Currently this fort is

under the control of archaeological survey of india

The famous tourist places at kannur

1) Phythalmala

It is a hill station located near kappimala village in kannur. The height of this hill station is about 1371.6 m above sea level. You can enjoy the mountain driving through dense mist during monsoon days.

2) St angelo fort ( kannur fort/ kannur kotta)

St angelo fort was built by Dom franciscode almeida the portuguesis viceroy in 1505. . In 1663 dutch captured this fort and in 1772 they sold the fort to Arakkal kingdom. In 1790 the british captured this fort. Currently this fort is under the control of archaeological survey of india

This fort is situated 3 km from kannur town. St angelo fort is a most important historical monument and a popular tourist attraction.

3) PAYYAMBALAM BEACH

This is one of the main tourist place in kannur district. This beach is very near to kannur town. This beach is just 2 km away from kannur town.

There is a garden near by beach. The main attraction of the garden and beach is the sculpture ‘mother and child ’ by kanayi kunhiraman.

4) MAPPILA BAY

This is a fishing harbor. On one side of this harbor there is St angelo fort and other side the arakkal palace. This port was one of the main trade centre in old day’s.

5) DHARMADAM ISLAND

This is a small private island which contain coconut palms and dense bushes. This island was the home of many birds and animals. You can walk to this island from muzhappilangad beach during low tide.

6) MUZHAPPILANGAD BEACH

This is the only drive- in beaches in india. This beach is located in NH 17 between kannur and thalassery.

You can see dharmadam island from this beach. During low tide you can walk to dharmadam island from muzhappilangad beach.

7) PARASSINIKKADAVU MUTHAPPAN TEMPLE

This temple is situated on the banks of valapattanam river. this is the only hindu temple in kerala where a theyyam performance is a daily ritual offering.

8) ARALAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The sanctuary area falls in Aralam, Kelakam and Kottiyoor revenue villages and is located next to the forests of Coorg (Kodagu) district of Karnataka state

9) PARASSINIKKADAVU SNAKE PARK

This snake park is about 16 km from kannur town. This is situated between kannur and taliparamba NH 17 . this parh is famous for king cobra, there are variety of snakes and small animals here.

10) MEEKUNNA BEACH

This beach is 10 km away from kannur town which is situated in azhikode village. The beauty in this beach is vast stretch of golden sand and coconut tress.

11) MADAYIPARA

Madayipara is a flat topped hillock located in madayi. Madayipara is famous for madayikkavu and the vadukunna temple dedicated to lord shiva.

This place also famous for malik ibn dinar mosque, which is believed to have originally built by malik ibn dinar

Madayipara is rich of diversity of plants.

12) EZHIMALA

Ezhimala is located 38 km from kannur. The famous temple of lord hunuman, mount deli lighthouse located here.

The biggest naval academy in asia Indian academy is situated here.

13) ARAKKAL MUSEUM

This museum is owened by the arakkal family, the only muslim royal family in kerala. A nominal entry fee is charged by the arakkal family trust from visitors to the museum.