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Kerala

Kannur

Theyyam heartland, Asia's longest drive-in beach

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Best time to visit Kannur

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to February
  • Shoulder: March to April and October to November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryDecember

Kannur season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season - heart of Theyyam ritual season with trance performances most nights, plus calm beach weather

Summer March to May Shoulder

Increasingly hot and humid, Theyyam season winding down by April-May, though the beach still works

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Heavy rain and rough surf shut down the drive-in beach; Theyyam performances pause almost entirely

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October-November is when Theyyam season restarts - fewer tourists than winter but rituals already underway

What Kannur is actually like

Few backpackers make it this far north - you meet devotees and locals more than travellers

Things to do in Kannur

The local places worth your time in and around Kannur, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

    Beach · 15 km out

    Four km of hard sand you can drive a car onto, the longest such beach in Asia; only at low tide, and not in the monsoon.

  • Parassinikkadavu Sri Muthappan Temple

    Temple · 18 km out

    The one temple where theyyam is performed every day, not just in season; the Muthappan ritual runs at dawn and again at dusk.

  • St Angelo Fort

    Fort · 3 km out

    Portuguese laterite fort of 1505 over the fishing bay; free, open till 6 pm, go late for the light on the Mappila Bay boats.

  • Arakkal Museum

    Museum · 2 km out

    The durbar wing of Kerala's only Muslim royal house, kept as it was left; closed Mondays, an hour is plenty.

  • Payyambalam Beach

    Beach · 2 km out

    The town's own evening beach, past the memorials of Kerala's leaders and a giant mother and child sculpture; wade only.

Getting to Kannur

Fly to Kannur airport or train to Kannur, auto/taxi to Muzhappilangad

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
0 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
11.8745, 75.3704

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Kannur?

December to February is peak season in Kannur. March to April and October to November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to September. Peak season - heart of Theyyam ritual season with trance performances most nights, plus calm beach weather.

How many days do you need in Kannur?

2 days is the usual stay. Few backpackers make it this far north - you meet devotees and locals more than travellers.

How do you get to Kannur?

Fly to Kannur airport or train to Kannur, auto/taxi to Muzhappilangad. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Kannur expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Kannur?

Dec-Mar: Theyyam ritual season at village shrines. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Kannur?

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach, Parassinikkadavu Sri Muthappan Temple, St Angelo Fort, Arakkal Museum and Payyambalam Beach. Four km of hard sand you can drive a car onto, the longest such beach in Asia; only at low tide, and not in the monsoon.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Kerala

All 38 destinations in Kerala