| Core Fact | Kannur District Details |
|---|---|
| Geographical Location / Status | Northern Kerala district on the Malabar Coast. The Arabian Sea lies to the west. The Western Ghats and Karnataka border region lie to the east. |
| District Headquarters | Kannur |
| Total Land Area in sq km | 2,966 sq km |
| Population as per latest available Census data | 25.23 lakh, as per Census 2011. Census 2011 remains the latest completed Census dataset available for district-level public reference. |
| Literacy Rate | 95.10%, as per Census 2011 |
| Number of Rivers / Major Rivers | 7 major rivers: Valapattanam, Anjarakandy, Kuppam, Mahe, Thalassery, Perumba / Peruvamba, and Ramapuram |
| Revenue Divisions | 2 — Thalassery and Thaliparamba |
| Taluks | Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Iritty, Payyannur |
| Municipalities | Koothuparambu, Mattannur, Payyannur, Thalassery, Thaliparamba, Anthoor, Panoor, Iritty, Sreekandapuram |
| Number of Grama Panchayats | 71 |
| Assembly Constituencies | Payyannur, Kalliasseri, Taliparamba, Irikkur, Azhikode, Kannur, Dharmadam, Thalassery, Kuthuparamba, Mattannur, Peravoor |
| Lok Sabha Constituency / Constituencies | Kannur, Kasaragod, and Vatakara / Vadakara, based on Assembly segment coverage |
| Official District Website | Official District Administration Website — Kannur District, Government of Kerala |
What Makes Kannur Unique?
Kannur district is one of Kerala’s most historically important Malabar districts.
It was earlier known as Cannanore. The name is linked to Kannur town, the district headquarters.
Kannur Kerala has a strong coastal identity. It has beaches, ports, fishing settlements, and historic sea trade links.
The district is also connected to the Western Ghats. Its eastern side includes hills, forests, plantations, and border routes towards Karnataka.
Kannur is widely known for Theyyam. This ritual art form is closely linked to the temples, sacred groves, and community traditions of North Malabar.
The district also has a strong handloom identity. Kannur handloom products and weaving cooperatives are part of its traditional economy.
Kannur has important heritage sites. St. Angelo’s Fort, Thalassery Fort, Arakkal heritage sites, and old trading centres reflect its colonial and maritime history.
The district has a mixed landscape. It includes coastal plains, midland settlements, river valleys, hill areas, and forest regions.
Malayalam is the main language. The local speech reflects the North Malabar dialect. English and Hindi are also used in education, tourism, business, and administration.
Kannur district administration is important for citizens across coastal, urban, rural, and hill regions.
The district is also important for transport. It has railway connectivity, Kannur International Airport, major bus routes, coastal roads, and access to hill corridors.
Geography and Administrative Profile
Location in Kerala
Kannur district is located in northern Kerala.
It lies on the Malabar Coast. The Arabian Sea forms its western boundary.
Kasaragod district lies to the north. Kozhikode district lies to the south.
Wayanad district lies to the southeast. Karnataka lies towards the eastern hill and border region.
The Union Territory enclave of Mahe is located near the southern coastal side of the district region.
Natural Geography
Kannur has three broad geographical zones.
The western region has coastal plains and beaches.
The central region has midlands, towns, farms, and river valleys.
The eastern region has hills, forests, plantations, and Western Ghats terrain.
Major rivers in Kannur district include Valapattanam, Anjarakandy, Kuppam, Mahe, Thalassery, Perumba / Peruvamba, and Ramapuram.
The district has important beaches. These include Payyambalam, Muzhappilangad, Meenkunnu, and nearby coastal stretches.
The eastern belt includes forest and hill areas. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary and Paithalmala are major natural anchors.
Administrative Structure
Kannur district has two revenue divisions.
They are Thalassery and Thaliparamba.
The Kannur taluks are Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Iritty, and Payyannur.
Kannur has one corporation, nine municipalities, and 71 grama panchayats.
| Administrative Level | Kannur District Units |
|---|---|
| Revenue Divisions | Thalassery, Thaliparamba |
| Taluks | Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Iritty, Payyannur |
| Corporation | Kannur Corporation |
| Municipalities | Koothuparambu, Mattannur, Payyannur, Thalassery, Thaliparamba, Anthoor, Panoor, Iritty, Sreekandapuram |
| Grama Panchayats | 71 |
| Block Panchayats | 11 |
| District Panchayat | Kannur District Panchayat |
Major Towns and Urban Centers
Kannur town is the district headquarters.
Thalassery is a major heritage, judicial, education, and trade centre.
Payyannur is an important northern town.
Taliparamba is a key administrative and commercial centre.
Mattannur is important due to Kannur International Airport.
Iritty is a major town for hill, plantation, and border-region access.
Other important urban centres include Koothuparambu, Panoor, Sreekandapuram, Anthoor, and Kalliasseri.
Major Places to Know in Kannur
| Place | Location | Why It Is Important | Factual Claim to Fame | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Angelo’s Fort / Kannur Fort | Near Kannur town, facing the Arabian Sea | Historic coastal fort and major heritage landmark | Built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Dom Francisco de Almeida | The fort reflects Kannur’s maritime and colonial history. It remains one of the district’s most visible heritage structures. |
| Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach | Muzhappilangad, near Thalassery | Major beach tourism destination | Kerala Tourism identifies it as Kerala’s only drive-in beach | The beach is known for its long, firm sandy stretch. It is one of the most recognised Kannur tourist places. |
| Paithalmala | Western Ghats region of Kannur district | Hill, trekking, and nature destination | It is one of the best-known hill locations in Kannur district | Paithalmala is linked to the district’s highland landscape. It is important for nature tourism and Western Ghats scenery. |
| Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary | Near Iritty and Aralam | Forest, wildlife, and biodiversity area | It is the only wildlife sanctuary in Kannur district | The sanctuary forms part of the Western Ghats ecosystem. It is important for forest-based local information and eco-tourism reference. |
| Thalassery Fort and Heritage Town | Thalassery | Historic town linked to trade, colonial history, food, and culture | Thalassery was an important Malabar coastal settlement under European trading influence | Thalassery is known for its fort, old trading history, educational institutions, and food identity. It is one of the major heritage anchors of Kannur Kerala. |
Citizen Services and Local Infrastructure in Kannur
Kannur citizen services are spread across district, taluk, municipal, panchayat, police, health, education, court, and transport offices.
Administrative Centers
The District Collectorate is located at Civil Station, Kannur.
It is the main district-level administrative centre.
The Revenue Divisional Offices are located under the Thalassery and Thaliparamba revenue divisions.
Taluk offices serve citizens in Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Iritty, and Payyannur.
Local self-government services are delivered through:
- Kannur Corporation
- Nine municipalities
- Kannur District Panchayat
- Block panchayats
- 71 grama panchayats
The District Police Office and district police units handle law and order, citizen safety, traffic, crime reporting, and police services.
Major court infrastructure includes the District and Sessions Court at Thalassery.
Court centres also serve citizens in Kannur, Thalassery, Koothuparamba, and other judicial locations.
Health Infrastructure
Kannur has several important public health institutions.
District Hospital Kannur is a major government hospital.
General Hospital Thalassery serves the southern and coastal belt.
Taluk Headquarters Hospital Taliparamba serves the Taliparamba region.
Government Medical College, Kannur is located at Pariyaram.
The district also has taluk hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres, family health centres, and public health units.
These facilities support emergency care, outpatient services, maternal care, public health campaigns, and disease-control programmes.
Education Infrastructure
Kannur University is a major higher education institution in the district.
Its administrative presence is in the Kannur region.
The district has government, aided, and self-financing colleges.
Important education centres are located in Kannur, Thalassery, Payyannur, Taliparamba, Mangattuparamba, Pariyaram, and nearby areas.
Kannur also has professional and technical education institutions.
The Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala is a major national defence training institution located in Kannur district.
Public education administration is supported through district-level education offices, higher secondary education offices, and school-level networks.
Transport Infrastructure
Kannur has strong rail, road, air, and coastal transport links.
Kannur Railway Station is the main railway station.
Other important railway stations include Thalassery, Payyannur, Taliparamba, Kannapuram, and nearby local stations.
Kannur International Airport serves the district from the Mattannur region.
Major bus stations are located at Kannur, Thalassery, Payyannur, Taliparamba, Iritty, Mattannur, and Koothuparambu.
National Highway 66 supports north-south coastal road movement.
State highways and major district roads connect Kannur town with Thalassery, Taliparamba, Payyannur, Mattannur, Iritty, and hill-region settlements.
Azhikkal Port and Mopla Bay-related coastal infrastructure support the district’s maritime and fishing identity.
Economy and Local Livelihoods
Kannur district has a mixed economy.
It includes agriculture, fisheries, handloom, tourism, public services, education, small industries, transport, and trade.
Agriculture and Plantation Crops
Agriculture remains important in rural Kannur.
Major crops include paddy, coconut, pepper, cashew, tapioca, arecanut, and rubber.
The eastern and midland areas support plantation crops and mixed farming.
Pepper, coconut, rubber, and cashew are important to many local livelihoods.
Agricultural institutions and research centres in the district support crop development and farmer services.
Fisheries and Coastal Economy
Kannur has a long Arabian Sea coastline.
Fishing is important in coastal settlements.
The coastal economy includes fish landing, seafood trade, boat repair, ice plants, markets, transport, and related services.
Azhikkal and other coastal areas support port, harbour, and fisheries-linked activity.
Handloom, MSMEs and Traditional Industries
Kannur has a strong handloom identity.
Handloom weaving, cooperative societies, textile production, and related skills are part of the district’s economic profile.
Small and medium industries operate in food processing, textiles, furniture, construction materials, retail services, and local manufacturing.
The District Industries Centre supports enterprise development and MSME-related services.
Tourism, Trade and Services
Tourism is shaped by forts, beaches, Theyyam, hills, forests, and heritage towns.
Kannur tourist places support local transport, homestays, guides, food outlets, retail shops, and small hospitality businesses.
The service sector is growing around education, healthcare, travel, retail, construction, real estate, finance, and public administration.
Kannur International Airport has increased regional connectivity.
This supports travel, trade, tourism, and service-based economic activity.
Culture, Language, and Society
Kannur has a strong North Malabar cultural identity.
Malayalam is the main language.
The local Malayalam dialect has a distinct Malabar character.
English and Hindi are used in education, tourism, government offices, railway stations, airport services, and business settings.
Kannada and Tamil may also be heard through migration, border trade, and travel.
Theyyam is the district’s most widely recognised ritual art tradition.
It is performed in many sacred groves, temples, and community spaces.
Major cultural and religious festivals include Theyyam seasons, Onam, Vishu, Eid, Christmas, local temple festivals, church festivals, mosque festivals, and regional community events.
Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam is one of the important temple festivals associated with Kannur district.
Kannur’s food identity is strongly connected with Malabar cuisine.
Thalassery biryani is one of the best-known food references from the district.
Seafood, pathiri, appam, coconut-based dishes, snacks, and traditional Malabar sweets are common in local food culture.
Kannur society includes coastal communities, farming communities, trading families, artisan groups, public employees, students, migrants, and service-sector workers.
The district’s lifestyle changes across coastal towns, midland villages, and highland settlements.
Kannur Local Information for Citizens and Visitors
Kannur local information is useful for residents, tourists, students, researchers, and service users.
Citizens commonly need district-level information for certificates, revenue services, land records, police services, health services, education, panchayat services, transport, and public welfare schemes.
Tourists commonly search for Kannur tourist places, beaches, forts, Theyyam calendars, hill destinations, railway stations, airport access, and local transport.
Students and researchers often need district statistics, administrative divisions, Census data, cultural references, and economic information.
Journalists and public-interest researchers often use Kannur at a glance pages for quick district facts.
Kannur district administration services should be verified through official portals before travel, application submission, or legal use.
Suggested Official Sources to Verify
- Official District Administration Website
- Kerala Government Portal
- Kerala Tourism
- Census of India
- Local Self Government Department, Kerala
- Department of Panchayats, Kerala
- Kerala Legislative Assembly
- Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala
- Election Commission of India
- Kerala Maritime Board
- Government Medical College, Kannur
- Kerala Police
Frequently Asked Questions About Kannur
What are the taluks in Kannur district?
The taluks in Kannur district are Thaliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Iritty, and Payyannur. These Kannur taluks form the main revenue administration units for land, certificates, local records, and taluk-level citizen services.
What is Kannur district famous for?
Kannur district is famous for Theyyam, handloom, Malabar coastal history, St. Angelo’s Fort, Thalassery heritage, Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach, Payyambalam Beach, Paithalmala, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, and its strong North Malabar cultural identity.
Which are the major tourist places in Kannur?
Major tourist places in Kannur include St. Angelo’s Fort, Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach, Payyambalam Beach, Thalassery Fort, Paithalmala, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Arakkal Museum, Kottiyoor, and the district’s Theyyam-performing sacred groves and temple locations.