This was an impromptu trip 
that took off as a way to kill
upwards of six hours while the rest of my family was engaged in the state
Karate Tournament at Sreepuram School in Kannur proper. As it turned out, the
detour turned out to be entirely satisfying, although the hot sun drained me
out by the end of the day.
About 3.5KM from the beach area via normal city
streets gets you to the Stadium Complex, the mecca of shopping. There are
tons of street vendors selling all kinds of stuff from the Railway Station
Bridge onwards. The stadium building and the adjacent areas also host a number
of retail outlets including Khadi & Handloom shops. Another 2.5KM on the
main road (NH17) got me back to Sreepuram School. Overall, it took 7 hours including
all the stops. A not-to-be missed attraction that is not in this itinerary is
Muzhappilangad Drive-in-beach, supposedly the only one in South India. It is
about 15KM South from the downtown area followed by a small detour. Thalassery
Fort and Bekkal Fort are other attractions in the vicinity - the former is
around 1 hour on the way back to Ernakulam while Bekkal Fort is 1.5 hours North
of Kannur - of the two, Bekkal is the more famous one.
Last Updated: 08/2014.
that took off as a way to kill
upwards of six hours while the rest of my family was engaged in the state
Karate Tournament at Sreepuram School in Kannur proper. As it turned out, the
detour turned out to be entirely satisfying, although the hot sun drained me
out by the end of the day.
For the first leg to Fort St. Angelo (aka Kannur Kotta, Entrance
is Free, Open 8AM to 6PM all days) I opted to take a city bus as all the people
I inquired with suggested that as the best way. One could either get down at
the State Bank stop or the next one (New Private Bus Stand). The area around
Fort St. Angelo is very well maintained and is very walkable as most of it is
under the control of Cannore Cantonment (Indian Army). The walk from the bus
stop is around 3KM. The last 2KM is pretty nice as there is lot of greenery
around you. The fort itself is also very well maintained and there is plenty of
well-groomed space inside. One spot that can be easily missed inside the
fort area is the underground cell. There are no markings and for the casual
observer, it just looks like a pothole. The location is to the seaside,
opposite the restrooms just below the third “wind” tree. On a bright day, you
can see the inside of the 
cell pretty clearly. Other places of interest inside the
fort include the horse barracks, the cannons, and a church (entry inside is
prohibited). You can access the seashore from several spots and one can easily
spot crayfish as the waves hit the rocks and retreat. The prawn hatchery run by
Matsyafed and the old pier are next to the fort as well. Food can be a problem
as there are no good restaurants in the vicinity. There is a small shack run by
Matsyafed in the compound - they have fish meals as the only lunch option and
it is fairly basic.
Fort St. Angelo is very well maintained and is very walkable as most of it is
under the control of Cannore Cantonment (Indian Army). The walk from the bus
stop is around 3KM. The last 2KM is pretty nice as there is lot of greenery
around you. The fort itself is also very well maintained and there is plenty of
well-groomed space inside. One spot that can be easily missed inside the
fort area is the underground cell. There are no markings and for the casual
observer, it just looks like a pothole. The location is to the seaside,
opposite the restrooms just below the third “wind” tree. On a bright day, you
can see the inside of the 
cell pretty clearly. Other places of interest inside the
fort include the horse barracks, the cannons, and a church (entry inside is
prohibited). You can access the seashore from several spots and one can easily
spot crayfish as the waves hit the rocks and retreat. The prawn hatchery run by
Matsyafed and the old pier are next to the fort as well. Food can be a problem
as there are no good restaurants in the vicinity. There is a small shack run by
Matsyafed in the compound - they have fish meals as the only lunch option and
it is fairly basic.
Arakkal Museum (nominal entrance fee, 8AM to 6PM all days) is
around 1.5KM from the fort. Most of that walk is also fairly pleasant although
the last half kilometer can be smelly as you have to go past the fish market.
The museum itself is on a heritage house and showcases the possessions of the
only Muslim royal family in Kerala. Baby Beach is located around 2.5KM from
Arakkal Museum and the name really is a misnomer as it is just a rocky seashore
with a good view - the nice thing for walkers is that the wind can really help
you cool down. The walk again is very pleasant as you are crossing through the
cantonment - the area has several attractions that showcases the army such as
battle-tanks and such.
The museum itself is on a heritage house and showcases the possessions of the
only Muslim royal family in Kerala. Baby Beach is located around 2.5KM from
Arakkal Museum and the name really is a misnomer as it is just a rocky seashore
with a good view - the nice thing for walkers is that the wind can really help
you cool down. The walk again is very pleasant as you are crossing through the
cantonment - the area has several attractions that showcases the army such as
battle-tanks and such.
Payyambalam Beach is a 3KM walk from Baby Beach and it is
through some of the nicest residential areas in Kannur. The last half kilometer
is again a drag as the area close to the beach is not well-maintained. The main
beach access is cordoned-off by a garden and there is a nominal fee for entry
into the garden. 
There is a pretty rundown horse-riding school within the
premises as well. Also, a restaurant building is also present although they
have very modest offerings: light snacks and coffee/tea, etc. The garden or
the beach are good areas to hang-out.
There is a pretty rundown horse-riding school within the
premises as well. Also, a restaurant building is also present although they
have very modest offerings: light snacks and coffee/tea, etc. The garden or
the beach are good areas to hang-out. 
About 3.5KM from the beach area via normal city
streets gets you to the Stadium Complex, the mecca of shopping. There are
tons of street vendors selling all kinds of stuff from the Railway Station
Bridge onwards. The stadium building and the adjacent areas also host a number
of retail outlets including Khadi & Handloom shops. Another 2.5KM on the
main road (NH17) got me back to Sreepuram School. Overall, it took 7 hours including
all the stops. A not-to-be missed attraction that is not in this itinerary is
Muzhappilangad Drive-in-beach, supposedly the only one in South India. It is
about 15KM South from the downtown area followed by a small detour. Thalassery
Fort and Bekkal Fort are other attractions in the vicinity - the former is
around 1 hour on the way back to Ernakulam while Bekkal Fort is 1.5 hours North
of Kannur - of the two, Bekkal is the more famous one. Last Updated: 08/2014.
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