Kannur District
Kannur is a coastal district in northern Kerala known for its handloom sector, Theyyam and other folk traditions, historic sites, beaches, agriculture and its role in the region’s freedom movement.
Source: Government source: Kannur District Administration: About District Official district description and descriptive title. Government source: Kannur District Tourism Promotion Council Supports district culture and tourism themes. Government source: Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles: About Us State handloom programmes are implemented through District Industries Centres.
District overview
Area
2,971 sq km
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur Lists 2,971 sq km. Government source: Kannur District Administration: About District Lists 2,966 km². Area figures vary across these Kerala Government sources; the discrepancy is unresolved.
Population (Census 2011)
2,523,003
Source: Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Kannur Kannur district total: 2,523,003. Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur The district profile rounds the population to 2,523,000; the Census handbook supplies the exact value used.
Literacy (Census 2011)
95.10%
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur Supports literacy of 95.10%, labelled Census 2011.
Sex ratio (Census 2011)
1,136 females per 1,000 males
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Sex Ratio, 2011 Census Kannur district figure: 1,136 females per 1,000 males.
Headquarters
Kannur
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur Lists Kannur as the district headquarters.
Economy
Kannur’s economy includes the handloom sector, coir manufacturing, cashew processing, marine products and cultural tourism. The District Administration also identifies agriculture, fisheries and related industries as important livelihoods and lists paddy, coconut, pepper, cashew, tapioca, arecanut and rubber among crops grown in the district. Kerala Ecostat reports GDVA at current prices of ₹46,668 crore (2020–21) and gross cropped area of 227,281 hectares (2019–20); these figures are not used for district rankings.
Source: Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur GDVA at current prices: ₹46,668 crore (2020–21); gross cropped area: 227,281 hectares (2019–20). Government source: Kannur District Administration: Agriculture Supports the named livelihoods and crops. Government source: Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles: About Us Describes state handloom programmes implemented through District Industries Centres. Government source: Directorate of Industries and Commerce: DIC Kannur Identifies the Kannur District Industries Centre.
Climate
Kannur has a humid tropical coastal climate with substantial monsoon rainfall.
Source: Government source: Kannur District Administration: About District Describes a humid climate and substantial annual rainfall; the page uses neutral wording rather than treating its figures as current measurements.
District background
History
The district was formed on 1 January 1957. The official Kannur history page records rock-cut caves and megalithic remains associated with the Neolithic period around the Taliparamba–Kannur–Thalassery area. Kannur was part of the Chera kingdom and later associated with the Kolattiri Rajas, whose kingdom had trading relations with Arabia and Persia in the 12th and 13th centuries. Portuguese power included St. Angelo Fort, built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. The fort later passed through Dutch and Arakkal control before the British conquest; Kannur also served as a British military station. Kannur was a major setting for Pazhassi Raja’s resistance to British rule during 1792–1806. The district’s freedom-movement history includes Indian National Congress activity, the Malabar District Committee, Home Rule League activity in Thalassery, and the Payyannur Salt Satyagraha in 1930 under K. Kelappan, including events at Uliyath Kadav.
Source: Government source: Kannur District Administration: History Official source for early history, Kolattiri trade, colonial control, Pazhassi Raja and the freedom movement. Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur Supports formation on 1 January 1957.
Geography
Kannur lies along Kerala’s northern Malabar Coast, extending from the Arabian Sea coast toward the Western Ghats. The Kerala State Land Use Board profile lists several rivers in the district, including Valapattanam and Kuppam. Muzhappilangad Beach is Kerala’s only drive-in beach, with an approximately 4 km stretch of sand, according to the District Administration.
Source: Government source: Kannur District Administration: About District Supports the district’s coastal setting and Western Ghats geography. Government source: Kerala State Land Use Board: Kannur District Lists several district rivers, including Valapattanam and Kuppam. Government source: Kannur District Administration: Muzhappilangad Beach Supports the attributed “only drive-in beach” description and approximately 4 km stretch.
Culture
Kannur is known for Theyyam and related folk traditions. The District Tourism Promotion Council describes local cultural life through folk arts and folk music, rituals, religious practices and festivals. Handloom traditions and other traditional industries, historic temples and forts, and freedom-movement heritage are also part of the district’s cultural record.
Source: Government source: Kannur District Tourism Promotion Council Supports references to folk arts, music, rituals, religious practices, festivals and traditional industries. Government source: Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles: About Us Explains the state’s handloom programmes and their implementation through DICs.
Popular Attractions
Source: Government source: Kannur District Administration: Tourist Places Official listing used for Kannur Fort, Paithalmala and Payyambalam Beach. Government source: Kannur District Administration: Muzhappilangad Beach Supports the attributed drive-in beach description, approximate length and distance from Thalassery. Government source: Kannur District Administration: Photo Gallery Includes an Arakkal museum gallery entry. Government source: Kerala Forest Department: Wildlife Rescue Lists Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary under Kannur.
Attractions by type in Kannur
District Services
Sources
- Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Kannur District statistical profile: area, headquarters, formation date, GDVA and gross cropped area. It reports area as 2,971 sq km and rounds the Census population to 2,523,000.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: About District Supports the district overview and humid climate; lists area as 2,966 km², differing from Ecostat’s 2,971 sq km.
- Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Kannur District total population: 2,523,003.
- Government source: Kerala Economics & Statistics: Sex Ratio, 2011 Census District-wise Census 2011 sex-ratio dataset; Kannur is 1,136 females per 1,000 males.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: History Supports the concise early, colonial and freedom-movement history, including the dated St. Angelo Fort and Pazhassi Raja resistance.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Tourist Places Official district tourist-place listings, including Paithalmala, Kannur Fort and Payyambalam Beach.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Agriculture Identifies agriculture, fisheries and related industries as livelihoods and lists district crops.
- Government source: Kannur District Tourism Promotion Council Supports the district’s cultural themes, including folk arts, folk music, rituals, religious practices and traditional industries.
- Government source: Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles: About Us Describes state handloom programmes implemented through District Industries Centres; no export percentages or district ranking are inferred.
- Government source: Directorate of Industries and Commerce: DIC Kannur Identifies the Kannur District Industries Centre.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Paithalmala Identifies Paithalmala, also called Pythalmala or Vaithalmala, as a hill station in the Kannur region.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Kannur Fort Identifies Kannur Fort as St. Angelo’s Fort and gives its 1505 construction attribution.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Payyambalam Beach Confirms Payyambalam Beach as a Kannur tourist destination; promotional claims are not repeated.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Muzhappilangad Beach Attributes Kerala’s only drive-in beach description, the approximately 4 km stretch and distance of about 7 km from Thalassery to the District Administration.
- Government source: Kannur District Administration: Photo Gallery The official gallery includes an Arakkal museum entry; its displayed label contains a spelling error.
- Government source: Kerala Forest Department: Wildlife Rescue Lists Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary under Kannur.
- Government source: Kerala State Land Use Board: Kannur District District land-use report used to check the existing river references; river lengths and rankings are not included.
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