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Kannur

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For the district with the name Kannur, see Kannur District.
For town with same name in Karnataka, see Kannur, Dakshina Kannada
Kannur
Kannur
city
Map
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
63,795
Websitewww.kannur.nic.in

Kannur, (Malayalam:കണ്ണൂര്‍), is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the district of Kannur.

Kannur is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode with a population of 498,175. According to data compiled by the economics research firm Indicus Analytics on residences, earnings and investments, Kannur is one of ten best cities in India to live. Indicus considered six parameters — health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment — for preparing the 'reside-in' index.[1] It is popularly known as the city of Looms and Lores. Theyyam is a famous performing art from Kannur. Kannur is also famous for its beautiful virgin beaches. Another attraction of Kannur is the Handloom industry.

Kannur is of strategic military importance. It houses one of the 62 military cantonments in the country and is the current seat of the Defence Security Corps.

History

Kannur was an important port on the Arabian Sea and carried out trade with Persia and Arabia in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It was also the British military headquarters on India's west coast up to 1887. In conjunction with her elder sister Tellicherry, it was the third largest city on the western coast of British India in the eighteenth century, after Bombay and Karachi.[citation needed]

St. Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Sir Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is situated along the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. The fort has changed hands several times. In 1663, the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal royal family. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast. It is fairly well preserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The body of Kunjali Marakkar was exhibited in this Fort after his assassination.

During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its Anglicised name Cannanore, which is still in fairly common usage.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census of India,[2] Kannur has a population of 63,795. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kannur has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 83%. In Kannur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Places in Kannur town

Kannur City Centre on Fort Road
Shenoy Centre on Fort Road
File:Kannurfort1a.jpg
Cannon at St. Angelo Fort. Mappila Bay is seen in the distance.
  • St. Angelo Fort was built in 1505 by Sir Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. There is a sea pathway behind the fort, stretching a kilometer or two into the sea.
  • Payyambalam Beach is the famous beach in Kannur town. It has an unbroken coastline of a few kilometres. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar coast, that is, beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) and moving towards Mangalore, Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). The well laid out garden and the massive landscaped sculpture of mother and child erected by noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman makes it extremely captivating.
  • Arakkal Museum, located in Ayikkara, is a museum dedicated to the Arakkal family, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, south India. The museum is actually a section of the Arakkalkettu (Arakkal Palace). The durbar hall section of the palace has been converted into a museum by the Government of Kerala. It was opened in July 2005 after a Rs. 9,000,000 renovation and is managed by the Arakkal Family Trust.
  • The Cannanore Lighthouse near the Sea View Park is another interesting place. The first lighthouse at Kannur was built in 1843 by the British at St. Angelo's Fort. Over the years, the lighthouse improved and in 1948, it was moved to the current location. The lighthouse is active at night.
  • The Cannanore Cantonment is one of the 62 cantonments in the country and the only one in Kerala. It was established by the British in the 19th century and is still an important location for Indian armed forces
  • The Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre and DSC Records is located in Kannur town, on the road to Payyambalam Beach. The area is a part of the Cannanore Cantonment and is well-maintained by the Cantonment Board. The DSC centre at Kannur is the mother depot to all platoons in the country.
  • Baby Beach is so-called as it is smaller than its larger neighbour, Payyambalam Beach. St. Angelo Fort is adjacent to it. The baby beach is part of the Cannanore Cantonment and access may be restricted at times.
  • Meenkunnu Beach at Azhikode, just a few kilometres from the town.
  • Mappila Bay in Ayikkara, near the St. Angelo fort, is a major fishing harbor overlooking the Arabian Sea.
  • The Azhikkal Ferry — near Azhikode, about 10 km from Kannur town, where the Valapattanam river joins the Arabian sea. The Azhikkal ferry gives a magnificent view of the sunset. There is a granite pathway here which stretches 2 km into the sea.
  • The Kannur City Center is a prominent shopping center on Fort Road.
  • The Sea View Park, near the Payyambalam beach is overlooked by the Government Guest House. The Park is at an elevation from the sea level and gives a magnificent view of the sunset.

Kannur town and Kannur City

  • Kannur City Skyline

The region in and around the municipality of Kannur has been so developed that it has become known as Kannur City, but it should not be confused with the old town, Kannur city.

  • Kannur town — this is the actual city of Kannur and the administrative headquarters of Kannur District. The major business establishments, government offices, shopping centres, hotels, and showrooms are located in Kannur town.
  • Kannur City — although named "city", Kannur City is the old town, just a few kilometres from Kannur town, and is different from Kannur town. Both Kannur town and Kannur City fall under the Kannur Municipal Council. Kannur City was the ancient capital of the Arakkal kingdom. The Kannur district HQ hospital and city bus stand are located near Kannur City.

Transportation

Kannur Railway Station

Kannur is easily reachable by road, rail, air and sea.

Kannur is on the National Highway 17 (NH-17) between Mahe and Talapady. The roads in the city are well laid out, although the condition of the roads is affected during the monsoon season.

The two airports at Mangalore, Karnataka in the north and Kozhikode in the south are just about 125 killometers away from Kannur.Kannur international airport is coming up at mattanur,once operational Kannur international airport will be the largest airport in Kerala.

Kannur is an ancient sea port. The nearest all-weather sea port is Mangalore, presently in Karnataka state. The inland water transport system connecting Perumba and Thaliparamba was constructed in 1766 by the Ali Raja of Kannur. This 3.8 km long canal is known as the Sultan's Canal. The west flowing rivers are used for navigation. The Valappattanam river, 55 km and Anjarakandi river, 23 km. The nearest airport is Kozhikode.

Education

Kannur University is situated at Magattuparamba about 10 k.m. from Kannur town. Major educational institutions affiliated to Kannur University include

  • Govt. College of Engineering,Kannur
  • Brennen College, Thalassery
  • Sir Syed College, Taliparamba
  • Payyannur College
  • Sree Narayana College, Kannur
  • Krishna Menon College, Kannur
  • N.A.M College, Kallikkandy
  • Nirmalagiri college, Kuthparamba
  • M.G. College, Iritty
  • PRNSS college, Mattannur
  • Chinmaya Institute Of Technology,Chala,Kannur
  • Vimaljyothi engineering college, chemperi
  • Sree Narayana Guru College of Engineering & Techonology, Kangol, Payyanur
  • N.T.T.F, Thalassery
  • Govt. Ayurveda College,Pariyaram,Kannur
  • Govt.College of Teacher Education,Thalassery,Kannur

Medical science

  • Pariyaram Medical College,Pariyaram,Kannur
  • Kannur Medical College,Anjarakandy,Kannur
  • Koyli Hospital, Kannur
  • AKG hospital, Kannur
  • Dhanalakshmi Hospital, Kannur
  • Co.Op Hospital, Thalassery
  • Indhira Gandhi Hospital, Thalassery
  • St. Camillus Hospital, Kelakam
  • Lourde Hospital, Taliparamba
  • Lourde College of Nursing, Taliparamba
  • Speciality hospital, Thana Kannur
  • Chaithaniya hospital,Talap,Kannur
  • Aashirwadh hospital,Kannur
  • Ashoka hospital,Kannur
  • Mother & child care hospital,Kannur
  • Madhavrao Scindia hospital,Kannur
  • Malabar Cancer Centre,Thalassery
  • Fathima Hospital,Kannur
  • Kannur Hospital,Talap,Kannur
  • J.J Hospital,South Bazar,Kannur

Media

Private FM Radio stations

Radio Mango (the Malayala Manorama Co Ltd) -91.9

Club FM (the Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Co Ltd) -94.3

S FM (kal Radio,sun Network) 93.5

Best FM (asianet Communications Ltd) - 95.0

AIR FM Radio Station

Kannur - 101.5

See also

References

  1. ^ Best cities to live, invest and earn in
  2. ^ Template:GR
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