Kannur district is an administrative district in the northern part of the state of Kerala, India. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Kannur (anglicised historically as Cannanore), a coastal city on the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea. Kannur is one of the principal districts of the North Malabar region and is known for its long maritime trading history, its handloom and beedi industries, the ritual art form of Theyyam, and a distinctive political culture.
| Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| Region | North Malabar |
| Headquarters | Kannur |
| Coastline | Arabian Sea (west) |
| Official language | Malayalam |
| Type | District of Kerala |
Kannur district lies in the northern part of Kerala, bordered by Kasaragod district to the north, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts to the south, the Western Ghats and the state of Karnataka to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The district extends from the coastal lowlands through the midland laterite uplands to the forested slopes of the Western Ghats, giving it a varied terrain with paddy fields, plantations, rivers and hill tracts. Major rivers flowing through the district include the Valapattanam, Anjarakandy, Kuppam, Mahe and Ramapuram.
The territory of present-day Kannur has a long recorded history of overseas contact. The port of Cannanore was an important node on the Indian Ocean trade network, mentioned by Arab and European travellers, and it traded in spices, particularly pepper and cardamom from the Malabar hinterland. The Kolathunadu (Kolathiri) kingdom held sway over much of the region in the medieval period, with its capital around Valapattanam.
European powers established a presence on the coast from the 16th century onwards. The Portuguese built St Angelo Fort at Kannur in 1505; it later passed to the Dutch and then to the British. The Arakkal kingdom, the only Muslim royal house in Kerala, was based at Kannur and had authority over Lakshadweep for a period. Following the defeat of Tipu Sultan and the Treaty of Seringapatam, Malabar came under British rule and was administered as part of the Madras Presidency.
After Indian independence and the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956, the Malabar region became part of the new state of Kerala. Kannur (then Cannanore) district was constituted as one of Kerala's districts. Kasaragod district was carved out of the northern part of Kannur district in 1984.
The district is administered by a District Collector and is divided into revenue taluks and community development blocks, with further sub-divisions into villages and gram panchayats. Urban administration is handled by the Kannur Municipal Corporation along with several municipalities such as Thalassery, Payyannur, Mattannur, Taliparamba, Anthoor and Koothuparamba. The district sends representatives to the Kerala Legislative Assembly and to the Lok Sabha through the Kannur parliamentary constituency, with parts of the district falling under neighbouring constituencies.
The economy of Kannur is mixed, combining agriculture, traditional industries, services and remittances from the Gulf. Coconut, areca nut, pepper, cashew, rubber and paddy are important crops. Kannur is historically associated with the handloom industry, and "Kannur handloom" fabrics enjoy a recognised reputation; the town is sometimes referred to as the "land of looms and lores." The beedi industry, including cooperative-based units such as the Kerala Dinesh Beedi cooperative, has been a significant employer. Trade, education, healthcare and tourism are growing service sectors.
Kannur is served by the National Highway running along the Kerala coast and by the Mangaluru–Shoranur railway line, with major stations at Kannur, Thalassery and Payyannur. Kannur International Airport at Mattannur, which began commercial operations in 2018, provides air connectivity, particularly to the Gulf countries from which the district draws large remittances.
Kannur is a major centre of Theyyam, a ritual performance art combining dance, music and elaborate costume,