Kannur
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- For the district with the name Kannur, see Kannur District.
- For town with the same name in Karnataka, see Kannur, Dakshina Kannada
| Kannur | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | 11.8689°N 75.3555°E / 11.8689°N 75.3555°ECoordinates: 11.8689°N 75.3555°E / 11.8689°N 75.3555°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kannur |
| Population | 63,797 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Website | www.kannur.nic.in |
Kannur (Malayalam: കണ്ണൂര്), also known as Cannanore, 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. It is known as Land of Looms and Lores. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its Portuguese name of Cannanore which is still in fairly common usage.[1] This is the largest city of North Malabar. Kannur Municipality was established in 1867 and is one of the oldest municipalities in Kerala.[2]
According to the data compiled by Indicus Analytics, a research firm, Kannur is one of the ten best cities in India to live.[3] The parameters set by this firm are in the field of health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment for preparing the data.
Kannur is the fourth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, and has a population of 4,98,207. Kannur is known as the land of looms and lores, because of the loom industries functioning in the district and festivals held in temples. Kannur is famous for its pristine beaches; Theyyam, its native performing art; and its handloom industry.
Kannur is of great strategic military importance. It houses one of the 62 military cantonments in the country, the Kannur Cantonment, and is the current seat of the Defence Security Corps.
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[edit] History
From twelfth century AD onwards, Kannur was a port-town of Kolathunadu which was ruled by Kolathiris. This city 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 until 1887. In conjunction with her sister city, 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 Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. It is situated along the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. In 1507, the fort was besieged by the local ruler in the Siege of Cannanore (1507). The ownership of the fort has changed hands several times. In 1663, the Dutch captured it. They subsequently gave the fort its present appearance and the original Portuguese fort was ultimately demolished. The Dutch sold the fort to the Arakkal royal family in 1772. During this time, the Arakkal sultanate began issuing coins.[4] The British conquered it in 1790 and used it as 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 as a background is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The head of Kunjali Marakkar was cut off body and exhibited in the Fort after his assassination. During the 17th century, Kannur was the capital city of the only Muslim Sultanate of Kerala, known as Arakkal.[4] Before that, Kannur was under Kolathiri Raja of Chirakkal. During the British Raj, Kannur was part of the Madras province in the District of North Malabar
[edit] Etymology
There are many myths and legends behind the name Kannur. It is said to be a portmanteau derived from two Malayalam words, ‘Kannan’ (Krishna), a Hindu deity, and ‘Ur’ (place), making it the place of Lord Krishna. One support for this theory is that the deity of the Kadalayi Srikrishna Temple was originally installed in a shrine at Kadalayi Kotta in the southeastern part of the present Kannur town. During British Raj, the city was known as Cannanore, the Portuguese version of its ancient name Kannanore (കണ്ണനൂര്).
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2001 census of India,[5] 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.
[edit] Places in Kannur
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- Indian Naval Academy: It is Asia's largest naval academy located at Ezhimala which is approximately 35 km north of Kannur.
- St. Angelo Fort: It was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, Dom Francisco de Almeida. In 1663, the Dutch captured it and then in 1772, they sold the fort to the Arakkal King. In 1790, the British Captured it and it was under British until 1947.
- Payyambalam Beach is a famous Kannur beach with an unbroken coastline of a few kilometres. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar coast, from beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) 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 massive renovation work and is managed by the Arakkal Family Trust.
- The Cannanore Lighthouse near the Sea View Park is another place of interest. The first lighthouse at Kannur was built in 1843 by the British at St. Angelo's Fort. Over the years, the lighthouse was renovated and in 1948, it was moved to the current location. The lighthouse is still in use.
- 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, so-called because 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.
- Mopla 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 Central Bus Terminal,its Kerala's biggest bus terminal, located at Thavakkara,its also India's first bus terminal to be developed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
- Vismaya amusement park,the Vismaya amusement park is at Parassinikadavu, 17 km from Kannur town. The amusement park is located in 30 acres of land and can handle 3,000-3,500 visitors at a time.
- Peralassery Subrahmanya Swami Kshetram, 14 km from Kannur on Koothuparamba Road. It has been believed that Lord Rama stayed here when he was going in search of Sita Devi.
- Anjarakandy,Asias largest Cinanamon estate is here 18 km from Kannur which was established by East India company in 1797 as a cinnamon plantation. A historical war between Pazhassi raja and British army was fought out from here in the year 1803, Kannur Medical college is also located here .
- Muzhappilangad beach - The biggest drive-in beach in Asia.
- Parassinikadavu Sree Muthappan, - A beautiful kshetram (Temple) river side, Thousands of people visit there.
[edit] Kannur town and Kannur City
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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.
[edit] Proposed Kannur Municipal Corporation
There is a demand to upgrade Kannur Municipality to a Municipal Corporation.
The proposed Kannur Municipal Corporation comprises of:
- Kannur Municipality (villages of Kannur-I, Kannur-II)
- Kannur Cantonment (Burnassery)
- Pallikunnu panchayat
- Puzhathi panchayat
- Valapattanam panchayat
- Chirakkal panchayat
- Azhikode panchayat (villages of Azhikode North, Azhikode South)
- Elayavoor panchayat
- Edakkad panchayat
- Chelora panchayat (villages of Chelora, Valiyannur)
Total Area: 111.54 sq. km
Total Population (1991 Census): 310,434
[edit] Education in Kannur
In the 14th and 15th centuries, during the regime of the Kolathiri Rajas, Taliparamba was renowned all over Kerala as a seat of learning, enlightenment and culture. In the early days, the Eshuthu pallies under the Ezhuthachan or village school master, provided facilities to pupils to acquire elementary education. After undergoing the preliminary course of study in these institutions, the children were sent to the kalaries for acquiring training in gymnastics and in the use of arms and then they were sent to study Sanskrit in Vedic schools under well trained teachers. This district had in the past, its share of such kalaries and Vedic schools. The art, Kalaripayattu, is particularly associated with this district.
The beginning of western education in the district may be traced back to the middle of the 16th century. The first English school, known as the Basel German Mission English School, was started on 1 March 1856 at Thalassery. The Brennen School at Thalassery, the nucleus of the present Govt. Brennen College, was started in 1862 with the generous donation made by Mr. Brennen, Master Attendant at Thalassery.
Kannur University was established by the Act 22 of 1996 of Kerala Legislative Assembly. The University by the name “Malabar University” had come into existence even earlier by the promulgaton of an Ordinance by the Governor of Kerala, on 9 November 1995. The University was inaugurated on 2 March 1996 by the Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala. The objective of the Kannur University Act 1996 is to establish in the state of Kerala a teaching, residential and affiliating University so as to provide for the development of higher education in Kasargod and Kannur revenue Districts and the Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad district. Kannur University is unique in the sense that it is a multi-campus university with campuses located at various locations under its jurisdiction. The present Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University is Dr P. K. Michael Tharakan, who took over from Dr P Chandramohan. Pariyaram Medical college established in 1999 near Payyanur and Kannur Medical college with a 500 bed super speciality hospital established in 2006 at Anjarakkandy are two medical colleges functioning in Kannur district
Kannur hosts the 13th centre for National Institute of Fashion Technology NIFT.
[edit] Transportation
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 kilometres away from Kannur. A New International Airport is proposed near Mattanur in Kannur district. Official website of Kannur International airport
Kannur is an ancient sea port. The nearest all-weather sea port is Mangalore, presently in Karnataka state. Azhikkal port in Kannur has been included for developing coastal shipping by Government of India (GoI) under National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP).A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared by ICICI-KINFRA for the development of Azhikkal port.Kerala government will go for a global tender once the final report was submitted.
[edit] Media
Malayalam movie actors Sreenivasan,Vineeth Sreenivasan, Vineeth, Samvrutha Sunil, TV Chandran, Manju Warrier, Archana Kavi,Sanusha and music composer K. Raghavan and Kannur Rajan are from Kannur district.
Cable TV Channels
There are many local cable T.V channels in Kannur,the most popular cable channels are- City Channel, City gold, City Juke,Zeal network and Kannur vision
All India Radio - Akashavani FM Radio Station
Kannur - 101.5 megahertz
Private FM Radio stations in Kannur
Radio Mango (the Malayala Manorama Co Ltd) -91.9 megahertz
Club FM (the Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Co Ltd) -94.3 megahertz
Red FM (Sun Network)- 93.5 megahertz
Best FM (Asianet Communications Ltd) - 95.0 megahertz
Print Media
Besides this, almost all news papers like the Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama, Deshabhimani, Deepika, Chandrika, Keralakoumudi, News First, Janmabhoomi, Veekshanam, Madhyamam, Thejas, Siraj are published from Kannur.
[edit] See also
- Kannur district
- Kannur (Lok Sabha constituency)
- North Malabar
- Thalassery
- Payyambalam Beach
- St. Angelo Fort
- Muzhappilangad Drive-In beach
- Dharmadam Island
- Pazhassi Raja
- Chirakkal Raja
- Arakkal Adi Raja
- Arakkal Museum
- Muthappan Theyyam
- Kottiyoor Temple
[edit] References
- ^ Cannanore- the old name still used by Indian Railways
- ^ Municipalities in Kerala
- ^ Top 10 cities in India
- ^ a b Arakkal royal family
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
[edit] External links
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