Kannur
District Panchayat

History and Overview of Kannur District

The ancient Mushika Dynasty was the earliest well-known ruling dynasty of this region. Later, the Chirakkal Royal Family and the Kolathiri Kingdom ruled the area. Towards the end of the 14th century, the Arakkal Dynasty, with its capital at Kannur, was established. It was the only Muslim royal dynasty in the history of Kerala.

By the 16th century, the Portuguese and the Dutch had arrived in Kannur, followed later by the British and the French. In February 1766, Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, invaded and conquered Kolathunadu. Later, under Tipu Sultan, the entire Malabar region eventually came under British rule.

It is believed that the name Kannur originated from "Kanampuzha," meaning the region through which the Kanampuzha River flowed.

The activities of the Indian National Movement began in Kannur during the early 20th century. The third session of the Indian National Congress, formed in 1910, was held at Thalassery in 1918 under the leadership of the Raja of Chirakkal. Initially, the Congress in Malabar was dominated by landlords and wealthy people. However, following the visits of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to Kannur, ordinary people also began participating actively in the freedom movement.

When K. T. Kesava Menon assumed the leadership of the Congress in Malabar, C. H. Govindan Nambiar was given charge of Kannur. During the Khilafat Movement, Mahatma Gandhi and Shaukat Ali visited Kannur, where Samuel Aaron and Kunhi Onakkan played leading roles in organizing their reception.

The first conference to pass the Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) Resolution was held in Payyanur in May 1928, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. During the 1930s Civil Disobedience Movement, leaders such as Kelappan and Moyarath Sankaran organized the Salt Satyagraha and toddy shop picketing at Payyanur.

On 1 September 1862, Edward Brennen established a modern school at Thalassery. The government took over the school in 1919, and in 1947 it was upgraded into a First Grade College.

The social reform activities of Sree Narayana Guru, Vagbhatananda, and Swami Ananda Theertha greatly contributed to the social renaissance of the district.

By the mid-1930s, left-wing ideologies gained influence within the national movement. In 1939, against the backdrop of World War II, socialist leaders formed the Kerala unit of the Communist Party at Parapram, Thalassery.

The Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, near Kunjimangalam, and Payyanur College are among the district's major institutions. Small-scale industries such as textile mills, coir, and beedi manufacturing are prominent in Kannur. The district's first industrial enterprise was the C. Aaron & Sons Weaving Mill, established in 1892.

The district is connected by the Kochi–Mumbai National Highway (formerly NH 17), which links the municipalities of Thalassery, Kannur, Taliparamba, and Payyanur.

India's only Cinnamon Estate is located in Kannur. It was established by the British on the banks of the Anjarakandy River. Another major industrial establishment, Western India Plywoods Ltd., is situated at Valapattanam.

Kannur is home to several important places of worship. These include the Sundareswara Temple, established by Sree Narayana Guru in 1916, the Jagannath Temple established in 1908, numerous mosques and other religious centers, the Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, the Kottiyoor Temple, and the Madayi Mosque, which was established by Malik Ibn Dinar in AD 1124.

Major tourist attractions in the district include the Pazhassi Dam (opened in 1971), Payyambalam Beach, the Iritty hill region, Paithalmala, and Muzhappilangad Beach. The Parassinikadavu Temple attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year.

The Aralam–Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across 55 square kilometres, is another major tourist destination, attracting wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.