About North Kerala, local histories and legends of North Kerala
Located a short distance from Trichambaram in Taliparamba, Kannur, the Sri Rajarajeswara Temple is one of the most powerful and historically significant Shaivite shrines in South India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as the “Emperor of Emperors” (Rajarajeswara), this vast six-acre complex holds a high status as a royal spiritual headquarters. According to the sacred geographical…
Trichambaram Sree Krishna Temple, located in Thaliparamba, Kannur district, is one of the most vibrant and historically fascinating places to visit in North Kerala. Often referred to as the “Guruvayoor of the North”, this ancient temple has a very unique spiritual atmosphere. While in most temples across India Lord Krishna is depicted as a calm,…
Madhur Sri Madanandeshwara Siddhivinayak Temple, located on the tranquil banks of the Madhu Vahini River, seven kilometers from Kasaragod town, is one of the most famous and architecturally impressive spiritual landmarks in North Kerala. Originally established as a Shaivite sanctuary under the Kumbla kings, the history of this temple begins with a local woman named…
Mallam Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, located in Muliyar village near Bowikanam in Kasaragod district, is a historic and much-revered sanctuary that beautifully blends the cultural traditions of Malabar and Tulunad. This holy temple, which is over 400 years old, is dedicated to Goddess Durgaparameshwari, who is worshipped here as the supreme manifestation of universal energy and…
Located along the scenic Kasaragod-Kanhangad National Highway, the Sree Thrikannad Thraymbhakeswara Temple is one of the most culturally significant and unique coastal shrines in North Kerala. Known as the “Dakshina Kashi” (Varanasi of the South), this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Trimbakeshwara, and has a legendary tradition that it…
Located in Chirakkal near Puthiyateru in Kannur district, the Kadalai Sree Krishna Temple is one of the most historically significant and structurally revered Vaishnava shrines in North Kerala. Rich in sacred legends from the Mahabharata, the temple holds deep spiritual significance as it is a unique deity carved out of black Anjana Shila (a rare…
Located in the quiet village of Muzhakunn in the Kannur district of Kerala, the Sri Mridanga Shaileshwari Temple is a place where deep royal history, artistic origin stories and mysterious legends converge. Revered as one of the 108 ancient Durga temples, traditionally believed to have been established by Parashurama, this sacred temple holds a high…
Cherukunnu Sree Annapoorneshwari Temple, located in the cultural heart of Kerala’s Kannur district, stands as a grand testament to the rich spiritual and architectural heritage of the region. This sacred temple, over 1,500 years old, holds a unique place in South India as one of the few temples dedicated to Goddess Parvati in her divine…
The Legend of Kottiyoor Temple: Kerala’s 28-Day Forest Shrine Where Gods Are Believed to Descend Deep within the lush valleys of the Western Ghats in northern Kerala lies one of India’s most extraordinary pilgrimage destinations— Kottiyoor Temple (Sree Thricherumanna Temple). Located in the Kannur district and surrounded by dense forests, flowing rivers, and untouched wilderness,…
Payyannur Subramanya Swamy Temple, located in Payyannur, Kannur district, is one of the most ancient and revered places of worship in Kerala. Standing as the cultural and spiritual anchor of Payyannur town, this temple is counted among the most famous Subramanya temples in the state. Believed to be centuries old, the temple is distinguished by…
Peralassery Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple, located in Peralassery, Kannur district, is one of the most historically significant places of worship in North Kerala. Recognized as a major centre for Subramanya (Murugan) worship, the temple is uniquely renowned for its profound emphasis on Naga (Serpent) worship. Its architectural distinctiveness and deep-rooted legends make it a cherished…
Madaikkavu, or Madai Thiruvarkaat Bhagavathy Temple, is one of the most important power centers in North Kerala, especially in Kannur district. Situated near the beautiful landscape of Madaipara, this temple is considered to be the origin of Bhadrakali worship in Malabar. This ancient temple has a history of centuries. Many legends and folk tales are…
Ezhimala is a historically significant region situated on the northwestern coast of the Kannur district. Rising approximately 286 meters (938 feet) above sea level, this range of hills juts into the Arabian Sea like a majestic promontory. Ezhimala is renowned for its natural beauty and its crucial geographical and strategic location, having played a decisive…
Nestled high in the captivating hilly terrain of Kannur, atop the Udumbumala peaks of the Sahyadri mountains at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet above sea level, lies a unique and sacred spot: the Kunnathurpadi Muthappan Aaroodam. This site is revered as the Aaroodam (the original, primal abode) of the deity Sree Muthappan, a popular…
Valiyaparamba is a coastal village located in Hosdurg taluk of Kasaragod district. Valiyaparamba is the third largest backwater chain in Kerala. Valiyaparamba is a major tourist destination with extensive houseboat facilities in North Kerala. Valiyaparamba is a beautiful backwater chain where four rivers, including the Tejaswini River, meet here. The tranquil backwaters, small creeks, dense…
Ananthapuri Temple is a beautiful lake temple located in Ananthapuri, Kasaragod district. The only lake temple in Kerala is the Ananthapura Lake Temple near Kumbala in Kasaragod district. This temple, located in the middle of a beautiful lake, is a Mahavishnu temple. It is believed that this is the original site (primordial center) of the…
Malik Ibn Dinar Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in India, located in Kasaragod district. This mosque is also known as Malik Dinar Mosque. Located in Talankara, Kasaragod district, this mosque is centuries old. History says that this mosque was founded by Malik Ibn Dinar, who came to Kerala to spread Islam. Established in…
Ranipuram is an important trekking center in North Kerala. Ranipuram is located in the Panathady panchayat of Kasaragod district. With lush green meadows, dense shola forests, and a cool climate, this place is one of the important trekking centers in Kerala. Located at an altitude of about 750 meters above sea level and part of…
Bekal Fort is located in Bekal, Kasaragod district. Bekal Fort is the largest and most beautiful fort in Kerala. Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, this fort was built in the 17th century by the Keladi Naiks. Built for military purposes, this fort is spread over an area of more than 40 acres….
Parassinikkadavu Snake Park is an institution located in Parassinikkadavu in Kannur district that helps visitors learn about snakes and other reptiles and get to know them better. The Snake Park is located right next to the Parassinikkadavu Muthappan Temple. Parassinikkadavu Snake Park is the largest snake breeding center in Kerala. Various types of venomous and…
Like Paithal Mala, Palakkayam Thattu is another beautiful trekking destination in Kannur district. Palakkayam Thattu is located in the hilly village of Naduvil. Situated at an altitude of about 3500 feet (1000 meters) above sea level, this place is known for its beautiful views and cool climate. The panoramic views of the mountains and valleys…
Parassini Kadavu Muthappan Temple is a very famous pilgrimage center located on the banks of the Valapattanam river in a place called Parassini Kadavu in Kannur district. Parassini Kadavu is the primary worship center of the North Malabar people, especially the people of Kannur. The main deity of the Malabar people, Sree Muthappan, is worshipped…
Payyambalam Beach is a beautiful beach located in Payyambalam, very close to Kannur city. The attraction of this place is the wide sandy beach and the rocky cliffs adjacent to the beach. Many people come here in the evenings to watch the sunset and enjoy the sea breeze. In addition, there is a park and…
Paithalmala is a beautiful mountain located in the Western Ghats in Kannur district, close to the Karnataka border. Situated at an altitude of about 4,500 feet (1,450 meters) above sea level, this area is the highest in Kannur district. It is a favorite among adventure trekkers. Dense forests, meadows, fog, and cool weather are the…
St. Angelo Fort or Kannur Fort is a historic European-built temple located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, near the city of Kannur. This temple was built in 1505 by the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Francisco Almeida. At that time, Kannur Fort was a very important center for trade and defense. Later, the Dutch and…
Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach is located on the shores of the Rabi Sea at Dharmadam in Kannur district. Muzhappilangad Driving Beach or Dharmadam Driving Beach is the only driving beach in India. The main attraction here is that vehicles can be driven along the beach, which is about 4 km long, where the waves are pounding….
Dharmi Kulangara Temple is a very ancient and famous temple located in the village of Mazhur in Taliparambil, Kannur district. The main deity of the temple is Lord Balarama, the brother of Lord Krishna. The legend about the Dharmi Kulangara Temple is as follows. Karanavar of Mazhur Perumthattayil used to go to the Thrichambaram temple…
Andallurkavu is a very ancient and very famous kavu in North Kerala. This temple is located near Dharmadam. The legend about the origin of Andallurkavu is as follows. During the wedding of Sita, the bow that was worshipped and maintained by the sage Janaka was broken by Lord Rama. The fire rays that were released…
Kalrivathukkal Temple is a very famous temple located in Valapattanam in Kannur district. As the name suggests, this temple was associated with a Kalari where weapons training was practiced. This place, which provided Kalari training to many young men from Kolathur, also molded many warriors for Kolathuri’s army. It is said that at least five…
The only Muslim dynasty that existed in Kerala was the Araykkal dynasty or Araykkal Swarupam, which existed in Kannur. The entire true history of the Araykkal dynasty remains obscure. The Muslim dynasty of Araykkal was founded at the end of the 14th century AD, when the importance of the Kolathiri king of Ezhimala was almost…
The present-day Taliparamba area of ​​Kannur district was known as Perinchelloor. Perinchelloor was one of the important Brahmin centers in Kerala itself. The direct meaning of the word Perinchelloor is the place where the name was heard. Perunchelloor used to provide a platform for debates and debates between scholars. Brahmins who came from other places…
In ancient times, the local kings used to divide their territories by dividing their borders for administrative convenience. Such small local kingdoms are called Swarups. The Alladam Swarupam is from the western gopuram of the Payyannur temple to the Chitharipuzha river in the north. Alladam Nadu is also called Makatham Nadu. The Allada Swarupam, the…
In ancient times, the local kings used to divide their territories by dividing them into borders for administrative convenience. Such small local kingdoms are called swaroopam. The swaroopam of the Kolathiri kings in Kannur district of northern Kerala was called Kola. The word Kolathiri was derived from the word Kolathirivadi Koviladhikarikal. The old name of…
