Kannur District is one of the 14 districts along the west coast in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters and gives the district its name. The old name, Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name "Kannur". Kannur district is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north, Kozhikode district to the south and Wayanad District to the southeast. To the east
the district is bounded by the Western Ghats, which forms the border with the state of Karnataka (Kodagu district). The district was established in 1957. Kannur is the sixth-most urbanized district in Kerala, with more than 50% of its residents living in urban areas. Kannur has an urban population of 1,212,898, which is the second largest in Kerala after Ernakulam district. Kannur District is known as the land of looms and lores, because of the loom industries and ritualistic festivals held here in temples. The district is a major centre of Theyyam, a ritual dance of northern Kerala. Small shrines known as kavus, associated with the Theyyam, dot the district. Kannur International Airport is be the fourth international airport in Kerala and is situated 26-km away from Kannur. Kannur is a popular tourist destination of the state, and is known for its clean beaches. Native people of the city speak Malyalam. Travelers can see various Portuguese structures in the city, as there are numbers of places with great architectural splendor. Major Cannanore attractions that tourists can explore are Arakkal Museum, Chirakkal Museum of Folk Art, Fort St. Angelo's, Thalassery Fort, Moppila Bay, Muzhappilangad Beach, Payyambalam Beach and Pazhassi Dam. All these attractions are quite beautiful. Popular festivals of Cannanore are Theyyam festival at various temples and Kottur festival. Best time to visit Cannonore is during the months of winters, as the city experiences mild climatic conditions during that time. How to reach Cannonore is not a big issue for people. The city is well connected with all major cities of India, Kannur International Airport which is the nearest airport to this city. Tourists can also visit by train as Cannanore and Kannur South are two major railway stations located nearby. People can also plan their travel through state bus services, as these buses connect the place with all nearby cities and towns.