The district of Kannur is bound by the Western Ghats in the East (Coorg district of Karnataka State), Kozhikkode and Wayanad districts, in the South, the Arabian sea in the West and Kasaragod, the northern most district of Kerala, in the North.The district can be divided into three geographical regions - highlands, midlands and lowlands.
This district in the northern end of the state of Kerala is full of myths and legends surrounding it. The land has been known since ancient days. King Solomon's boats landed here and also marco Polo has mentioned the name of Kannur in his travelogues.
The name Kannur comes from the combination of the two local words Kannan (meaning Lord Krishna) and Ur (meaning place). Put together it becomes Kannur, the place of Lord Krishna in the local dialect. The British had changed it to Cannanore which was officially changed back to Kannur as it was called in the ancient days.
Ancient temples, age old mosques and the equally ancient traditions and folk arts such as the Theyyam and the martial art of Kalaripayattu, all this and much more is what Kannur is all about. This land of resonant past has witnessed a culture of over thousands of years. It was ruled over by the kings of Thalicherry until the Europeans reached this place. Various arts and folk arts flourished under the patronage of the rulers of this place and today they are famous as the ancient folk art very typical of Kerala.
Kannur is believed to be the cultural capital of Kerala with its traditional arts and the ancient monuments which still stand as proof to the ancient legacy this place carries. It was from here that the martial arts were carried back to the far east by the Buddhist preachers. Kannur has been a prominent centre for culture and arts in Kerala and has witnessed a culture that is more than 1000 years old.
