BEACHES OF NORTHERN KERALA
The northern part of Kerala is known as the Malabar region and it includes the districts of Kasaragod (the most northerly) and Kannur. There are attractive wide beaches here and they are only just starting to be developed. Bekal has an ancient fort (one of the largest in Kerala) although only the outer walls and some watchtowers remain. Kannur is known as the land of ‘looms and lores’ as it is a weaving area and has many temple festivals. This is the major centre of Theyyam – one of Kerala’s most extreme cultural spectacles. Theyyam is an ancient ritual form of Hindu worship taking place in village temples. The small town of Tellicherry (now called Thalassery) was a spice trading town during the Raj and the site of a number of skirmishes between the British and other Europeans as well as with the Indians. The Tellicherry Fort was built by the British in 1708.