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Kerala

Thalassery (Tellicherry)

Biryani, a British fort and Kerala's only drive-in beach

CultureHeritageBeach

Best time to visit Thalassery (Tellicherry)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Thalassery (Tellicherry) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is the season at 23-32°C, with theyyam nights at the village kavus and sand firm enough to drive at Muzhappilangad.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Mar-May is 35°C and sticky; the biryani, the kalthappam and the cheap bars over in Mahe survive it, the midday beach does not.

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

June-Aug closes the drive-in beach completely, with 900 mm months, high tides washing over the sand and no swimming anywhere.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct still gets thundery evenings but the theyyam season opens mid-month; November is dry, green and the best value of the year.

What Thalassery (Tellicherry) is actually like

A food-and-cricket town of Muslim tea shops and old spice godowns; small hotels, no hostels and very few outsiders

Things to do in Thalassery

The local places worth your time in and around Thalassery, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Thalassery Fort

    Fort · in town

    1708 East India Company fort of laterite walls and tunnels above the sea; open through the day, best in the last hour of light.

  • Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach

    Beach · 8 km out

    Four kilometres of hard sand you can drive or ride along; go at low tide, and stay out of the water, the current is strong.

  • Dharmadam Island

    Island · 5 km out

    Wooded islet you can wade across to at low tide; landing needs permission from the tourism office, check the tide before you cross.

  • Odathil Palli

    Mosque · in town

    Eighteenth century mosque with no minaret, teak inside and a copper roof, built by a spice merchant; ask before entering at prayer time.

  • Mambally's Royal Biscuit Factory

    Food · in town

    The bakery that baked India's first Christmas cake in 1883; still selling plum cake and biscuits from a lane off the main road.

Getting to Thalassery (Tellicherry)

Thalassery station on the Mangaluru-Kozhikode line; Kannur airport 25 km, Muzhappilangad beach 8 km north

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
20 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
11.7481, 75.4866

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Thalassery (Tellicherry)?

November to February is peak season in Thalassery (Tellicherry). March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Oct still gets thundery evenings but the theyyam season opens mid-month; November is dry, green and the best value of the year.

How many days do you need in Thalassery (Tellicherry)?

2 days is the usual stay. A food-and-cricket town of Muslim tea shops and old spice godowns; small hotels, no hostels and very few outsiders.

How do you get to Thalassery (Tellicherry)?

Thalassery station on the Mangaluru-Kozhikode line; Kannur airport 25 km, Muzhappilangad beach 8 km north. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Thalassery (Tellicherry) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Thalassery?

Thalassery Fort, Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach, Dharmadam Island, Odathil Palli and Mambally's Royal Biscuit Factory. 1708 East India Company fort of laterite walls and tunnels above the sea; open through the day, best in the last hour of light.

Nearby, and where to go next

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