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Muzhappilangad Beach
Beach
Muzhappilangad Beach
Muzhappilangad BeachShow map of KeralaMuzhappilangad BeachShow map of India
Coordinates: 11°47′46.3596″N 75°26′31.308″E / 11.796211000°N 75.44203000°E / 11.796211000; 75.44203000
Location	Muzhappilangad, Tellichery, India
Dimensions
• Length	3.8 km
Patrolled by	Lifeguards
Hazard rating	Low

Muzhappilangad Beach near Thalassery (formerly Tellicherry) is a drive-in beach in the Kannur district of Kerala, on the Malabar Coast of India. It stretches across 4 kilometers in length. In 2016, it was featured among the six "best beaches for driving in the world" in an article published by BBC - Autos. This beach is currently under major renovation.

Overview

The Muzhapilangad beach is located parallel to National Highway 66 (formerly National Highway 17) between Kannur and Thalassery. There is an unpaved road winding through coconut groves leading to the beach. To get to this road, if you are driving from Thalassery towards Kannur, take the left turn just before the railway over bridge (the first railway crossing) which you will encounter after crossing the Moidu bridge. For those travelling from Kannur towards Thalassery, the entrance to this road will be available on the right side from Edakkad town. The beach is about 3.8 km long and curves in a wide area providing a good view of Kannur on the north. Local laws allow beachgoers to drive for a full 3.4 km directly on the sands of the beach. The beach is bordered by black rocks, which also protect it from the strong currents of the ocean. These rocks provide habitat for Blue mussel, a delicious seafood. Beach attracts bird-watchers from far off places as hundreds of birds flock here during various seasons.

There is a private island called Dharmadam Island (Pacha Thuruthu in Malayalam, which translates as 'Green Island' in English), approximately 100–200 m south of the beach . It is possible to walk to the island during low tide from the nearby Dharmadam beach.

Tourism

Since the late 1990s, the beach has seen a steady influx of European and other foreign tourists during winter. A major share of foreign and domestic tourists are not aware of the potentials of this elusive destination. It is a must see destination for Indians as well as for foreign tourists. After the ongoing facelift of the beach there has been a huge improvement in the facilities available to the beach visitors including in resorts, roads, etc. The beach is wide and the sand is firm enough to support smooth driving.

Birdwatching hotspot

Despite being a tourist destination, the beach is a birdwatching hotspot too. More than thirty species of migratory birds visit here in the winter. Among them Pectoral sandpiper and Caspian plover, sighted here in 2013, were reported for the first time in Kerala. Long, broad shore and rocky formations on the side of the beach provide a safe place for migration of birds.

Species

Source:

• Asian Openbill
• Black kite
• Black-winged Stilt
• Brahminy kite
• Common Greenshank
• Common Redshank
• Egrets
• Eurasian Curlew
• Eurasian Oystercatcher
• Eurasian whimbrel
• Gulls
• Little Stint
• Plovers
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Ruff
• Sanderling
• Sandpipers
• Terns
• White bellied sea eagle

Accessibility

Nearest airports:

• Kannur International Airport: 27 km (17 mi)
• Karipur International Airport: 106 km (66 mi)

Nearest towns/railway stations:

• Edakkad Railway Station: 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Thalassery: 7 km (4.3 mi)
• Kannur: 15 km (9.3 mi)
• Mangalore railway station: 151 km (94 mi)

By road:

On National Highway 66 the beach is situated between Kannur town and Thalassery town. There are five village connection roads from the National Highway towards the beach.

Image gallery

• Beach Festival
• Sunset at Muzhappilangad Beach
• Para gliding at Muzhappilangad Beach
• Muzhappilangad beach
• Beach
• Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach
• Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach
• Nearby Dharmadam Island
• Behind the Beach
• Rock formation at the north of the beach
• Rock formation at the north of the beach
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See also

• Bekal beach
• Kappad beach
• Kozhikode Beach
• Muzhappilangad
• Thalassery
• Dharmadam
• Dharmadam Island
• Kannur

References

1. The author has posted comments on this article (12 November 2012). "Neglect ruins Muzhappilangad beach". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
2. Gibson, David K. "The best beaches for driving". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
3. "Muzhappilangad wins BBC favour". Deccan Chronicle. 24 June 2016.
4. "Muzhappilangad Beach - Kerala's only drive in beach at Kannur".
5. "Muzhappilangad: Exploring Kerala's only drive-in beach". manoramaonline.com.
6. "Rare migratory birds spotted during survey". The Hindu. 24 September 2013 – via www.thehindu.com.
7. Birds of Kerala: Status and Distribution; ISBN 978-81-264-2921-9; DC Books, Kerala, 2001

External links

• Riding on Muzhappilangad drive in beach—YouTube video

v t e Hydrography of Kerala
Rivers	Achankovil Ambankadavu Anjarakandi River Ayalurpuzha Bharathappuzha Chalakudy Chalippuzha Chaliyar Cherukunnapuzha Cherupuzha Cheruthoni Chulliyar Edamalayar Gayathripuzha Iruvanjippuzha Ithikkara Kabini Kadalundi Kallada Kallayi Kalpathipuzha Kanjirappuzha Kannadipuzha Karamana Karimpuzha Karimpuzha River (Palakkad) Korapuzha Korayar Kottappuzha Kunthipuzha Kurumali Kuthirappuzha Madatharuvi Mahé Malampuzha Mangalam Manimala Maruthappuzha Meenachil Meenkarappuzha Mullayar Muthirapuzha Muvattupuzha Neerppuzha Neyyar Pallichelaru Pamba Pambar Pandippuzha Papanasini Parambikulam Payaswini Perinjankutti Periyar Punnappuzha Thuppanadippuzha Thuthapuzha Tirur Valapattanam Vandazhippuzha
Lakes, dams and reservoirs	Ashtamudi Kavvayi Backwater Kayamkulam Kayal Paravur Punnamada Sasthamkotta Vellayani Lake Vembanad Veeranpuzha
Waterfalls	Aruvikkuzhy Athirappilly Charpa Kumbhavurutty Manalar Meenmutty, Wayanad Oliyarik Palaruvi Pattathippara Perunthenaruvi Soochipara Thusharagiri Vazhachal
Beaches	Alappuzha Bekal Chavakkad Beach Cherai Kappad Kappkadavu Kollam Kovalam Marari Meenkunnu Mundakkal Muzhappilangad Paravur Thekkumbhagam Padinjarekkara Beach Payyambalam Shankumugham Snehatheeram Tanur Beach Thanni Thirumullavaram Varkala
Boats	Types Chundan Vallam Kettuvallam Palliyodam Uru Races Vallam kali Payippadu Vallam Kali Triprayar Boat Race Kandassankadavu Boat Race Aranmula President's Trophy Boat Race Nehru Trophy Indira Gandhi Champakulam Moolam Sree Narayana Jayanthi
Related topics	Estuaries of Paravur Islands of Kollam Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Pathiramanal
India portal

• Beaches of Kerala
• Tourist attractions in Kannur district
• Thalassery road, Kannur