Best time to visit : September to May
Resting along the Malabar Coast, Payyoli is a small village ornamented with sun-soaked beaches, lush greenery and serene environment. Known for its unadulterated natural setting, Payyoli is a paradise for photography lovers. It is a place displaying the charismatic fusion of serenity and natural beauty. The virgin beaches decorated with thick vegetation and shallow water presents a picture of an authentic South Indian village. Though known for its beaches, Payyoli has a number of temples and religious spots too. It is one of the ideal tourist places for nature lovers offering a scintillating view of sunrise and sunset. Payyoli is an excellent tourist destination to relax and enjoy with family and friends.
Facts
A relatively tiny village located about 40 km. from the Kozhikode District centre in the Indian state of Kerala; Payyoli is the birthplace of the athlete star P.T. Usha – prominently known as ‘Payyoli Express.’ During the months from November to December, flocks of the rare Olive Ridley turtles come to lay eggs at Payyoli Beach. Malayalam and English are the official languages of Payyoli. With a trip to the nearby fishing hamlets one can experience the old-world feel of a rustic Indian village. Summers are warm, winters are pleasant and monsoons bring heavy rainfall here.
The best food includes typical South Indian cuisines like dosa, idli, rasam, sambhar and coconut chutney. Presenting a delicious mix of aromatic red and dried chilli and other spices, Payyoli chicken fry (Payyoli kozi parichattu) is the local specialty of the village. Restaurants of Kappad Beach Resort, Malabar Palace and Sea Queen Hotel are the famous places to dine in Payyoli.
Being a coastal area, Payyoli sells coconut at an affordable price. Also, tourists can shop for local jewelleries. Thivalloor Market area is the best place to shop for local items in Payyoli. Hire a tourist guide to locate the local markets and shops in Payyoli.
Nearby Places:
· Elathur (about 26 km.) – Presenting the beautiful image of rural Kerala, Elathur is a small village. It is a famous nearby location to relax and enjoy in the lap of nature.
· Kadalundi (about 55 km.) – The place is famous for the bird sanctuary of the same name that houses over 60 bird species, fish, mussels and crabs.
· Kannur (about 54 km.) – Famous for its vibrant culture and rich heritage, Kannur has a number of beaches, religious spots and natural beauty in abundance and also for tasty dum biryani.
· Thalassery (about 34 km.) – It is known as the birthplace of cricket, circus and cake. Popular for its pleasant weather, rich culture and celebrated history.
· Nilambur (about 95 km.) – Popular as the Land of Teak Plantations, Nilambur is known for its vast forest, natural beauty, enchanting water bodies, regal residences and charming wildlife.
· Malappuram (about 84 km.) – Known for temples, bird sanctuary, and rich culture. It is the centre for Vedic education.
· Kalpetta (about 84 km.) – Famous for its coffee plantation, Kalpetta is the paradise for nature lovers. The biggest attractions of this place are temples and wide-stretched tea plantations.
For more tourist information on the nearby locations, buy a city guide map of Payyoli.