Kannur's Mappila Bay - Ayikkara beach, more a fish market than a 'beach' destination

I’ve been meaning to visit Ayikkara for a while now. It’s a harbour and one of the main fishing ports in Kannur district. Fishing boats bring in their daily catch and often the fishermen sell the fish right on the beach.

Ayikkara village Kannur — After I got down at the government hospital bus stop (in Kannur city), one needs to walk through a fishermen’s housing colony to get to the beach

Frying fish Ayikkara Kannur — Laying salted fish out to dry

I had a picture of what I thought Ayikkara beach would look like. Brown sandy shores, fishermen’s boats all coming in fresh catch and a chance for the public to buy fresh fish cheap right off the boat.

The reality?

Ayikkara beach cow Kannur — This. Just look at the amount of trash on the beach :/ And of course this being India, there’s a cow here too!

Ayikkara fish market crab squid Kannur — Although there was variety on offer, a lot of it wasn’t very fresh to be honest

Crab fish Ayikkara Kannur — We bought some crab and some fish. Prices weren’t that low either.

I also saw trucks being loaded with fish. I guess all the good stuff gets sold at higher prices for exporters and suppliers to the big hotels & restaurants. And we locals get left with the stuff the big guys didn’t want.

Ayikkara harbour Kannur Kerala — There were people selling from the boats too

Birds in water Kerala — Birds and a pot-bellied man — both waiting for fish

Ayikkara fishing harbour Kannur — Me and my father walked around the area after buying the fish

Bengali workers Ayikarra fish market — What was surprising is how here too, most of the workers are not Keralites but Bengalis and others from the Eastern states

Fishing boats Ayikkara Kannur — The boats were done for the day I guess

Couple Ayikarra Kannur Kerala — I wanted to explore the area a bit more

Seaside road Ayikkara Kannur — Seemed like a good place to sit & relax

Eagle Ayikkara Kannur Kerala — Eagles were flying above… or they could have been Kites

Ayikkara beach Kerala — I guess that’s the actual beach for Ayikkara

Ayikkara jetty Kannur Kerala — I saw some people walking on the jetty

Fishing Ayikkara Kannur — Want your own catch but too afraid to go out to sea? Come here and fish

Flower field Ayikkara Kannur — This open field was full of these pink flowers

Pink flower bokeh Kannur — Don’t know the name of this flower

Flower field Kannur panorama — But it was a pretty sight

Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid Kannur — This is Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid, just opposite the harbour

After this we left Ayikkara. Mappila Bay could be turned into a tourist attraction if the authorities wanted to make it one. But first, the whole beach and the area needs a massive clean up. Then they need to establish a line of small eateries serving fresh seafood to visitors. It can be done but as is the case with our politicians… they couldn’t care.

Kannur’s Mappila Bay – Ayikkara beach, more a fish market than a ‘beach’

Mithun Divakaran