Kannur is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala that line the western coast. The district gets its name from the city of Kannur, which also serves as its headquarters. The Malayalam name “Kannur” was originally known by its anglicized form, Cannanore. The districts of Wayanad District to the southeast, Mahé District to the southwest, Kozhikode District to the south, and Kasaragod District to the north define the boundaries of Kannur District. The district’s eastern boundary with the state of Karnataka (Kodagu district) is formed by the Western Ghats. The west is the Arabian Sea. The highest point in Kannur District is Paithalmala (1,372m).