Down the Malabar coast
NH 66 runs south from Kannur through Thalassery, Mahe and Vadakara to Kozhikode, with the sea, rivers and coconut groves never far away. The road passes through town after town, so the drive is slower than its 94 km suggests, but a full household can usually be packed, driven and unloaded in a single day. Start early and agree the arrival time with the mover in writing.
Road works and slow stretches
Parts of NH 66 along the Kerala coast have been under widening work, with diversions, narrow sections and slow traffic in places. Ask the mover about the current state of the road when you book, and allow extra time. Town centres such as Thalassery and Vadakara are busy during the day.
Leaving Kannur
Homes in the town centre near Thavakkara may need careful parking; houses in the inland suburbs are often on narrow, sloping lanes that a big truck can't climb, so a smaller vehicle may shuttle goods to the main road. If you're leaving the cantonment, arrange the vehicle pass and handover first.
Arriving in Kozhikode
From the north, the truck reaches West Hill, Eranhipalam and the colonies on Kozhikode's northern side first. The town centre around Mittai Theruvu (SM Street), the beach and the old markets is crowded, and parking a truck there is hard. Mavoor Road, Nadakkavu and the areas towards the Medical College are a longer drive through traffic. Tell the mover the exact address and how close a truck can get.
Monsoon on the coast
The south-west monsoon brings very heavy rain to both towns from about June to September, often for days on end, and low-lying roads can flood. Wood swells and cartons soften in the damp. If you must move then, ask for waterproof wrapping, a covered vehicle and loading in a dry spell, and keep a back-up date.
December to February is usually the most comfortable window.
Festivals and Gulf families
Onam, Vishu, Eid and Christmas keep crews busy, and the Theyyam season in Kannur, roughly November to April, can fill local roads at night. Many families on this route have members working in the Gulf; if a relative is managing the move, agree in writing who will be present and who signs the packing list.
Packing for a damp climate
Ask for wooden furniture to be dried and wrapped in blankets before plastic goes on, mattresses covered, electronics packed in padded cartons with silica gel if available, and heavy cartons loaded low. Label each carton with the room it's going to, and keep documents and valuables with you. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Settling in
Find out how water and power backup work in your new home, keep good ventilation for the monsoon, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Malayalam is spoken at both ends, and English is widely understood.