Thrissur, located in the central part of the state of Kerala, was formed on July 1, 1949. The district is known as the cultural capital of the God’s own Country. Thrissur is also called Trishivaperoor, the city with the name of Lord Shiva. The district of Thrissur holds a rich history of the Chera Empire, Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram and Perumpadappu Swaroopam.
With the ascension of Saktan Thampuran, the face of Thrissur was changed. He organized the great Thrissur Pooram as an enormous festival. The rich cultural heritage that Thrissur holds gives it the name, ‘the Cultural capital of Kerala’.
Various institutions like The Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy, Kerala Lalithakala Academy, and Kerala Sahithya Academy, which are of cultural importance, are situated here. These promote various forms of art. The Kerala Kalamandalam is also situated at Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur. Music, drama and art forms such as Mohiniattam, Kathakali, Bharathanatyam, Koodiyattam and Thullal are trained at the Kerala Kalamandalam. Massive fests like Pulikkali, Buon Natale are also celebrated in the city.
The district is bounded by other districts such as Palakkad, Malappuram, and Ernakulam. It also has connections with some parts of Tamil Nadu. The western part of Thrissur is surrounded by the Arabian Sea.
The absorbing attractions of Thrissur include numerous temples, churches and mosques. The central attractions among them are Sree Vadakunnathan Temple, Thiruvampady, Paramekkavu temple and Sree Guruvayoor temple. Thrissur Pooram takes place at Vadakunnathan Temple and the surrounding Thekkinkaadu maidan. The other significant religious places include Cheraman Mosque, Palayoor, Koodalmanikyam Temple and Puthanpalli, the tallest church building. One of the interesting facts is that the first church in India is St. Thomas Church at Palayoor in Thrissur and the first mosque in India is the Cheraman Mosque, built in the style of Hindu temples.
Apart from these shrines, there are several other tourists’ spots as well in the district.
The wildlife sanctuaries Peechi and Chimmony, the elephant sanctuary at Guruvayoor, Athirapally waterfalls are main attractions of tourists. Athirapilly waterfalls are one of the most visited places. It is known as the ‘Niagra Falls’ of India. There are Thumpurmozhi gardens, Vazhachal falls, and Malakapara gardens nearby the falls.
Other regional attractions include Vilangankunnu, Chettuva backwaters, Thrissur zoo, Art and Archeological Museums and Sakthan Thampuran palace. Events such as VIBGYOR film festival and Thrissur International Film Festival take places annually here in Thrissur and they are the second biggest film festivals in the state.
Major parts of Thrissur are highlands, plains and coastal areas. The climate is very moderate. The summer season begins in the month of March and extends till the month of May. The Northeast monsoons and the Southwest monsoons hit the district during the months of June and December.
Whether you want to enjoy the cultural heritage of the city or the buzzing life of the people in Thrissur, you can explore various attractions and even consider settling down in one of the many apartments in Thrissur, which offer a modern lifestyle close to these vibrant cultural landmarks. In all of its incredibly cultural glory, Thrissur is definitely a place to experience.
