Thrissur

The word Trichur is the anglicized form of the Malayalam name of the town Thrissur which in turn a shortened form for Thiru-Siva-Peru-Uur, meaning 'Place named with Lord Siva'. The name is appropriate, for Thrissur derives its main glory from Vadakunnathan Temple, (Vadakum Nathan, Lord of the North) that dominates the topography of the town. Trichur is of hoary fame, and the origin of Vadakkunnathan Temple is ascribed to Parasurama, the legendary hero who is said to have reclaimed Kerala from the sea by throwing an axe across the sea from the north. In historical times it was a suburb of Musiris port of Chera Kings mentioned in Silapathikaram of Sangam Tamil Period.

From very early times Thrissur has been a centre of learning and, with the decline of Buddhism and Jainism and the establishment of the supremacy of Brahmanism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning. The great Adi Sankara had taught Advaita here. After his travels in different regions of India he is believed to have come back and settled in Thrissur and died here. Sankara Acharya's disciples Hastamalaka, Thotaka, Padmapada and Sudhachara established in the town four Madams, namely the Northern Madam, the Middle Madam, the In-Between Madam and the Southern Madam respectively, all of which are extant except the In-Between one.

Thrissur occupies a prominent place in the history and culture of Kerala and is said to be the cultural capital of the state. It is also one of the main trade centers in the state. The present Thrissur District was carved out of a bigger District of the same name on 1 Apr 1958. It derives its name from the location of its headquarters at Thrissur. The town is built around a hillock atop which is the Vadakkumnathan Kshethram or temple which has Shiva as the presiding deity.

Thrissur rose in importance due to Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran who ascended the throne of Kochi in 1790. Large areas of Thrissur were captured by the Zamorins of Kozhikode in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the latter half of the 18th century, Tipu Sultan held sway over Thrissur until the European domination began under the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the English.

Long ago, the vast open area around the temple was a magnificent teak forest called Thekkinkadu. Today, the forest has given way to one of the most important examples of Kerala's architecture which often does away with the imposing gopurams of South Indian Temples. This temple features low, tiled roofs, an abundance of woodwork, and the famous koothambalam or theater hall with sloping roofs of metal plates within which is performed the dramatic art form chakiar koothu. The Vadakkumnathan temple is also well known for its murals depicting scenes from the Mahabharatha as well as exquisite paintings and carvings.

The south east corner of the district is bounded by Tamil Nadu. The Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur and Ponnani (Bharatha Puzha) are the main river systems in the district.

A place of great antiquity, Thrissur was also known by such names as Vrishabhadripuram and Then Kailasm in ancient days. The famous Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthi, founded by the late poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, is in Thrissur District. The Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy are situated in Thrissur town.

• Tourism information

Cochin International Airport (COK ^IATA) of Kochi is 51 km south of Thrissur City with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka. Calicut International Airport of Kozhikode is 80 km north of Thrissur City. Alternatively reach Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.

Thrissur City is well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India. Thrissur Railway Station is an major railway head in South India and is the busiest railways station in Kerala in terms of train halts. Daily trains are available to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore and Hyderabad. Google is providing free wifi facility in association with Railway in Thrissur Station.

You can also get in to Thrissur City by bus from cities like Kozhikode, Kannur Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai and Coimbatore.

Thrissur is well connected by NH 544 and NH 17 to other cities like Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pollachi by road.

• 🌍 Appan Thampuran Smarakam, Outpost Rd, Kalyan Nagar, Ayyanthole. Established in 1976 at Ayyanthole where Sri. Ramavarma Appanthampuran who lived the Kumarapuram Palace. This is also a cultural museum. 
• 🌍 Archeological & Art Museum, Kollengode Palace, Chembukavu, Co Operative Rd, Chembukkav, toll-free: 1800 425 4747. Open 24 hours. It has the best collection of wood carvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewelers of the Cochin dynasty. (updated Feb 2024)
• 🌍 Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours (Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica), Erinjery Angady, Pallikkulam, ☏ +91 75106 69905, doloursbasilica@gmail.com. The Roman Catholic Minor Basilica built in 1875 is locally called Puthen Palli. The 140 ft (43 m) long steeple is visible from anywhere in the town. The chapel has 15 altars. It boasts neo-Gothic spires and the largest interior of any church in South India with a lot of mural paintings on the walls and ceilings. The church houses the tallest church tower in Asia at 79 metre (260 ft) height called the Bible tower.
• 🌍 Shakthan Thampuran Palace, Stadium Rd, Chembukkav, toll-free: 1800 425 4747. 10AM to 4PM. Named as Vadakkekara Palace, was reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style in 1795 by Sri. Ramavarma Thampuran of the erstwhile Princely State of Cochin, well as Sakthan Thampuran(Greatest ruler of the Cochin dynasty) is preserved by Archaeological Department. No entrance fee. 
• 🌍 Thrissur Zoo (Thrissur Zoo and Museum), Town Hall Rd, Udaya Nagar, Chembukkav, ☏ +91 487- 2333056, statemuseumandzoo@gmail.com. Tu Th-Su 9:30AM-5:15PM, W 1-4:30PM. It is a major attraction for children and students with a variety of animals. There is a special building which houses snakes. Two beautiful niches with majestic seating are arranged for senior citizens to take rest while their children enjoy the sprawling zoo campus. Person above 12 years ₹20, person below 12 years & above 5 years ₹5, family ticket (father, mother & 2 children below 12 years) ₹40, still camera ₹25, handheld video camera ₹100. (updated Feb 2024)
• 🌍 Vilangan Kunnu (Vilangan Hills), Vilagan Hill Road, toll-free: 1800 425 4747. 9AM-5PM. This hillock has been converted by the tourism department as an amusement park. While grown ups relish the scenic splendor from the hill top. Children can relax and play to their hearts. Lot of people use this place for their morning walk. Early in the morning walking to the top of hillock is a good exercise. View from top of the hill is really good especially at the time of sun rise and sun set. Now this place is under control of Thrissur District Tourism Promotion Council and they charge nominal fee for admission to amusement park and parking the vehicle. ₹10 per adult and ₹5 per child. 
• Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum (Ayurveda Museum Thrissur), Thaikkattussery Rd, opp. Vaidyaratnam Post Office, Thaikkattussery, ☏ +91 487 235 0230. Tu-Su 9AM–6PM. Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum is a museum showcasing the richness, the variety and the evolution of the Ayurveda traditional medicine of India. The museum was inaugurated by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, on 28 December 2013. ₹50 per person. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Nehru Park, Round North (5 km), toll-free: 1800 425 4747. 1–8PM. Nehru Park, Thrissur, is a children’s park named after the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and is owned by Thrissur Municipal Corporation. Park is located in the heart of the city with great scenery spread across 8.5 acres. The park was inaugurated by the first Vice President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in 1959. Free. (updated Jan 2016)
• 🌍 Valiyalukkal Temple, Kodungallur - Shornur Rd, Kanimangalam (5 km), ☏ +91 487 244 9919. Beautiful Bhagavathy Temple in a photogenic sprawling sylvan compound. (updated Feb 2024)
• 🌍 Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, East fort, Thrissur (5 km). Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Kerala, is located in the heart of Thrissur City in the state of Kerala, India. The main attraction is an underground shrine, considered a masterpiece of architectural design. Fr John Maliekkal is said to have planned and constructed this church. (updated Jan 2016)

• 🌍 Athirappilly Falls (63 km from Thrissur). 8AM-6PM. This 80 ft (24 m) high waterfall at the threshold of the Sholayar ranges on the Western Ghats is a popular picnic spot. Two amusement parks, DreamWorld and SilverStorm, are located nearby. The falls are referred to as the Niagara Falls of India - you can spot two large falls reminiscent of the bridal veil and Horseshoe Falls at Niagara, and a smaller falls nearby. The falls are most famous for being shooting locations for popular Indian movies such as Ravan, Punnagai Mannan and Guru. From the entrance, a 5-minute walk leads to the head of the falls. From there, a walking path criss-crosses downward to the foot of the falls. The water falls into a deep well, making the location unseemingly dangerous, so the water area is off-limits to tourists. ₹50. (updated Nov 2017)
• 🌍 Kallayikkunnu (Kallayi Hills) (30 km away, near to Kunnamkulam, exactly 2.5 km from Kunnamkulam on Kozhikode road). This hill station is also known as narimadakkunnu. This is a beautiful place. Many newly married couples prefer this place for still and moving photography, while many film makers also prefer this place for song scenes. Its a place of natural beauty. 
• Kerala Kalamandalam (30 km). It is in Cheruthuruthy and was founded by the Poet Sri. Vallathol Narayana Menon, to encourage the study of the ancient arts of Kerala such as Kathakali and Mohiniyattom. 

• 🌍 Peechi Dam (20 km from city). It is a good picnic spot. Buses from Thrissur and by taxi. Boating is permitted in the reservoir and occasionally you can see wild tuskers on the forested banks, part of which forms a reserved forest. 
• 🌍 Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, 23 km from city. It is unique in being the largest elephant park in the world with over 60 elephants. 
• 🌍 Vazhachal Waterfalls (a short drive from Athirapilly). Close to dense forests and a part of the Chalakudy river. 
• Chalakudy Muncipality Kalabhavan Mani Memorial Park is a beautiful park made by the Chalakudy Muncipality, commemorating the deceased actor, Kalabhavan Mani. It hosts playgrounds, and paths to walk on. Visit the park in early mornings and in late afternoons.

• 🌍 Snehatheeram, Thalikkulam, 25 km. A favorite beach picnic spot for local people with essential facilities, good restaurants and life guard on duty. This is similar in concept to Cherai beach; but a lot less crowded. This facility won a state tourism award in 2011. 
• 🌍 Chavakad Beach (Chavakkad Beach), 36 km. A seashore of rare scenic beauty. Acknowledged as one of the best beaches along the west coast. 

• Aanayoottu (Feeding of elephants): It's a festival held in the precincts of the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur C, The festival falls on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam (timed against the Malayalam calendar), which coincides with the month of July.
• Feast of Saint Raphael, Ollur: This is an annual festival held in Ollur, near Thrissur City, since 1839. It draws thousands of pilgrims.
• Puli Kali:Puli Kali literally means 'tiger play'. This event happens on the fourth day of Onam, where Puli Kali troupes from all over the Thrissur City assemble to display their skills.
• Thrissur Pooram: The Pooram of all Poorams, is the most spectacular festival of this cultural capital celebrated at Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April–May. Though non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, Kerala’s grandest temple pageantry, which includes colourful processions of caparisoned elephants and a midnight fireworks display, parasol exchanges, drum concerts can be witnessed from the crowded streets of Thrissur City. The two devaswams- Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu- explore and exploit every source at their command to make this annual festival a memorable one.It is celebrated with a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants, parasol exchanges, drum concerts, display of pyro-techniques and refreshing scenes of public participation. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town turns into a town of colour, music and mirth.

Tourists (with passport), can sometimes get special tickets to this event offered for free which allow them entry onto a 'Guests' viewing platform which has a great view of the whole event. To get these tickets you'll meed to take your passport to the tourist office, which is about a 10 minute north of the central temple where the festival takes place. If you do get these tickets, arrive early as the seating is unassigned and often over sold. The main festivities of elephants and the parasol showdown run from about 5PM to 7PM.

If you are only in town for a day, don't take your backpack with you, it's much too crowded. You can leave it at the train station coat check securely. To do so you will need locks on all parts of your bag (needed by the guard to accept your bag, and easily bought for about ₹30 from a small corner store seller just up at the top of the steep railway road), a train ticket (₹28 to erankulam worked fine), and ID for them to write down.

• Amala Medical College, Amala Nagar
• Aswini Hospital, Karunakaran Nambiar Road, Thrissur
• Balya Hospital for Children, S.T Nagar
• C.A.M Hospital, Olarikara
• Co-Operative Hospital, Shornur Road
• Daya Hospital, Thrissur
• District Hospital, Round East
• Elite Hospital, Koorkenchery
• E.S.I Hospital, Kanjani Road
• E.S.I Hospital, M.G.Kavu
• GEM Hospital, Convent Road
• Govt.Medical College Hospital, Mulankunnathukavu
• Jubilee Mission Medical College, Mission Quarters
• Lakshmi Nature Cure and Yoga Center, Viyoor
• MAcare Medical and Dental Clinic Valapad, Thripayar
• Metropolitan Hospital, Kokkalai Road
• Mother Hospital, Kanjani Road
• St.Joseph Mission Hospital (a.k.a Choondal Hospital), Choondal
• Sunethri Ayurvedic Hospital &Speciality centre, Chiyyaram
• Trichur Heart Hospital, S.T Nagar
• Vaidya Ratnam Ayurveda Hospital, Ollur
• West Fort Hospital, West Fort
• West Fort Hightech Hospital, Guruvayur Road