The best way to explain Thrissur is as a city with a lot of different religions and a lot of cultural things to do. It is in the middle of Kerala and used to be called Thirusivapperoor. The British gave it the name Trichur, which is how they spelled it in English.
The district of Thrissur is run out of the city of Thrissur. The city is known as the cultural capital of Kerala, and the Pooram Festival, in particular, is a beautiful event with a lot of tradition. Kerala Kalamandalam and Sahitya Academy are two of the most important cultural centers in the city. Even in ancient times, the city was very important because of its rich cultural history and archaeological sites. Thrissur is home to some of the most well-known temples, mosques, and churches.
The city of Thrissur has a little bit of everything.
Thrissur is one of the few towns where a tourist can find everything he or she might want in a vacation spot. Thrissur has a lot to offer in terms of history, places of worship, parks, and natural beauty. Thrissur is the culture capital of Kerala. It is also known as the Golden City in India. It is known for the many events that are held there, and Thrissur is said to be a short form of Thrishivaperur, which means “the City with Lord Shiva’s Name.” Thrissur’s beautiful scenery is sure to draw you in. The city is in South India, so it gets very hot in the summer. However, this is when the famous eight-day Puram fair takes place, which brings people from all over the world.
People of all ages and types can go on vacation to Thrissur because it has temples, museums, churches, beaches, picnic areas, hills, dams, zoos, and castles. It is also a place where people go on work trips because its industries are growing all the time.
The area around Thrissur
There are many rivers, lakes, and ponds in Thrissur, which makes it a beautiful city. It is built on a hill called Thekkinadu Maidan, which helps keep it cool because of its high location.
Ernakulum is 45 kilometres away, Kochi is 75 kilometres away, and Coimbatore is 133 kilometres away. There are several marsh areas in the city, which help keep the water clean and stop salt water from mixing in.
People in Thrissur grow rice and tapioca because the land is very rich. There are also a lot of coconut trees here, and businesses that make coconut oil do well in Thrissur.
Tourism in Thrissur
This wonderful city is home to many amazing buildings, like churches and temples, that are works of art in their own right. Thrissur is on the coast, so there are bodies of water everywhere. These water bodies help keep the city’s climate calm. Tourists from all over the world and the rest of India come to Thrissur by the hundreds.
From the start, you’ll feel a strong connection to nature in this part of Kerala. Not only the water bodies, but also the lush greenery that has been well kept here, will open your lungs and get you excited to see the rest of the city.
Major places of interest for tourists in Thrissur
Athirappilly Waterfalls
The largest waterfall in Kerala is the Athirapally Waterfalls. It flows down from a height of 80 feet in several streams that run side by side. During the rainy season, it looks like the Falls of Niagara. You can also see the Sholayar hills and the Western Ghats from there.
The area around the waterfalls is a place with a lot of different kinds of plants and animals. There are 85 different types of freshwater fish live in the river. The Indian grey hornbill, the Malabar pied and grey hornbill, the lion-tailed macaque, the Asiatic elephant, the tiger, the leopard, the bison, the sambar, and other animals live in the jungle.
Attractions for tourists at the Athirapally Waterfalls
Jungle Safari
From Chalakudy to Malakkapara, the Tourism Promotion Council of the district works with the governing body of Athirapally to set up jungle safaris every day. It is a 90 km trip through Kerala’s jungles that goes across the beautiful Sholayar range. It includes places like the Butterfly Garden, Vazhachal Falls, Kauthuka Park, Thumboormuzhy Dam, Athirapally Falls, and more.
Trekking
You can walk to the Athirapally Waterfalls. The path is well-kept, and you can enjoy beautiful views the whole way. There will be birds and monkeys to keep you company. And if you are lucky, you may see Samba deer. When you get to the bottom of the falls, you’ll be blown away by the view.
When to go to Athirapally Waterfalls at its best
The Athirapally Waterfalls never dry up, so you can go there any time of year. Even though the waterfall looks its best during the monsoons, heavy rains make things hard. So, September through January is the best time to go.
How to Get to the Athirapally Falls
The train station closest to Athirapally is in Chalakudy. The closest airport to Athirapally is Cochin Airport. Kochi and Thrissur are two important places where trains meet. From Chalakudy, one can take a public or private car to get to Athirapally.
Best time to visit Athirapally Waterfalls
Athirapally Waterfalls never dry out and can be visited anytime during the year. However, though the waterfall appears in its full glory during monsoons, heavy rains cause inconvenience. So, the best time to visit is from September to January
Sakthan Thampuran Palace
Shakthan Thampuran Palace situated in the town of Thrissur marks the royal residence of the king of Cochin and has been a famous tourist attraction because of its historical value. Popularly known as Vadakkekara Palace, it dated back to the time of the King of Cochin named Rama Varma Shakthan Thampuran and was constructed in 1795. The king was a very generous ruler, and the duration of his reign was known as the ‘Golden Age of Kochi’. The beautiful palace with an amalgamation of Kerala and Dutch style of architecture is worth laying eyes on and should not be missed out on if you’re on a trip to Thrissur.
Sri Vadakkumnathan Temple
The Vadakkunnathan Temple, which is an architectural wonder in wood and stone, is one of the oldest temples in the state and stands tall in the heart of Thrissur in the middle of a nine-acre walled patch of green. This temple being centuries old beautifully depicts the rich cultural heritage that Kerala has to offer for which it also received the ‘Award of Excellence’ at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. With a collection of beautiful Mural paintings, some of which are more than 400 years old, this gigantic 1000 year old temple and historical structure is famous for the Nataraja Mural near the main gate.
Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam, situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in Chelakkara of Thrissur District on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River is a Deemed University of Arts and Culture in Kerala. Established as a major centre for revival and uplifting of traditional performing art forms, especially those with their roots in South India. Visitors can not only look around the place and take in its ethereal natural and man-made beauty but also converse with the masters and students and take snapshots of all the lovely memories. It is not allowed to strike up a conversation with a practising or performing student as it is considered as an insult to the art form. However, the staff will guide you along every detail of the culture you want to know.
Punnathur Kotta
With its sprawling 11.5 acres of land which is surrounded by green foliage all around, the exquisite Punnathur Kotta is the best example to depict the reason why Kerala is known as the ‘Land of Elephants’. The jumbo elephants are the prime attractions of the place with around 60 of them kept here and taken care of. You are likely to come across an excellent and magical picture which is painted by the playing elephant along the scenic beauty around. The sight of the cute baby elephants running around and throwing water on each other is something worth being a part of.
Famous Churches in Thrissur
A few churches that are at a distance of 100 to 110 km within the Thrissur
Our Lady of Dolours Basilica Syro Malabar Church
If you are on visiting the largest church in India, then it is to this church in the district of Thrissur that you must march in. The shrine stands high at the height of 79 m and is regarded as the third-largest church in continent Asia. It is the shrine where Gothic architecture has played wonders.
St. Antony’s Forane Syro Malabar Church
The church stands in all its vigor at a peak point, which possesses the highest elevation in the area. Another specialty is that it is one of the extremely privileged churches that is a member of the four-member council of the diocesan apex. Under the jurisdiction of this church, there are about 18 churches.
Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral
Architecture has put a lot of effort into setting up the stunning interiors along with the underground church, which is evident in the marvelous construction. Every month, thousands visit this pilgrim center. Once you have entered the church, you will feel lightened up and floating like clouds up in the air. Irrespective of whether it is midnight or dawn of the day, you can walk in and converse with
your soul.
Festivals in Thrissur
As was already said, Thrissur is a centre of culture and home to many different faiths and customs. Because of this, many religious holidays are held with a lot of pomp and circumstance year after year.
The Pooram festival, which is still going on and takes place between April and May, is thought to be one of the biggest in Kerala. Every day, many people and elephants meet to take part in processions and pray to the goddesses Durga and Kali. Colour and sound are important parts of this holiday. People wear brightly colored clothes and carry brightly colored umbrellas. Elephants are also heavily decorated and parade through the streets of Thrissur. Traditional Panchavadyam players play loud music to entertain the crowds.
Onam, on the other hand, is the biggest holiday in the city. It takes place in August and is a four-day celebration of Lord Mahabali.
The city also celebrates Christmas, Eid, and Vishu, which is the Malayali new year, with the same enthusiasm. But because everyone in Thrissur always seems happy, it feels like every day is a holiday here.
Thrissur's weather
Thrissur has a warm climate because it is close to the coast. It rains about the same amount in May as it does in other months. After June, the rains get stronger and last until November.
Due to high levels of humidity, temperatures soar in the summer, when they can hit as high as 35 degrees.
In Kerala, the winter months are cooler, with temperatures as low as 20 degrees and an average of 22 degrees.
Thrissur's food
Food is an important part of what makes a place unique. Even in Thrissur, there are some foods that are only served in this city. String hoppers, which are a type of rice noodles, are very popular here. They are served with either a sweet or savoury coconut soup. Thrissur is also known for its seafood meals and its many dishes made with chicken. When you go to Thrissur and try its unique food, your taste buds will feel like they are on another planet.