thrissur

Trichur (also known as Thrisshivaperur and formerly, Trichur) is a city in the south Indian state of Kerala . It is the fourth largest city in Kerala after Trivandrum, Kochi and Kozhikode , and the 21st largest in India.

A land of culture and festivals, Thrissur is known for its many festivals and the grandeur of them all, but that is not what makes it a must-visit place in Kerala. There are a number of other places which are equally magical, and worth experiencing and given below is the list of a few beautiful places amongst many.

• Athirapally Falls: A spectacular beauty to behold, the Athirapally Falls is at 60km from Thrissur and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. A popular picnic spot, the falls offer beautiful visuals that are worth capturing to reminisce.
• Vadakkunathan Temple: Nestled in the heart of the town, this gigantic 1000-year-old temple and a historical edifice house in its premises an assortment of beautiful Mural paintings, some of which are 400 years old and a stunning Nataraja Mural near the main gate which is one of the things the temple is famous for.
• Vazhachal Falls: A rocky waterfall with a breathtaking surrounding, Vazhachal Falls is a must-visit place in Thrissur that offers serenity, greenery, and the needed reprieve from the day-to-day monotony of life.
• The Thrissur Zoo: Opened in 1885, the Thrissur Zoo, also known as the State Museum and Zoo, is home for an array of animal, birds, and reptile species found all over the country. The compound also includes a Zoological Garden, Botanical Garden, a Natural History Museum, and an Art Museum, which showcases the socio-cultural heritage of the region.
• Heritage Garden: A heaven for plant lovers, the Heritage Garden has a galore of rare species of flora that soothe the eyes and the olfactory nerves at once. With a well-manicured garden and a good seating arrangement, the garden is a loved picnic spot among families.
• Chavakad Beach: A seashore adorned with rare scenic beauty, the Chavakad Beach is considered as one of the best beaches along the West Coast located 22km from city center because of its pristine blue water and clean coast.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Dolores: With splendid Murals on the walls and ceilings, the 1875-built Roman Catholic Minor Basilica has the largest church interior in South India with 140 feet long steeple that is visible from anywhere in town, is a great place to give your prayers while admiring the façade.
• Archaeological and Art Museum: Located at the heart of the town, the museum has a huge collection of valuable relics and mural paintings from Kerala, which beautifully displays the ancient and rich history of the stunning state of Kerala.
• Thiruvambadi Krishna Temple: A mystic temple with various folklores and myths, the ancient temple is an important pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Krishna and is a beautiful one as well.
• ShakthanThampuran Palace: Preserved by the Archaeological Department now, the Vadakkekara Palace was reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style in the year 1795 by Sri RamavarmaThampuran of the erstwhile Princely State of Cochin and showcases a number of relics and ancient antiques.

• Archaeological Museum Thrissur – A government owned and maintained museum, showcasing the history of Thrissur and Kerala.
• Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum – A unique museum, showcasing the history of Ayurveda – a medical practice using naturopathy and natural sources in India, and its origins and journey in the state of Kerala.
• Vintage Vauxhall Velox Car Club – An exhibit of numerous vintage cars.

The major festivals celebrated in Thrissur are –

• Onam – This is one of the most important festivals in Kerala state, and is also celebrated in Kochi majestically. Street parades happen with dancers dressed like animals, and people decorate homes and streets with flowers in the form of Rangolis (also called Pookalam).
• Aluva Shivarathri – A festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. People usually fast during daytimes and pray to Lord Shiva during this festival. In Kerala, it is celebrated during the months of February/March.
• Ramadan – A Muslim festival, this marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslim people as a month of intermittent fasting and prayer.
• Guruvayoor Ekadasi – A local temple festival of Kerala, celebrated in November.
• Peruvvanam Pooram – Another popular temple festival in Kerala.
• Aanayoottu – A festival involving number of elephants  position in temple complex amid a multitude of people who worshipped and feed them.

The most awaited and the most ardently celebrated festival of Thrissur, also known as the festival of festivals, the grand event of Thrissur Pooram celebrated by thousands of people at once, has a historic tradition of more than 200 years which was started by SakthanThampuran, the erstwhile ruler of Kochi. Celebrated on the Moolam asterism in the Malayalam month of Medom (April-May), the event of the festival takes place at the Vadakkumnathan temple located at the heart of the town in the adjoining Thekkinkadu ground. Considered as the mother of all Poorams, the festival is a grand assemblage of Gods and Goddess in and around the town and is unique in its pageantry, magnitude, and participation. The ten participants of Thrissur Pooram are Thiruvambady Bhagavathi and Paramekkavu Bhagavathi, Nethilekkavu Bhagavathi, Karamukku Bhagavathi, Ayyanthole Bhagavathi, Laloor Bhagavathi, Choorakkattukavu Bhagavathi, Chembukkkavu Bhagavathi, PanamukkumpallySastha, and KanimangalamSastha, who make their visit to the Vadakumnathan Temple premises on caparisoned elephants escorted by a grand collaborative of Chendamelam (instrument) and PanchaVadyam. The rituals for each of the deities follow a strict schedule accompanied by the tempo of the Pooram celebrations for 36 hours non-stop without any loss of energy.

The whole town is decorated with vibrant colors and is always in a jubilant mood for the opening of the Thrissur Pooram Exhibition which displays, educates, and advertises products of distinct varieties. The sample fireworks are also displayed in this day in the Vadakunnathan maidan which is a spectacular sight to behold and is a curtain raiser to the real display of pyrotechnics of the Pooram. The fireworks in Thrissur Pooram are on another level in terms of magnitude, effervescence, and performance. The fireworks displayed is different in performance and excellence as in some are more colorful while the others are louder. The night sky studded with stars is lit up by shades of red, green, blue, yellow, orange, and so on, is what makes the Thrissur Pooram festival a unique and a must-experience event.

The participants of Pooram are divided into two groups namely ‘’Paramekkavu side’’ and ‘’Thiruvambady side’’, each consisting of five bhagavathy to their side. The Pooram festival season begins from November and extends up to May and although there are several pooram festivals celebrated in the state of Kerala, the Thrissur Pooram is the most significant one celebrated on the Pooram day ofMedom month of Malayalam era (mid-April to mid-May). The vibrancy, ecstasy, enthusiasm, and the fervent joy with which this festival is being celebrated by the people of Kerala is what makes it an exceptional experience.

If you’d like to buy some souvenirs or do shopping in Thrissur, here are some of the best shopping spots to check out in the city –

• The HiLite Mall
• The Mall of Joy
• The Sobha City Mall
• Selex Mall
• City Centre
• Falcon City Mall
• Bombay Shopping Mall

Following is a list of some of best restaurants in Thrissur to try the local delicacies as well as other interesting foods and sumptuous meals –

• Noorjehan’s Hotpan Restaurant
• Sree Radhakrishna Prasada
• Hotel Bharat
• Kalyan Veg Platter
• Copper Spoon
• Madurai Vegetarian
• Ming Palace Chinese Restaurant
• Aryaas
• Akshaya Hotel

Some of the best hotels in Thrissur for a comfortable stay include the following –

• Hyatt Regency Thrissur
• Ayur Bethaniya
• Gurukripa Heritage
• Lemon Residency
• Wariyam Heritage
• Hotel Merlin International
• Niya Regency
• The Garuda Hotels & Resorts
• Lulu International Convention Center

Thrissur also has a few good bars and pubs having good food, drinks and ambience, for people to hang out or entertain themselves during late hours. These include –

• Aramana Bar
• Calcutta Bar & Restaurant
• Alukkas Bar
• Kavitha Bar
• Apsara Bar
• J.P Bar

Thrissur STD Code – 0487 (to be used before dialling numbers from a number that is not locally registered).

Common emergency numbers:

• Women Helpline – 1091
• Crime Stopper – 1090
• Child Helpline – 1098
• State Disaster Management – 1070

Malayalam is official language of Thrissur.

Malayalam:

• Welcome - Swagatam
• Hello - Namaskaram
• How are you? - Engnganuntu karyangngal?
• What's your name? - Ninte perentha?
• My name is - Ente per ... n
• Where are you from? - Angu evidennanu?