Districts
Thrissur
Today
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33.520C | 27.910C
Light rain starting in the afternoon
Places of interest
There are various places of interests in the district of Thrissur, which covers religious, educational and recreational aspects. The hotspots of Thrissur tourism are the Archaeological and Arts Museum, which exhibits rare artefacts, ancient jewellery, rare paintings, and various excavated objects from various parts of Kerela. The district also has Mural Art Museum, which is one of a kind in Kerala. It has various excavated materials from Indus Valley, Harappa, and Kodungallur, and also ancient manuscripts written in dry palm leaves.
For relaxation, one can visit the following beaches: Chavakkad Beach, Snehatheeram Beach and Chettuva Backwaters. Thrissur also offers various waterfalls like Charpa Falls, Vazhachal Falls and Athirappilly Falls, which is known as the Niagara of India.
The places of religious interests are Vadakkunathan Temple, where the Pooram festival takes place annually, Guruvayur Temple, which is an important place of worship for Hindus in Kerela, St. Thomas Church, which is the first church in the Indian subcontinent, Mala Synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue in India, and St. Anthony’s Church, which is one of the largest churches in Kerela.
Nearest Places
What to shop
Every region has its own speciality that must be bought as a souvenir.
1. Gold – Major gold retailing companies are based in Thrissur, and hence you can find a wide variety of designs here.
2. Banana chips – It is typical of the region and has a unique taste to it, which can never be acquired outside the region.
3. Ayurvedic products – kerala is the growing hub for various Ayurvedic products. In addition to this, you can get yourself a soothing massage by employing natural herbs.
Highlights
- The Divine Retreat Centre is located in Thrissur, and is the world’s largest Catholic retreat centre in the world.
- Thekkinkadu Maidan is a place where various tourists can avail an elephant ride.
- Bible Tower is located in this district, which is Asia’s largest tower.
- One must definitely try Ayurvedic massage, which is excellent in the region.
How to reach
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BY TRAIN
Thrissur Railway Station is a major railway head in South India, and is well connected to almost all parts of the country. -
BY ROAD
One can reach Thrissur by catching bus from various major cities in South India and Central India. The district is well connected by NH 544, NH 47, NH 17 and NH 66.
Entertainment
Thrissur is mainly known for the Pooram festival which happens every year in the months of April and May. This festival happens at the Vadakkunathan Temple where there is a parade of elephants, percussion instruments and colourful umbrellas. It is basically a contest between two strong groups of people, and this has been happening since time immemorial. The Pooram festival attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.
One can also witness Puli Kali during Onam, when people from all over the region dress like big cats and display their talents to the spectators. Anyone can dress up like tigers or leopards and join the procession.
Food & Cuisines
Thrissurians predominantly consume rice, meat, fish and poultry. They have various dishes that are famous in the region. Puttu is the most famous snack of Kerala, made of rice and usually had for breakfast with various side dishes. Similarly, banana chips, which is famous throughout kerala is also famous in this region.
Achappam and Vellayappam is typical of Thrissur, and is very famous in Christian households. Vellayapam looks like pancakes and tastes like one, too, while Achappam is a sweet delicacy which is made of rice flour, and fried.
In addition to these, Thrissur is also famous for Avial, which is mixed vegetable stew and Meen Porichatu, which is a spicy, fried fish recipe distinctive in the region. All of the dishes principally uses rice flour and coconut powder in their recipes.
Arts & Culture
Famously known as the Cultural Capital of the State, the district has a lot to offer in this aspect. Thrissur Pooram, which is held annually at the Vadakkumnatha Temple is a parade of elephants, percussion instruments and umbrellas. There is a rhythmic and energetic background accompanying the occasion known as ‘Pandimelam’.
There is an arts school called the kerala Kalamandalam, which was founded to preserve the classical arts, like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Thullal and Kalaripayattu, that were about to go extinct. Today, it is the cultural symbol of South India and attracts many tourists to the tranquil village to see the teaching of various classical arts in progress.
Geography
Borders
Thrissur is situated in the western coast of India. It is flanked in the east by Palakkad district and Coimbatore district, and in the west by the Arabian Sea. To the north lies the Malappuram district, and it is bordered by Ernakulam district.
Area & Altitude
The area of the district is 3,032 km^2.
Rivers
The major rivers of the region are Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur, and Ponnani.
Climate
Highly influenced by the south-west monsoon winds, the district has a guaranteed rainfall every year. Because it located in the coastal region, it has a permanent humid climate, with the humidity level averaging above 50%.
The district is situated on a hillock and surrounded by Thrissur Kole Wetlands. The district lies on the Indian Tectonic Plate and hence is subjected to light seismic activity. Thrissur also lies very close to the Western Ghats.
History
It is believed that Thrissur got its name from the term ‘Thrissivaperur’ which means ‘Town of Lord Siva’. It rose to fame when Raja Rama Varma ascended the throne in 1790. Even before that, Thrissur was famous for fostering trade relations between India and other countries. It was a prime exporter of spices, which increased the income of the region. Thrissur is also known for the fact that it gave shelter to three different communities – Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Survey Results
Population
It has a population of 2,974,232 (according to 2011 census).
Religion
Majority of the population comprises of Hindus, followed by Christians and, and then Muslims.
Language
The primary language spoken by the people is Malayalam.
Economy
Economy of the district comes from various major banks (eg. Catholic Syrian Bank, South Indian Bank), Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers and, jewellery and textile retailing companies.