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Thrissur Attractions

Puram Festival Thrissur in Kerala

Town Hall

For a sight of mural paintings from all over Kerala, visit the Town Hall, an imposing building with an art gallery or `Chitralayam`.

Zoo

For the animal enthusiasts, Thrissur boasts a zoo, 2 km from the town centre. Within the 13.5 acres of the compound live a variety of fauna like the lion tailed macaque, sloth bear, species of birds and deer. The snake park has a reptilian collection of King Cobras, Kraits, Vipers and Rat Snakes.

Art Museum

Within the zoo compound is the small Art Museum which has a good collection of wood carvings metal sculptures, Kathakali figures, and ancient jewellery. There is also a wonderful collection of traditional Kerala lamps.

Vadakkunnathan Temple

This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architectrue. The temple contains the sacred shrines of Paramashiva, Parvathy, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathy, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. The central shrines and Koothambalam exhibit exquisite vignettes carved in wood. Legend goes that this temple was founded by Parasurama.

Anakkayam

Anakkayam is roughly 20 kms from Chalakudy on the Sholayar Peringalkuthu route, famous for its lake with cool and placid waters. The place got its name from a herd of elephants which used to visit the place quite often and the legend goes that the place got its name because some elephants had been drowned in this lake. The place is breathtakingly beautiful with its rushing waters, chiseled rocks and silent streams.

Athirapally and Vazhachal Waterfalls

East of Chalakudy, near the entrance to the Sholayar forest ranges, are the beautiful waterfalls of Athirapally and Vazhachal, 5 km apart.

Irinjalakuda

At Irinjalakuda, 21 km from Thrissur is a temple of Bharatha, probably the only temple in India dedicated to the brother of Lord Rama.

Peechi Dam

Peechi Dam, 23 km from Thrissur is an irrigation project site which offers boating facilities at the reservoir. If you are lucky, you might even spot a wild tusker or two on the forested banks, which form part of the 125 sq. km Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary.

Triprayar

The Rama Temple at Triprayar, 25 km away, features architecture similar to the Vadakkumnathan Temple

Cheruthuruthy (Kerala Kalaman-dalam)

North of Thrissur, 29 km away near the Shoranur Railway Junction is Cheruthuruthy, home of the renowned repository of the tradition of the Kathakali dance form. It is in this academy that the best of Kerala`s Kathakali performers get their rigorous training. The institution also offers training in music, drama, and other dance forms including Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam and Ottam Thullal.

Guruvayur

Thrissur is a good base for a pilgrim trip to Guruvayur, 32 km away. It is among India`s most important pilgrimage centres and is also known as the Dwaraka of me South. The Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims is said to date prior to the 16th century. Tradition has it that the temple was created by Guru-the preceptor of the Devas, and Vayu-the lord of the Winds.

The temple is dedicated to Krishna known here as Guruvayurappan or the Lord of Guruvayur, and the idol is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma himself at Dwaraka. It is at this temple that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed his well-known Sanskrit devotional poem `Narayaneeyam`.

The temple is renowned for its healing powers. Several offerings are made to the deity here from the simple `Archana` (offering of flowers) to the expensive and elaborate `Udayastamana` pooja or Thulabharam` where a devotee is weighed against offering of bananas, sugar, jaggery or coconuts. Not surprisingly Guruvayur is the site for several weddings and Annaprasanam`, the first feeding ceremony of child.

Punnathur Kotta

Near Guruvayur, 2 km away, is `Punnathur Kotta`, the place where the temple elephants (numbering over 40) are taken care of. Nowhere else can so many elephants be seen at any one time. Visitors are allowed.