Thrissur
Thrissur is a city situated in central part of Kerala in Southern India. It is the head quarters of the district with the same name. It is an important cultural centre, and is known as the "Cultural Capital" of Kerala. It is famous for the Thrissur Pooram festival, the most colourful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. The festival is held near the Vadakkumnathan temple, in April or May.
Towns
• Chalakudy
• Irinjalakuda
• Kunnamkulam
• Guruvayoor
• Chavakkad
• Kodungallur
• Vadakkancheri
Get in
By air
• Kochi International Airport, is 58 km awy from the city
• Kozhikode (Calicut) Airport is 80 km away from city.
Direct flights there from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka.
• Alternatively reach Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.
By train
Thrissur city is well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India like Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi. Most of the express trains stop at Thrissur railway station. This station is very near to KSRTC bus stand.
By bus
You can also reach here by bus from cities like Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananam, Chennai, Mumbai and Coimbatore.
By road
Thrissur is well connected to other cities Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pollachi by road.
Get around
• Bus - local bus service system is cheap.
• Autorickshaw - Auto rickshaws are the main form of local transport provided you don't have your own means of transportation. Autorickshaws running in the city limits are to use fare meters, while the ones from the adjacent areas need not use them. How ever it is a rule that such autorickshaws without metres should not pick up passengers within city limits. There is a pre-paid auto rickshaw counter at Thrissur Railway Station.
• Taxi - Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. Please note that there are no local Taxis (Yellow cabs or the one's having yellow roof and black body). The taxis known as 'Tourist taxis' are meant for long travel or one day trips.
• Car - There are many Car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive.
• Bike - Bikes are available for rental in Thrissur. This is available for a week or more than that.
• Walk - Many places of attractions are near by other so you could walk between them. Thrissur town is a not a very big place so that people can walk around.
See
• Shakthan Thampuran Palace - 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.
• Archeological & Art Museum - It has a good collection of wood carvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewelers.
• Thrissur Zoo It is a major attraction for children and students with a variety of animals.
• Kerala Sahitya Academy - established on August 15, 1956. It aims at the development of Malayalam Language and Literature and works in co-operation with the Kendra Sahitya Academy in New Delhi. There is a good library attached to the Academy consisting of 2 sections the General Section & the Research Section.
• Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy - This was established in 1962, the aim of the Academy is to promote the sculpture, painting and visual arts.
• Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy - It is also located in city and was established on April 12, 1938. It's aim is to foster and develop Kerala Dance, Drama and Music and to promote through the cultural unity of Kerala. It works in close collaboration with the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Academy in New Delhi for the enrichment of Indian culture. A regional theatre is constructed in Thrissur with all modern facilities.
• Appan Thampuran Smarakam - Established in 1976 at Ayyanthole where Sri. Ramavarma Appanthampuran who lived the Kumarapuram Palace. This is also a cultural Museum.
• Vilangan Kunnu - 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.
• Athirappilly Falls (63 km from Thrissur City) This 80 feet high waterfall at the threshold of the Sholayar ranges is a popular picnic spot. Two amusement parks - DreamWorld and SilverStorm - are located nearby.
• Vazhachal - Just a short drive from Athirapilly is close to dense forests and a part of the Chalakudy river.
• Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary- (23 km from city) It is very unique in being the largest elephant park in the world with over 60 elephants.
• Peechi Dam - (20 km from city) It is a good picnic spot
• Chavakad Beach - (25 km) A sea shore for rare scenic beauty. Acknowledged as one of the best beaches along the west coast.
• 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.
• Kallayikkunnu - (30 km) this hill station is also known as nirimadakkunnu. This is a beautiful place near to Kunnamkulam, exactly 2.5 km from Kunnamkulam on Kozhikode road. 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.
Towns
• Chalakudy
• Irinjalakuda
• Kunnamkulam
• Guruvayoor
• Chavakkad
• Kodungallur
• Vadakkancheri
Get in
By air
• Kochi International Airport, is 58 km awy from the city
• Kozhikode (Calicut) Airport is 80 km away from city.
Direct flights there from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka.
• Alternatively reach Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, or other Indian cities and then by train.
By train
Thrissur city is well connected and serviced by rail to all major cities in India like Kozhikode, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi. Most of the express trains stop at Thrissur railway station. This station is very near to KSRTC bus stand.
By bus
You can also reach here by bus from cities like Mangalore, Kochi, Bangalore, Thiruvananam, Chennai, Mumbai and Coimbatore.
By road
Thrissur is well connected to other cities Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Pollachi by road.
Get around
• Bus - local bus service system is cheap.
• Autorickshaw - Auto rickshaws are the main form of local transport provided you don't have your own means of transportation. Autorickshaws running in the city limits are to use fare meters, while the ones from the adjacent areas need not use them. How ever it is a rule that such autorickshaws without metres should not pick up passengers within city limits. There is a pre-paid auto rickshaw counter at Thrissur Railway Station.
• Taxi - Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. Please note that there are no local Taxis (Yellow cabs or the one's having yellow roof and black body). The taxis known as 'Tourist taxis' are meant for long travel or one day trips.
• Car - There are many Car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive.
• Bike - Bikes are available for rental in Thrissur. This is available for a week or more than that.
• Walk - Many places of attractions are near by other so you could walk between them. Thrissur town is a not a very big place so that people can walk around.
See
• Shakthan Thampuran Palace - 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.
• Archeological & Art Museum - It has a good collection of wood carvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewelers.
• Thrissur Zoo It is a major attraction for children and students with a variety of animals.
• Kerala Sahitya Academy - established on August 15, 1956. It aims at the development of Malayalam Language and Literature and works in co-operation with the Kendra Sahitya Academy in New Delhi. There is a good library attached to the Academy consisting of 2 sections the General Section & the Research Section.
• Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy - This was established in 1962, the aim of the Academy is to promote the sculpture, painting and visual arts.
• Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy - It is also located in city and was established on April 12, 1938. It's aim is to foster and develop Kerala Dance, Drama and Music and to promote through the cultural unity of Kerala. It works in close collaboration with the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Academy in New Delhi for the enrichment of Indian culture. A regional theatre is constructed in Thrissur with all modern facilities.
• Appan Thampuran Smarakam - Established in 1976 at Ayyanthole where Sri. Ramavarma Appanthampuran who lived the Kumarapuram Palace. This is also a cultural Museum.
• Vilangan Kunnu - 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.
• Athirappilly Falls (63 km from Thrissur City) This 80 feet high waterfall at the threshold of the Sholayar ranges is a popular picnic spot. Two amusement parks - DreamWorld and SilverStorm - are located nearby.
• Vazhachal - Just a short drive from Athirapilly is close to dense forests and a part of the Chalakudy river.
• Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary- (23 km from city) It is very unique in being the largest elephant park in the world with over 60 elephants.
• Peechi Dam - (20 km from city) It is a good picnic spot
• Chavakad Beach - (25 km) A sea shore for rare scenic beauty. Acknowledged as one of the best beaches along the west coast.
• 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.
• Kallayikkunnu - (30 km) this hill station is also known as nirimadakkunnu. This is a beautiful place near to Kunnamkulam, exactly 2.5 km from Kunnamkulam on Kozhikode road. 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.
