If Kerala is God’s own country, Thrissur will be its divine abode.

Thrissur houses many historically and culturally important institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Sahithya Academy, Kerala Lalithakala Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy… rightfully earning the title as the ‘cultural capital of Kerala’. The city is built around a 65-acre hillock (called the Thekkinkadu Maidan) which seats the famous Vadakkumnathan temple.

Thrissur is a land of temples and churches. Even an atheist would check out the fairly sliced landmarks and architecture of those buildings. Besides Vadakkumnathan temple, the main…

If Kerala is God’s own country, Thrissur will be its divine abode.

Thrissur houses many historically and culturally important institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Sahithya Academy, Kerala Lalithakala Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy… rightfully earning the title as the ‘cultural capital of Kerala’. The city is built around a 65-acre hillock (called the Thekkinkadu Maidan) which seats the famous Vadakkumnathan temple.

Thrissur is a land of temples and churches. Even an atheist would check out the fairly sliced landmarks and architecture of those buildings. Besides Vadakkumnathan temple, the main other Thrissur temples are Thiruvambady temple and Paramekkavu temple which are collectively serving as a marvelous example for Kerala’s cultural as well as architectural richness. Kodungallur temple is famous for its powerful goddess, Kodungallur bhagavathy and for its very celebrated festival, Kodungallur bharani. Thrissur is also known for its three famous churches - Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, Chaldean Syrian church and the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolors (Puthan Pally or New Church).

This ‘culturally buzzing’ city is also the venue of the internationally famous festival Thrissur Pooram. People just forget themselves and merge into the excitement of the seamless crowd at Thrissur Pooram, the most colorful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala. The festival is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidan in April / May. Another attraction of this city is the "Puli Kali" ("Puli" means 'tiger' and "Kali" means 'play') during Onam celebrations, when participants with tiger-striped body paint entertain the onlookers with their energetic dances. Thrissur is also acclaimed as the land of elephant lovers.

For all those history loving travelers, Sakthan Thampuran Palace and the Archeological & Art Museum will narrate its interesting history of Thrissur in a silent, subtle way. Again, for those who belong to that rarest of rare tourist group which wants to tread the banal path of tourism rather than exploring the cultural or historical ethnicity of a place, there are many tourist attractions like Thrissur Zoo and Vilangankunnu hillock. The other most visited Thrissur places are Avittathur and Peechi dam. Thrissur is surely a couple of steps ahead of other places in the state with all these unique qualities and therefore a 'must visit' tag is the least to attach with Thrissur.