THRISSUR SIGHT PLACES

THRISSUR:
Thrissur offers a wide choice of natural, cultural and religious places to explore. Among the natural locations stands the 80 ft high Athirapilly Waterfalls, 63 kms from Thrissur in the Sholayar ranges. Just 3 kms further, near the dense forests along the Chalakudy river is the Vazhachal Falls. You could also visit the largest elephant park in the world at Punnathurkotta Elephant Sanctuary with its elephant race and feast for elephants.

For history buffs there is the Kerala-Dutch style Sakthan Thampuran or the Vadakkekara Palace and the Kudakkallu, the over four thousand year-old umbrella rocks of Chiramanangad. It is said that when aristocrats died they were cremated and their ashes placed in earthen urns with umbrella rocks placed over them as landmarks. The Archeological Museum and the Art Museum are a repository of ancient wood carvings, metal sculptures and jewellery. Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, founded by the Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon to encourage the study of the ancient arts of Kathakali and Mohiniattom is worth a visit.

The Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple at Chavkkad, 29 kms West of Thrissur, the Mummiyur temple a kilometre away, dedicated to Lord Shiva and renowned for its wall paintings and exquisite sculpture, and the Vadakkumnathan temple, built in classical Kerala style of architecture are temples worth visiting.

Festivals:
The Thrissur Pooram in the Vadakkumnathan temple is an annual affair held in the months of April-May. Other festivals are Kodungallur Bharanti, Bharani utsavam, Kodungallur Thalapoli, Koodalmanickam utsavam Arattupuzha Pooram; Palayur palli perumnal or the feast of the Palayur church; and the Id ul-fitr (Ramzan) and Id ul-Aza (Bakrid) celebrations at the A.D. 629 erected Cheraman Juma Masjid.

Activities:
For those looking for some activities, it’s a great place for picnics and to feast your eyes on some colourful festivities. The amusement park at Vilangankunnu hillock or picnics at Peechi Dam (20 kms from Thrissur town), or at the Chavakkadu Beach is a great option. The Zoo at Thrissur is a good place for children.
Thrissur literally translates as Thiru-Shiva-Perur or the city dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the cultural and spiritual centre of Kerala, offering an array of festivals, historical and natural sights as well as religious experiences.

Located at sea level in the eastern part of Kerala, it is bound on the south by
Eranakulam and Idukki, Palakkad in the East, Mallapuram in the North and to its West, a short 54 kms away, lies the Arabian Sea. The district, fed by the Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur and the Ponnani rivers which all flow from the Western Ghats to meet the Arabian Sea, is interspersed by waterfalls, dense forests and isolated beaches.