Thrissur 

Thrissur is an important cultural centre in Kerala, and is known as the "cultural capital" of the state. It is famous for the Thrissur Pooram festival, the most beautiful and extravagant temple festival of Kerala. It has a large number of well-known temples which include the Thiruvambady temple, Vadakkumnatha temple and Paramekkavu temple, and two churches of note, the Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral and the Our Lady of Dolor�s "New Church" Basilica is the biggest in South Asia. The Kerala Police Academy which is the Second largest Academy in India is situated in this city. 

History of Thrissur

From very early times Thrissur has been a centre of learning and, with the decline of Buddism and Jainism and the establishment of the supremacy of Brahminism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning. The great Sankara Acharya had taught Advaita here. After his travels in different regions of India he is believed to have come back and settled in Thrissur and died here. Sankara Acharya's disciples Hastamalaka, Thotaka, Padmapada and Sudhachara established four Madoms in the city, namely the Northern Madom, the Middle Madom, the in-Between Madom and the Southern Madom respectively.

The Cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur, gained prominence under the reign of Raja Rama Varma in 1790. The entire credit for the rise of the modern city of Thrissur goes to Raja Rama Varma, who ascended the throne of the state of Kochi.

Thrissur was for a brief period, the capital of the Kochi kingdom. The Shaktan Thampuran palace, which was the abode of the Cochin king, Shaktan Thampuran or Raja Rama Varma, was recently renovated by the ASI(Archeological Survey of India)

Long ago, the vast open area around the Vadakkumnatha temple was a magnificent teak forest called Thekkinkadu. Today, the forest has given way to one of the most important cultural and commercial hub of Kerala.

Geography of Thrissur

Thrissur is situated in south western India 10.52� N 76.21� E and is in the central part of Kerala state, India. Thrissur is at sea level and spans an area of about 66.15 km�. The center of the city is the Vadakkumnathan temple located on a small hillock. Thrissur Round (Swaraj Round) is one of the largest roundabouts in the world.

The city enjoys a tropical climate, the monsoons start in June. The months of April-May can get pretty humid which is also one of the best times to visit the city for the famed Thrissur Pooram. The best weather is from October to February.

Tourist attractions of Thrissur

The city of Thrissur is associated with rich history, cultural heritage and archaeological wealth. The Thrissur district is centrally located in the state of Kerala where the main attraction is the Pooram Festival. The culture capital offers many places of tourist interest.

The Vadakkunnathan Temple is not just a place of worship: it has been a storehouse of culture and heritage unique in Kerala history. Vadakku does not represent north and it is the corruption of the word �Edvam� or �Sacred Bull�. Kunnu is the Malayalam word for a hillock. The exquisite murals on the shrine narrate the story of the epic Mahabharatha. The decorative wall paintings and carvings alone are worth a visit.

The archaeological museum is situated beside the Town Hall Road. Several relics and heirlooms of archaeological importance are kept here. The art museum in a separate building in the Zoo compound is a treat for the connoisseur of art. Good collections of woodcarvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewelry are preserved here.

The Puthan Palli is one of the tallest churches in Asia and is known for it Gothic model of architecture.