THRISSUR

Thrissur which is Kerala’s cultural capital is very famous for the temples and the main attractions include the fairs and festivals of the temples. The cultural centre of Thrissur which is Kerala Kalamandalam is a place you can visit. There are many archaeological buildings and monuments here which are must visit. The monuments including forts, palaces, museums etc are Cranganore fort, Shakthan Thampuran palace, Archaeological museum etc. The natural attractions in Thrissur are waterfalls and wildlife reserve areas. It includes Athirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls, Chimmini wildlife, Peechi Vazhani etc. There are 2 water theme parks in Thrissur namely Dream World and Silver Storm water theme parks. Tourists come here in large numbers to the theme parks. One out of the 2 Zoos of Kerala are in Thrissur. Another attraction here is the largest elephant park called the Punnathur kotta Elephant Sanctuary. The main places of interest in Thrissur district are given below CranganoreFort Cranganore Fort which is also known by the name Kodungallur Fort is in Thrissur district. Another name for this fort is Kottappuram fort. The word meaning of ‘Kottappuram’ is ‘the place around a fort’.  It was constructed in the year 1523 by the Portuguese.   ShaktanThampuranPalace Shakthan Thampuran Palace is located in Thrissur district. This palace is now preserved by the Archaeological department. At present it is a museum. The building is two a museum. The building is two storied and is in the Na is two storied and is in the Nalukettu form. The roof is very high and has thick walls. The flooring is done using Italian marbles. The interiors of the palace are constructed in such a way that it provides comfort irrespective of the weather condition.   ArchaeologicalMuseum The Archaeological Museum which is situated in Thrissur is famous for its huge and rare collection of artifacts. The Archaeological museum was established by the Government of Cochin in the year 1938 as Sree Mulam Chithrasala which is a picture gallery. The exhibits at that time were the crafts work of copies of murals in Mattancherry palace and some other temples.   ChimminiWildlife Chimmini wildlife sanctuary is located near the Nelliampathy in Thrissur district. It was established in the year 1984 and part of this lies near to the Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary and the next part lies near the Parambikulam sanctuary. Chimmini is at a height of about 40 m to 1,116 m above sea level. The highest point here is the Punda Peak.   Peechi-Vazhani Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary is located in Thrissur district. It lies in the basin of Peechi – Vazhani dam. The total area of this sanctuary is 125 sq kms and is a portion of the Nelliyampathy forest. It is the second oldest sanctuary in Kerala and was established in the year 1958. The highest peak of this area is Ponmudi peak.   DreamWorldPark Dream World Park is a water theme park in Thrissur district. It is located at a distance of 24 kms from the famous Athirapalli waterfalls. On the entrance of the park huge dragons are built that attracts every one. Thousands of tourists visit this park and a unique feature of this park is that the rides are designed in a manner that tourists of all age can enter those without any difficulty.   Roma0ASilverStorm Silver Storm water theme park is located in Vettilapara in Thrissur district. The rides here are a combination of natural wonder and manmade marvels. This park was established with the financial aid of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC). This park was launched in 5 phases, first being in 2000 and the final phase in 2005.   ThrissurZoo Thrissur zoo was established in the year 1885 in Chembukavu in Thrissur district. It covers a total area of 13 acres of land. There are a wide variety of animals, reptiles, birds etc. Within the zoo premises lies the Zoological garden, botanical garden, art museum and a natural history museum.   KeralaKalamandalam Kerala Kalamandalam is located in Cheruthuruthy which is home to the Kathakali dance form. This institution was established in the year 1930 by the famous Malayalam poet Vallathol Narayana Menon. Students get trained in Kathakali from this Kalamandalam and many best Kathakali performers have studied here. Besides Kathakali, music, drama and various other dance forms are trained from here. PunnathurKottaElephantSanctuary Punnathur Kotta is the largest elephant park in the world and there are around 60 elephants here. All the elephants found here are donated to Lord Guruvayoorappan by his devotees. Some of the main attractions here are the elephant race and the feast for the elephants. The elephants of all age group are found here and they live here in a natural habitat. The elephants are also trained to participate in the Guruvayoor temple festivals. People can go near the elephants and take a look at them.

Places of Interest Adur The place is famous for Annamanada Temple. Annamanada was the venue of two historic interviews between the rulers of Travancore and Cochin in the later part of the eighteenth century. The famous Nedumkotta of 'Travancore Lines' built by Dharma Raja of Travancore to meet the menace of the Mysore invasion passes through Adur.      Arattupuzha It is famous for the Arattupuzha Pooram Festival held in March - April every year. During this festival, idols of deities from 46 neighboring villages are brought to the temple at night in procession on caparisoned elephants. This colorful festival attracts a large number of people from different parts of the state. Arthat One of the oldest Jacobite Syrian Churches in the District is situated at Arthat. The Church property was the the subject of a prolonged dispute between the Jacobites and the Reformed Syrians.The main cottage industries are mat-making, rattan work and pottery. Chalakkudy It is a place of historical importance as it was here that Tipu Sultan established the base of when his army was besieging the "Travancore Lines". It is the centre of communications with the eastern uplands. The town enjoys reputation of being  one of the healthiest spots in the District. It is a place worthy of visit and sight seeing. A few miles away from Chalakkudy Irrigation Project and 26 miles east of the town is the Peringalkuthu Hydro-electric project.    Chelakkara It was the seat of the powerful Pisharoti Chief Tottassery Talachennaver who was deprived of his estates in 1767 for submission to the Zamorin. Exactly five year earlier Chelakkara was the theatre of a pitched and decisive battle between Tranvancore and Cochin forces on one side and the Zamorin's forces on the other, in which the soldier of the Zamorin were thoroughly routed. Cheruthuruthy The Bharathapuzha is here spanned by a fine bridge. On the opposite side is the Shornur Railway Station. Cheruthuruthy is famous as the seat of the Kerala Kalamandalam founded by the Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, to encourage the study of the ancient arts of Kerala such as Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Now the Kerala Kalamandalam is functioning at Vallathol Nagar, with its new building complex and Natyagrapha. The old Kerala Kalamandalam is still at Cheruthuruthy on the shore of Nila River. The Samadhi (Tomb) of the Poet Vallathole the founder of this famous institution is in the premises of old Kala Mandalam. Chawannur It is said to have been a great centre of education. It has a Subja Mutt where young Namboodiris were given free education in Sanskrit. They were provided with free boarding and lodging. The Cochin Devaswom Board runs the Subja Mutt aswo today, though the number of pupils receiving instruction is small. Chavakkad The mausoleum of Haidross Kuttee, Haidor Alis Lietutenant is situated at the Manathala desam near Chavakkad. Disgusted with his masters oppression Haidros Kuttee is said to have revolted and died in the battle. Because of its association with Haidross Kuttee Chavakkad is also sometimes called Kuttingal. At Palayar, half a mile from Chavakkal Road is a Roman Syrian Christian Church which according to tradition is one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas on the West Cost. Kodungallur It is a place of great historical interest. Kodungallur was a great emporium of trade even before the dawn of Christian era.Situated at the confluence of the Periyar river system with the Arabian Sea it possessed in the past unique facilities for trade and commerce within and without.The Jews,the phoenicians, the Greeks the Romans and the Arabs came here with their merchandise.From here ivory,sandalwood, peacock's feathers and cinnamon     were exported to foreign countries. The Roman colonists are said to have founded here a temple in honor of Augustus. Early Tamil Poets called it Muchiri. The Jews, Christians and Muhammedans all claim it as the place of their first settlement in India. The port and its suburbs figure Thiruvanchikulam in Kodungallur was the Capital of the Chera Kings of the Sangam. Guruvayoor Nearly two and a half kilometres to the east of Chavakkad, is Guruvayur know as the seat of one of the holy temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. According to tradition the temple is the creation of Guru, the preceptor of the Deva and Vayu the Lord of winds. The Vigraha Pratishta or the installation and Vayu and hence the name Guruvayurappan. A series of legends have been woven round the origin of the temple. The temple was famous even in 16th Century. The great Ekadasi festival held annually for five days in the month of Vrischikam (November- December) is very largely attended. The ever increasing influx of pilgrims to this temple indicate its great popularity.     Mandalam and Visakam are the two important festival seasons of Guruvayur.   Irinjalakuda The most important institution in the town is the large and well endowed temple of Koodalmanikam. The deity enshrined therein is prince Bharatha, brother of Sree Rama. Koodalmanikkam the idol for comprison had been absorbed by it. It is a temple with large landed property.   Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is Municipal town. It is the Chief centre of Jacobite Syrian Christians. There     are several old Church in the town and the neighbourhood. The remains of an old fort are found here. Mala In the early times Mala was the colony of Jews. Ambalakad convent, one of the largest monastries in the district is situated near Mala close to the monastry are seen the remains of the one famous seminary of Chemballor (St.Paul's William) founded by Jesuit priests in the 16th century. One of the first printing presses in the country was established in this seminary and the first Malayalam book was printed here by about 1957. The 'Pambummekkattumana', a serpent grove under the control Pambummekkattu Namboodiri, is situated a mile away from Mala. Mullurkara It was the seat of the Manakot Nair, the chief of Ayirunad who was dispossessed of his estates by about 1740 for accepting the Zamorins Suzerainty. The estate then came into the possession of Paliyath Achan. Traces of a port built by Achan in 1740 to protect the region from the Zamorian's forces can be seen here.      Nelluvai The ruins of an extensively fort built in a line of hills are found in this village. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna which attracts worshippers from various parts of the district.    Ollur The place is noted for title industry and packing case business. A large volume of trade in timber including plywood is also carried on. Synthetic stones are imported from Switzerland and they are polished here and exported to foreign countries.    Peechi The Peechi dam site about 14 miles east of Trichur has developed into one of the main tourist centres of the District . It is a beauty spot offering ample scope for excursions and picnics . It was constructed with the object of harnessing the waters of the Manali river.     Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary Established in 1984, the Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary lies   contiguous to the Peechi-Vazhani sanctuary, it is endowed with scenic beauty and a rich and varied wildlife. Elephant, sambar, gaur, Malabar squirrel, sloth bear etc. can be seen here. Athirampilly Waterfalls It is near to the entrance of the Sholayar range is a place of great scenic beauty. Here, the water plunges from a height of nearly 80 feet before joining the Chalakudi river. Vazhachal is just a drive from Athirampally, this picturesque spot is adjacent to Jense green forest, and is a part of Chalakudi River.... Sholayar Dam The Dam is constructed in Chalakudy river and it is 65 km. East of Chalakudy town. The beauty of Athirappilly Water fall and Sholayar Dam can be enjoyed on the way to Sholayar     Vazhani Dam This is an Eastern Dam with a length of 792.48 metres constructed in the Wadakkanchery river . The Dam is 10 k.m. away from Wadakkanchery .     Christian Divine Retreat Centre Divine Retreat Centre is situated by the side of the National Highway 47, about 3 kms from Chalakudy town. The town has a bus stand and a railway station.      Shakthan Thampuran Palace Also known as Palace Thoppu, the campus covers an area of 6 acres. Here you can see three shavakudeerams (tombs) including that of the renowned Shakthan Thampuran.