|
|
|
ABOUT KERALA
The small state of Kerala, which represents
just 1% of the land mass,is considered to be one of India's
most beautiful state.
It is a very rural state with most of the
population living in villages but is culturally and scenically
diverse. Kerala has two national parks, ten wildlife sanctuaries
and two bird sanctuaries.
Kerala occupies a long (550km), narrow strip of land
in the far south of India. Its coastline is on the Arabian
Sea ( part of the Indian Ocean) and its eastern border
with the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu is the top of
the majestic Western Ghat mountains. The landscape varies
from long golden beaches to cool hill stations and dense
green jungle to bustling cities. Its unique feature is
the 1,900km of palm fringed backwaters.
|
|
|
|
The people of Kerala are
warm and friendly and interaction with them is often a highlight
of a holiday to Kerala. Keralites have a strong culture
and are fiercely proud of their state. Some of their art
forms (eg Kathakali and Theyyam) and martial arts (kalaripayattu)
are unique.
We prepare customized Kerala
Tourism Packages by combining the attractive places and
exotic Resorts in Kerala. Information about Kerala
Tourism, Kerala Tourist Places, Kerala vacation, Kerala
Visit and customized packages.
Kerala is a land of great natural beauty. From the majestic
heights of the Western Ghats the country undulates westward
presenting a vista of silent valleys clothed in the richest
green. Among the many rivers that glide across the plains
to merge their waters with the Arabian sea, the more important
are the Periyar, the Pamba and the Bharatha puzha. The elegant
waterfalls at Athirampally near Trichur is a popular tourist
spot. Along the coast, sand dunes shelter a linked chain
of lagoons and backwaters the still waters of which are
studded with sea-gulls and country canoes plying at a snails
pace. The silence of the clear skies is broken only by the
coos of koels, a type of cuckoo, and the frequent flutter
of cranes perched on the embankments. The highest peak of
peninsular India Annai Mudi is located in this state. The
scenic Thekkady Wild Life Sanctuary is a popular vacation
destination for nature lovers.
The climate is equable and
varies little from season to season. The temperature normally
ranges from 80 to 90 F in the plains but drops to about
70 F in the highlands. The state gets its due share of both
the southwest as well as the northeast monsoons, and the
rainfull is heavy, averaging around 118 inches annually.
|
| ABOUT
THRISSUR
General Information
Area 3032 sq.km.
No. of Corporations 1
No. of Municipalities 5
Population
Total population 2737331
Sex ratio 1000/1085
Density 903 per sq.km
Literacy rate 90.18
Male 93.77
Female 86.94
No. of large and medium Industrial units 25
No. of small-scale ind.units 10,566
|
From
ancient times, Thrissur district has played a significant
part in the political history of south India. The early
political history of the district is interlinked with that
of the Cheras of the Sangam age, who ruled over vast portions
of Kerala with their capital at Vanchi. The whole of the
present Thrissur district was included in the early Chera
empire.
Thrissur, the name derived from 'Thiru-Shiva-Perur’,
which literally translates to "The city of the SACRED
SIVA", is the cultural capital of Kerala. Thrissur
is built around a hillock, crowned by the famous Vadakkunathan
(Siva) Temple, believed to have been founded by legendary
Parasurama.
|
Thrissur Pooram - considered to be the mother of all poorams,
is a cultural highlight par excellence, celebrated in the
Malayalam month Medam (April/May).
The two century old festival of spectacular procession of
caparisoned elephants and enthralling percussion performances
in a never ending succession is an 36 hours marathon event
of incredible beauty, a feast for the eye and the ear, unfolding
between 6 am to 12 noon the other day.
Different from the usual temple festival, Thrissur Pooram
is participated and conducted by people across all barriers
of religion and caste.This is explained with the genesis
of the festival.
|
St. Thomas, one of the twelve chosen disciples of Christ
and the Apostle of India who sowed the seeds of Christianity
in India, set foot at Cranganore (Kodungallur) in 52 AD.
At that time Cranganore (Kodungallur) was a busy center
of commerce and an important port. He traveled about various
parts of Kerala by water and land, preaching the Gospel
and forming Christian communities which began to grow and
several of them sprang up in the vicinities of Thrissur
Town too. The heart of the town, known for its spiritual
and cultural heritage, was a dense forest in those days.
 |
Sakthan Thampuran, the great Maharaja of Cochin, paved the
way for Urban Development and Commercial Progress of Trichur.
As he understood keenly that the presence of Christians
was quite essential for the development of the town where
there were only a few Hindu families inhabiting, he took
measures, around the year of 1794, for bringing and rehabilitating
52 Syrian Christian families from the neighboring centers
of Aranattukara, Ollur and Kottekkad. He rendered all necessary
help to these Christians. The option of the number 52 was
as if to perpetuate the great Apostle's arrival in Kerala.
Since there was no Christian Church in the town, they had
to go their parent churches to fulfill their spiritual needs.
The Maharaja who perceived their difficulties, promptly
permitted them to build a church. |
| |
FESTIVALS Thrissur
Pooram
The most colorful temple festival of
Kerala, Thrissur Pooram attracts large masses of devotees
and spectators from all parts of the State and even outside.
Celebrated in Madom (April-May) it consists of processions
of richly caparisoned elephants from various neighbouring
temples to the Vadakumnathan temple, Thrissur. The most
impressive processions are those from the Krishna Temple
at Thiruvanbadi and the Devi Temple at Paramekkavu which
is quite a significant event for its devotees. |
|
This festival was introduced by Sakthan
Thampuran, the Maharaja
of the erst while Kochi State. Perhaps,
there is no other festival in Kerala that draws such an
unbelievable number of people to a single event. However
Vadakkunnathan is a mere spectator at this festival, lending
its premises and grounds for the great event. The pooram
festival is also well known for the magnificent display
of fire works. Fire works start in the early hours and the
dazzling display last three to four hours.
The Pooram Festival is celebrated
by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur
Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making
the display of fireworks grander and more colorful. Each
group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants
and all efforts are made by each party to secure the best
elephants in South India and the most artistic parasols,
several kinds of which are raised on the elephants during
the display. Commencing in the early hours of the morning,
the celebrations last till the break of dawn, the next day.
The procession of the Thiruvambadi
Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkumnatha Temple and back is
not only important, but also quite enlivening. The marvelous
as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination
of five precussion and wind instruments is to be felt and
enjoyed. |
| TOURIST CENTERS |
Anakkayam
|
Anakkayam is roughly 20 kms from Chalakudy
on the Sholayar Peringalkuthu route, famous for its lake
with cool and placid waters. The place got its name from
a herd of elephants which used to visit the place quite
often and the legend goes that the place got its name
because some elephants had been drowned in this lake.
The place is breathtakingly beautiful with its rushing
waters, chiseled rocks and silent streams.
Art Museum
Within the zoo compound is the small Art Museum
which has a good collection of wood carvings metal sculptures,
Kathakali figures, and ancient jewellery. There is also
a wonderful collection of traditional Kerala lamps.
Athirapally and Vazhachal Waterfalls
Swift and sometimes torrential, waterfalls
are dramatic, inspiring poets, painters and writers and
their breath taking beauty evokes many feelings. They
are motivating and addictive. If you are looking forward
to a respite from the maddening city life then let yourself
loose in the lap of the nature and feel and enjoy the
beauty of the cascading waterfalls.
 |
A tranquil and
much needed escape from the troubles and stress of life.
Let the soothing sounds take you to some of natures most
relaxing places East of Chalakudy, near the entrance to
the Sholayar forest ranges, are the beautiful waterfalls
of Athirampally and Vazhachal (Prounced as vaazhachaal).
The charm of the Athirampally and Vazhachal nature cannot
be described by words, Starting calmly from the high ranges,
and crashing through gorges overhung with trees, these
waterfall is one of the best places in India to re-capture
a real sense of the classical idea of the "Picturesque"...not
just calm and sweet, but something wild and natural.
Perched high above in the the Sholayar forest ranges on
the fringes of Kerala's famed rain forests, the waterfalls
provides a restful escape for those wanting to leave the
hurried pace of city life behind. wild and beautiful,
unspoilt by the passing of time.
A tranquil and much needed escape from the troubles and
stress of life. Let the soothing sounds take you to some
of natures most relaxing places Both this waterfalls are
a part of the Chalakudy river and 5 km apart on the road
to hill station (valparai) which has excellent tea estate
and is one of India's highest elephant density habitats
and is a crucial corridor between Perambikulam and Malayattur.
How to get there ?
Athirapally & Vazhachal is just 90 km from Cochin.
Bus services are available from Chalakudy on Cochin Trichur
highway or you can catch a cab (Taxi) from Chalakudy Railway
Station. This scintillating waterfall in thick green forest
is a part of the Chalakudy river stream.
|
| Guruvayur (Pilgrim Centre)
|
Thrissur
is a good base for a pilgrim trip to Guruvayur, 32km away.
It is among India's most important pilgrimage centres and
is also known as the Dwaraka of the South. The Sree Krishna
Swamy Temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims is said
to date prior to the 16th century. Tradition has it that
the temple was created by Guru - the preceptor of the Devas,
and Vayu - the lord of the Winds.
The temple is dedicated to Krishna known here as Guruvayurappan
or the Lord of Guruvayur, and the idol is said to have been
worshipped by Lord Brahma himself at Dwaraka. It is at this
temple that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed his
well-known Sanskrit devotional poem 'Narayaneeyam'.
The temple is renowned for its healing powers. Several offerings
are made to the deity here from the simple 'Archana' (offering
of flowers) to the expensive and elaborate 'Udayastamana'
pooja or Thulabharam' where a devotee is weighed against
offering of bananas, sugar, jaggery or coconuts. Not surprisingly
Guruvayur is the site for several weddings and 'Annaprasanam',
the first feeding ceremony of child. |
Cheruthuruthy
(Kerala Kalamandalam)
North of Thrissur, 29km away near the
Shoranur Railway Junction is Cheruthuruthy, home of the
renowned repository of the tradition of the Kathakali dance
form. It is in this academy that the best of Kerala's Kathakali
performers get their rigorous training. The institution
also offers training in music, drama, and other dance forms
including Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam and Ottam Thullal.
 |
From 1930 to 1971 Kalamandalam functioned
in the beautiful campus in the village Cheruthuruthy beside
the river Bhartappuzha. It was. indeed, an ideal location
which the visionary poet chose to preserve and promote
Kerala's rich heritage of arts. The growing number of
students and teachers coupled with new courses compelled
a shift from Cheruthuruthy to the thirty-two acre campus
at Vallathol Nagar. Most activities of Kalamandalam now
take place at Vallathol Nagar. The several many kalaris
(training rooms), the Koothambalam (Temple-theatre), High
School, College Library, Administrative Block, Art-gallery,
Archive, Recording Studio, Hostels, Staff Quarters and
the Employees' Co-operative Society are situated in the
Vallathol Nagar Campus. Vallathol Samaadhi and the Portrait
Gallery are at the Cheruthuruthy Campus known as the Old
Kalamandalam and the Vallathol Museum is at Cheruthuruthy
mid way between Old Kalamandalam and Vallathol Nagar.
Punnathur Kotta
Near Guruvayur, 2km away, is 'Punnathur
Kotta', the place where the temple elephants (numbering
over 40) are taken care of. Nowhere else can so many elephants
be seen at any one time.
Vadakkumnathan Temple
This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of
architecture. The temple contains the sacred shrines of
Paramashiva, Parvathy, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathy, Sri
Rama and Sri Krishna. The central shrines and Koothambalam
exhibit exquisite vignettes carved in wood. Legend goes
that this temple was founded by Parasurama. ' Thrissur
Pooram ' the grandest temple pageantry in Kerala, is celebrated
here in April -May every year.
Zoo
Located in the zoo compound, the art museum displays collections
of woodcarvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewellery.
Open 10.00 am - 05.00 pm on all days except Mondays.
 |
The State Museum and zoo are both enclosed
within the same cool green, flower filled area of 13.5
acres which hosts a verity of endangered species and a
famous snake park.The Art Museum housed in a separate
building is a treat for the connoisseur of art. It has
beautiful and rare exhibit including sculpture, religious
idols,kathakali figures, traditional jewellery of Kerala
and votive objects with a really delightful collection
of traditional lamps.
For the animal enthusiasts, Thrissur boasts a zoo, 2km
from the town centre. Within the 13.5 acres of the compound
live a variety of fauna like the lion tailed macaque,
sloth bear, species of birds and deer. The snake park
has a reptilian collection of King Cobras, Kraits, Vipers
and Rat Snakes. ( Open from 0900-1700 hrs on all days
except Mondays ) .
Thrissur Zoo is a major attraction
for children and students with a variety of animals.
Entrance fee : Adults - Rs. 5/-, Children - Rs. 3/-(upto
14 yrs.)
Still Camera : Rs. 5/-, Video Camera - Rs. 500/-.
Open on all work days except Mondays, from 10 a.m. to
6:30p.m.
|
|
|
Hotel
Casino
Access: From Cochin International Airport: 60 km; From Thrissur
Bus Station: 0.5 km; and, From Thrissur Railway Station:
0.5 km.
The location, comfort, luxury and value for money services
offered at Casino Hotel makes it one of the best hotels
in Thrissur. Each of the air-conditioned rooms and suites
are equipped with shower, bathtub, cable TV, and direct
dialing phone service. In addition, the hotel has safe deposit
boxes, a coffee shop, room service, a business center, a
bar and a restaurant.
Kadappuram Beach Resorts :Nattika beach is virgin: The
wide and long golden sand beach is only two hundred meters
from the cottages in the same compound. The beach is clean
and long. You can walk any long to left or right. The beach
is provided with beach umbrellas & snack bar. Deep sea
fishing, beach Volleyball or badminton are the added attractions
of beach life. Enjoy the beach service, taste the cuisine
when you taste the nature. The concept of this resort is
to enjoy the village life and beach life of Kerala.
Hotel
Luciya Palace Thrissur :Hotel Lucia Palace Thrissur
is an intimate hotel in Thrissur. Hotel Lucia Palace serves
an ideal place to tour various places in and around Thrissur.
The Lucia Palace hotel is located on the Marar Road and
is about 70 kilometers from Cochin International Airport.
Lucia Palace is about 2 km from Thrissur railway station
and 1 km from Thrissur bus stand. Some of the facilities at
the Hotel Lucia Palace, Thrissur include safe deposit, book
shop, moneychanger and travel desk. The hotel is also equipped
to host conferences and business meetings. The Lucia Palace
Hotel has a conference hall and senate hall for business
activities. The Hotel Lucia Palace offers Continental, Indian
and Chinese cuisine at its restaurant. |
| Tour operators in Thrissur |
These links may be helpful to you for packages
in & around Thrissur.
1. Kollannur Travels
Main Rd, Athani, Mulankunnathukavu,
Thrissur
2. Shama Transport and Indira Travels
Alukkas Complex R. S Rd, Thrissur
|
| Tourist Information Center |
|
Tourist Information
Centers(Govt)
Govt. Guest House,
Palace Road,
Trichur. Tel:20300. Tourist
Information Office,
Opp. Town Hall,
Trissur (D.T.P.C)
Attractions In & Around
Arattupuzha
This village is known for the annual
Pooram festival at the temple in April/May. The uniqueness
of this festival is the ceremonial processions carrying
the images of the deities of about 41 neighbouring temples
to this village. It attracts a large number of people from
different parts of the state.
Archaeological
MuseumAlso known as the Kollengodu
House, situated on the Town Hall road, this majestic hall
houses a picture gallery with mural paintings from all over
Kerala.
Timings: Open from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. on all days except
Mondays and national holidays
Athirampally
WaterfallsAbout 63 kms. from Thichur
at the entrance to the Sholayar ranges is a place of great
scenic beauty. This 80 foot high waterfall is a popular
picnic spot.
Cheruthuruthi
About 32 kms. north of Trichur is
home of the renowned repository of the tradition of the
Kathakali dance form. The famous poet, Vallathol Narayana
Menon, founded the music and dance academy. Training in
Kathakali, Mohiniyattom, Thullal and other art forms of
Kerala is imparted here.
Chimmoni
Wildlife Sanctuary Established in
1984, the Chimmoni Wildlife Sanctuary is endowed with scenic
beauty and a rich and varied wildlife. Elephant, sambar,
gaur, Malabar squirrel, sloth bear etc. can be seen here.
Guruvayoor
About 32 kms. away from the city is Guruvayoor, one of the
most sacred and important pilgrim centres of Kerala, attracting
thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country. It
is also known as the Dwaraka of the South. The temple is
dedicated to Lord Krishna known here as Guruvayurappan.
Irinjalakkuda
Koodal Manikam TempleAbout 21 kms.
from Trichur is a temple of Bharatha, dedicated to the brother
of Lord Rama. The waters of this temple tank are said to
have curative powers.
Peechi
Dam About 23 kms away from Trichur
is an irrigation project site offering boating facilities
at the reservoir. It is an enchanting picnic spot and several
buses connect Trichur to Peechy with good motorable roads.
Vadakkumnathan
Temple This temple is a classic
example of Kerala's style of architecture containing the
sacred shrines of Paramashiva, Paravathy, Sankaranarayana,
Ganapathy, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. Legend goes that Parasurama
founded this temple. This temple is especially known for
its spectacular celebration of the Pooram festival.
Zoo
& Art Museum For the animal enthusiasts, Trichur boasts
of a zoo, about 2 kms. from the town centre. Within the
zoo compound is a small Art Museum that has a good collection
of woodcarvings, metal sculptures, Kathakali figures and
ancient jewellery.
HOW TO REACH THRISSUR
Thrissur is the cultural capital
of Kerala. Glorious history and cultural richness has endowed
the region with a rare charm. In its elaborate traditional
music and dances, spectacular festivals, the land embodies
the very soul of Kerala.
How to Reach Thrissur by
Air: The nearest airport is Nedumbassery,
which is only 58kms away from the town. Another major airport
near Thrissur is Kochi.Several public and private airlines
connect the place from important cities in Kerala and India.
How to Reach Thrissur
by Road: An extensive road network links the city
to many significant places in southern India.
How to Reach Thrissur
by Rail: It is an important railhead in southern
India. Several important trains connect Thrissur with other
places in Kerala and neighboring south Indian cities.
Best Time To Visit:
September to March TEMPERATURE
Summer - Max: 35 Min: 22.5
Winter - Max: 32.3 Min: 20
Climate:
It experiences tropical humid climate. But is cool and pleasant
in the High Ranges and the Cardamom Hills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
