An escape to the Gold Capital of India

Thrissur is the cultural capital of India. The city is very famous for its 8-day splendid temple festival. Thrissur is well-known for its cultural heritage. Being a Gold Capital of India, Thrissur alone is involved in a business of around Rs 700 crores every year. Here is a brief description of Thrissur:

The 8-day Pooram festival and the Gold made Thrissur very famous. Thrissur is located 300 km away from Thiruvananthapuram and it has become a major tourist destination of South India. Over these years, Thrissur has grown as an important cultural and educational hub of Kerala. Students and scholars from different parts of the country visit the place to study the cultural aspects of South India. The city beholds a strong cultural, historical and spiritual importance. Being a part of Kerala, Thrissur has a breathtaking landscape. As it is also a popular pilgrimage centre of South India, a large number of Thrissur hotels have developed in and around the temple area.

How to reach Thrissur:

Kochi Airport is the nearest and it is only 56 km (south) away from the city central. Calicut Airport is 95 km away and situated north of Thrissur. The city is well-connected by train and road transport. Taxis and autos are readily available for exploring the city.

Thrissur is one of the fastest growing urban agglomerations of the state. With the sufficient amount of greenery, Thrissur also has enough hotels scattered strategically throughout the city. Near the temple plenty of small budget and luxurious hotels have lined up. You can choose according to your budget. All the hotels try to serve their guests well. The Vadakkumnathan Shive temple and the Pooram festival ground is encircled by most of the hotels. So, if you choose amongst these hotels, then temple visit is just a walk away from you.

The original name of the place was Thir-Shiva-Perur which means the sacred city of Shiva. The city hosts the colourful temple festival. This 8-days festival was started by Raja Rama Verma, the Maharaja of Cochin. Every year between April and May this temple festival is celebrated. In 2016, it will start on 16th April (Sunday). Vadakkunnathan temple anchors this famous festival, all other temples from nearby places join the festival. Devotees from all over the South India attend this holy ritual. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the temple premises only during the festival. It is a real treat to witness this grand celebration. The beautifully decorated chariots, elephants ornated with gold and the fireworks add colour to the festival.

Apart from Vadakkunnathan temple, other places to visit in Thrissur are the famous cathedral Our Lady of Lourdes, the Archaeological Museum and Art Museum, the town hall, Bible Tower, the Athirapally waterfalls and Thiruvambadi Krishna Shrine.

October to February is the best time to enjoy Thrissur but if you want to attend the temple festival you have to plan in April- May according to the festival dates. Thrissur is a beautiful city with the architecture of different times, it reckons tourists from all over the India. With sightseeing and enjoying the view, it will take 2-3 days to experience the whole Thrissur.

Author Bio: Sandeep is an experienced travel consultant, who enjoys travelling and loves to write about the destinations he has been to and shares his experience. He also advises amateur tourists on travel tips on how to book flight, railway enquiry and train tickets from one place to another in a smart way, where to look for the best accommodation and how to book them in advance, etc. He also specializes in off-beat places to eat and stay at.