THRISSUR

Thrissur is known as the cultural capital of Kerala, and the land of Sakthan Thampuran, the foresighted ruler who contributed much to the development of the place.  Home to several prominent artistic institution such as Kalamandalam, Sahithya Academy and Sangeetha Nataka Academy. Thrissur has a rich past as well as a vibrant present. It is here that kerala’s most extravagant and passionate festival, the Pooram take place. Also located here is the Vadakkumnthan Temple, said to have been consecrated by parasurama, the founder of Kerala.

The town was once upon a time called Vrishabhadripuramand and ten kailasams but the name thrissur is an abbreviation of Thrisivaperur, the abode of lord Siva, who resides at Vadakkumnthan temple. The town is build around a hillock. The roads are named East, West, South, & North. The land around the temple was once a grove of ‘Teak’ trees and hence is called ‘THEKKINKADU’ or ‘Teak Forest’, It is the place  for the famous pooram festival,wich has captured Thrissur  into an international tourist destination.   During the days of independence movement Thrissur’s Thekkinkad Maidan also echoed with inspiring speeches made by prominent leaders. After that along with the pooram, the midan as become a venue for political and trade union meeting and other cultural programmes.

  The genesis of the cultural tradition of the district can be traced back to the early centuries of the Christian era, when Mathilakam near Kodungalloor was known as a great centre of learning and culture. Buddhist & Jain scholars lived here and teaching themselves. During the region of the ‘KULASHEKHARAS (2^nd Chera empire) Mahodayapuram in Thrissur gained the reputation of being a great seat of learning and culture. The dawn of the 20^th century ‘Vallatole Narayana menon’ founding the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy.

 The antiquity of the town lies shrouded in myths and legends. But edicts and other data show a heritage of about 2000 years. There a number of megalithic sites here such as Cherumangad, hordes of gold coins were found at Eyyal and the Vadakkumnthan temple is considered to have been personally consecrated by Lord Parasurama. Jain and Buddhist influence also prevailed till the influence of Adisankara became larger. Located close to the Palakkad gap in the Western Ghats, Thrissur dominated the main trade route in to the region from Tamilnadu and Karnataka, one of the primary reasons why the namboodiries converted Thrissur into an autonomous Brahmin settlement. The Perumals, who belonged to the Kshatriya clan, held sway for a few centuries and thrissur continued to be a commercially important, independent, centre till Cochin principality was born. After that, Thrissur was the Hub of the Cochin state.  Although the period of the zamorin, later Tipu Sultan and subsequently when the Portuguese, Dutch and the English became its colonial rulers.

In 1790, Raja Rama Varma (sakthan thampuran) ascended the throne of Cochin. At that time, thrissur was considered the second most important place. The thampuran took personal interest to the development of place. Besides laying roads, he builds markets and invited Christian merchants to trade. So he had known as the ‘Architect of Thrissur’. The Syrian Christians, who came here to boost it commercial activities, continued to be the backbone of commerce in Thrissur.

Kodungallur situated 35Km from Thrissur.The ancient port town of kodungalloor, called Cranganore. Early Tamil poets allude to cranganore as Muchiri. Later it was known as muyirikodu, makotai or Mahodayapuram. The place figures prominently in early chera history.

       To the Greeks and Romans, cranganore was known as muziris ,a name derived from an ancient temple whose goddess was called masuri devda on account of her power to ward off small pox , a belief tat is held even today; in Malayalam , small pox is known as masuri . However, muziris might be any where near present day kodungalloor, either on the northern or southern banks of Periyar River. One urban settlement with roman trade connections  pattanam , about 12Km south of Kodungallore.Roman scholor,Pliny the elder, has described Muziris as the premium emporium indiae and there are vivid descriptions in Sangam literature of Yavana ships coming to Muziris , laden  with gold and waiting to take black pepper. Black gold for the Romans, pepper was colloquially known as ‘Yavanapriya’ meaning ‘loved by the Romans’. The Romans, or rather, merchants stationed at Alexandria and other ports on the red sea, which was part of the mighty Roman Empire in the 1^st 2^nd, and 3rd centuries, were such frequent visitors that they are said to have even founded a temple here in honor of Augustus. Though there are no physical traces of this temple , the roman coins unearthed from several places such as ‘Eyyal’ near Thrissur , Vallucvalli near paravoor and Kumbalam near Ernakulam, issued by Roman emperors Augustus, Tiberius,Neo and Trajan and now housed in museums world wide, point to the amount of trade that took place during that period.

       Kodungallur became a primary place of shelter for the migrants who came to   this. Jews, Christians and Muslims, all claim it as the location of their first settlement in India. In 1341 a devastating flood in the Periyar River silted up Kodungalloor’s harbor making it difficult for ships to approach Cranganore and rendering it useless for trade purposes. The river changed its course and forced its way into the sea, opening up a natural harbor in the small fishing village of Kochi. By 1405, all Maritime operations and trade had shifted to the new port. And Muziris / Cranganore lost its importance as a centre of commerce.

       The source of inspiration for poets like Elangovadikal who penned the Tamil classic, ‘CHILAPPATHIKARAM’. While, residing on the outskirt of the town, Kodungallur was also a centre for art and architecture. Today Kodungallur is a pilgrim place. during the months of July-august(Malayalam month  karkidakam), pilgrims under take the ‘Nalambalam Darsanam’ covering the temples of rama at Thriprayar , Lakshmana at Thirumuzhikkulam, Bharatha at Irinjalakuda  and Shatrukhna at Payammal.Legend has it that the four images of the heroic brothers Rama,       Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrukhna, which were washed ashore, were discovered and installed at various sites by a local chieftain .It is considered auspicious to worship at each of these for shrines on a given day. Kodungalloor is quiet picturesque place with religious activity being its main draw. However, with a bustling fishing centre at Azhikode, the Govt has plans to develop Kodungallur as a major fishing harbor on the western coast.

   

CONNECTIVITY.

             

By air      :      the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, 58km away.

By rail     :      thrissur is an important railhead of southern railways and is

                      Connected to all major cities in Kerala and India.

                       

 By road :      well connected by highways with Thiruvananthapuram and

                      Coimbatore. The KSRTC bus station near the railway station,                   the sakthan thampuran bus stand on TB road buses to

                      Irinjalakuda, Kodungalloor, and Guruvayoor

SIGHTS

 Sakthan Thampuran Palace

              Of historic, architectural, and cultural importance, this palace of the erstwhile maharaja of Kochi has been converted into a heritage museum. Named after king Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran, the palace has several well- preserved materials and galleries relating to the erstwhile rulers of

Kochi. This palace is a blend of the traditional Kerala and Dutch styles of architecture. Besides the tomps of Sakthan Thampuran and other nobleman, a snake shrine, a tank a temple and a heritage garden wit an indigenous collection of plants and trees. This museum as the largest collection of excavated megalithic materials in Kerala.

State museum and Zoo   

              Built together in the same compound in 1885 and covering an area of 14 acres, the art museum, the natural history museum and the zoo are located at Chempukavu.The zoo is the home of variety of fauna such as endangered lion tailed masque, tiger, lion , sloth, bear, several species of dear and many birds including pink flamingoes.

              The natural history museum features specimens of various animals, entomological objects, rocks, and stone sculptures. The main attraction of the museum is the skeleton of biggest elephant in India.

 

Vadakkumnthan Temple

              A classical example of keralite architecture, this temple as low tiled roofs and a profusion of woodwork. We can see a koothmbalm, on the left side of the temple. The Paramekkave temple is near to the Vadakkumnthan temple, one of the main participants of thrissur pooram 

 Sree Krishna Temple

              It is kerala’s biggest shrine and south India’s second largest revenue earner. In front of the temple there is the 33.5 meter high gold plated dwajasthamba, or flag-staff, plated with gold. An air of piety pervades the atmosphere around Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayoor where thousands of devotees wait in long queues to have a fleeting glimpse of Guruvayoorappan. The deity here is renowned for its healing powers and several offerings are made by the devotees, ranging from the simple archana to the expensive udayasthamana pooja.

 Punnathoorkotta

Punnathoorkotta is a unique 'hostel' for elephants where over 60 elephants, brought as ritual offerings to the Sree Krishna Temple Guruvayoor, are groomed. Elephants have always been considered auspicious symbols in Kerala and elsewhere in India, a land where the elephant-faced Lord Ganapathy is worshipped by millions. At Punnathoorkotta, you can spend an entire day with the pachyderms, watching their training, the traditional methods of medical treatment and so on.

 

Town hall

              The main attraction here is the library and an auditorium. It is a monument of erstwhile of Thrissur’s administrative, military and cultural history.

 

Nattika beach

              The beach is equal-distance from thrissur city, Guruvayoor, kodungalloor, and Irinjalakuda. Tourism has just begun to make inroad into this relatively virgin beach wit its long stretch of golden sands .through there are also facilities for deep sea fishing and adventure seekers.

 Palayur church

              This is the oldest church establishes by st. Thomas, Christ’s apostle who is believed to have come to Kerala in 52AD .the entrance of the church is decorated with 14 granite life size statues of various scenes from the life of st. Thomas. There is a historical museum which exhibits of copper plates, ivory statues; wooden bells, ceremonial chairs, and candle stands, crowns etc.Nearby is Chavakkad beach and the 100 feet high Chettuva lighthouse.

Thrissur pooram

              A spectacular festival of festoons, elephants, captivating drum beats, illuminated temples and breathtaking display of pyrotechnics. Thrissur pooram is matched in pomp and pageantry only by the Jagannat Festival in Puri or Dussera celebrations in Mysore.This is indeed the king of festival in Kerala.

 Basilica of our Lady of Dolours.

  This is claimed to be the biggest and tallest church in Asia. An architectural marvel, the church has triple towers built in gothic style, an array of 15 alters and musical church bells imported from Germany. The ceilings are adorned with beautiful mural paintings of the holy trinity. Look for the pulpit and the throne used by Pope John Paul11 during his visit in 1986. Other highlights are the wall paintings, the crypts and the perpetual adoration centre.

 Martha Mariyam Chaldean Church

              This is a church that follows old rites and still holds Mass in Syriac.The church dates back to 1796, when Sakthan Thampuran settled 52 Christian families in thrissur, with a view to developing the place as a centre of trade and commerce. This structure was constructed in 1814. The church has a lovely gabled façade and an ornately carved tulip-shaped pulpit.

 Chimmini wild life sanctuary

              Located in the Mukundapurm Taluk of Thrissur. Established in 1984, the sanctuary spans an area of 85ssquare km on the western slopes of Nelliampathy. The dense forest, punctuated by streams and rivers make an ideal habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The diversity of wildlife ere include the endangered lion tailed macques, tiger, leopard mangoose, wild dogs etc. wit more than 160 species of birds are found this place. This place is suitable for trekking and camping. There are one-day trek to the interiors of the forest. the bamboo rafting trips range from two ours to a full day.

 Athirappalli

              The magnificence of nature as seen at Athirappalli waterfall. it attracts many tourists to Thrissur.       

Peechi-vazhani wild life sanctuary

              Established in 1958, this 125 square km area is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala, located 20 km east of thrissur. The habitat ranges from evergreen forest in the higher slopes to semi evergreen forests in the valley. The sanctuary is a rich respiratory of bio-diversity wit several endangered herbs, shrubs, rare medicinal plants and innumerable varieties of orchids. The sanctuary is rich 176 species of birds, 8 species of woodpeckers, 31species of reptiles and 17 species of amphibians. A thousand species of angiosperms are found in the area. You can also visit the Kerala forest research institute in Peechi. It is a treasure trove of books and research covering a wide range of subject like medicinal plants, entomology etc.

 Pulikkali

              Every year on the fourth day of Onam, thrissur reverberates to the rhythm of Pulikkali (tiger dance), an art form in which painted men imitates a tiger and its action. Men don masks, get themselves painted with plastic emulsion and leap around like tigers. As Pulikkali has gained popularity over the years, tableaux and pantomime have been added to the event, lending even more colors to this exciting event. People come in droves to watch the tigers in action at the swaraj round encircling the Thekkinkad Maidan.

 Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid

This mosque is believed to have been built in the seventh centaury at the behest of the king, Cheraman perumal, who embraced Islam and went to Mecca. Before his death, perumal sent is emissary, Malik Ibn Dinar to kodungalloor to set up a mosque and spread the message of Islam. Unlike other mosque, this one faces east not Mecca in the west. A huge bronze lamp, a feature common in temples, continues to be kept lit inside. And in a time honored practice ,people belonging to all  religions bring oil or contribute money to buy oil for the lamp on auspicious occasions or in the event of family celebrations . This is a shrine that has set a practice of intermingling religious rites over the years to come up with a unique Indian ethos.

Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine

Located at a vantage point on the edge of the backwaters at Azhikode

Jetty, this shrine was built to commemorate the lending of st.thomas, the apostle, at Cranganore. The shrine is set in a semicircle, with the small church in the centre, flanked by statues of the saint. In front of the church there is a huge statue depicting the moment when Thomas acknowledged the risen Christ. A part of the arm of the saint enshrined in a glass case is opened for viewing at specific intervals to the accompaniment of choir like music. The stall in the church complex sells mementos religious books, posters etc.

 Kurumba Bhagavati Temple

In a sprawling ground at the centre of kodungalloor town, is the temple complex that shelters the main idol of kali who killed the demon Daaruka. There’s a crimson cloth hung on the western wall of the sanctum and worship is offered here. Te majestic six-foot high wooden image of Kali, with her eight hands carrying deadly weapons, and face covered by a mask, is carved out of jackfruit tree. There is a shrine to Kshetrapala, the guardian deity, and vasurimala, associated with smallpox. The temple is famous for its annual Bharani festival.

 Shiva temple

 The Mahadeva temple, dedicated to Shiva, located in the same vicinity as the Cheraman Juma Masjid. Inside the enclosure are a large multi-tired metal lamp and a porch adorned with carvings dedicated to the heroes of Ramayana. Within the restricted enclosure, an impressive columned hall shelters Shiva’s ever faithful bull Nandi, and the inner sanctum houses a plain stone lingam as in most temples , the ambulatory pathway is paved in stones.

 

Koodalmanikyam Temple

          The only temple dedicated to Bharata, Rama’s brother, this is an architectural marvel with imposing gateways, a round sanctorum and a marvelous koothambalam.a fascinating ritual is that of the vazhuthananga naivedyam (brinjal offering). Once, a devotee, suffering from chronic stomach pain, ad a vision of the lord in which he was advised to offer 101 brinjal. Curred immediately of his alignment, thereafter brinjal became offering to the deity.

          Close to the temple is the Natana Kairali Research and performing centre that offers training and discourse in a wider range of traditional arts including dance, rare forms of puppetry and theater arts like koodiyattam and koothu. Short –term appreciation courses are available for foreigners. Nearby is also the village of Nadavarmba, an important centre specializing n the manufacture of bell metal oil lamps and cooking utensils.

 Sree Rama Temple

Built in the same architectural style, as vadakkumnthan, the exquisite woodcarvings, sculptures and mural paintings. There are 24 panels of woodcarvings and several ancient murals. The circular sanctum as several sculptural representations of scenes from the Ramayana .Nangiar koothu, a theater from enacting scenes from the Ramayana is offered as a worship service in the temple premises.

 Bharani festival.

          In March –April , the Kurumba Bhagavati temple resounds to the delirious chants of pilgrims and wild dancing of oracle as people coverage here attend a festival called Bharani which is marked by bizarre rituals like the sexually  obnoxious songs, called Therippattu, and kavutheendal-a process whereby the temple is desecrated . During kavutheendal, oracles charge around the temple brandishing the sword, inflicting self injuries and frenziedly chanting while thousands of pilgrims run around the temple precincts thrice, striking the temple rafters with sticks. Thereafter, the temple is closed for purification rituals that will cleanse the shrine of the stain of ‘kavutheendal’.