Kerala is world famous for its lush green landscapes, serene backwaters, misty mountains and umpteen numbers of temples. In short, it is called the God’s Own Country. Kerala is also known for its fairs and festivals, many of which are associated with the famous temples here. Among the many places that are famous, one of them is the southern district of
Thrissur. It is an important cultural center in Kerala and is also called the “cultural capital of Kerala”. The name thrissur is derived from ‘Tri-Siva-Perur’ which translates to ‘place with the holy name of (Hindu) Lord Shiva’. It also means that this place has three Shiva temples which are Vadakkunathan, Kottapuram Shiva temple and Punkunnam Shiva temple. The town is built around a hill top. It is also known as the “Vrishabhadripuram” or “Ten Kailasam” in ancient days. The town is built on an elevated land and at the tip lies the Vadakkunathan temple. The place is known for its tranquility and serenity.
Thrissur is an ancient town and has played an important part in the political history of the state. It was a part of the Cheran Empire. The Zamorins of Kozhikode, Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Europeans like the Dutch have played an important part in molding the town into its present form.Ever since those times, the town was important for building trade relations between Kerala and the outside world. Now, Thrissur is synonymous with the famous Vadakkunathan temple which has Shiva as the presiding deity. The “pooram” festival of this temple is world famous. Many tourists come here during the Malyalam month Medam (April-May) to witness the spectacular festival. Thrissur also houses Kerala Kala Mandalam, Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Nataka Academy. The other temples around Thrissur are Guruvayur, Thriprayar, Apart from the temples; there are other sightseeing attractions like the art museum, Archeological Museum, Town Hall Peechi Wildlife sanctuary, about 20 kms away. The place is also close to Guruvayoor Krishna temple
The cultural capital of Kerala 
