Trichur Attractions

With a lean towards the religious, spiritual, and cultural teachings of history, the town of Trichur is popularly known as the cultural capital of Kerala. Sprawling greens, pristine beaches, age-old monuments, remarkable history, and amiable locals makes Trichur one of the most sought-after destinations in Kerala and India. The religious and cultural festival of pooram, various pilgrim centers like temples, churches, and mosques, including the very first ones in the country, places abound with natural beauty and wildlife; Trichur has them all and in magnificent abundance. Read about them in the lines that follow and add them in your "must see" list of attractions, on your visit to this breathtaking and immensely beautiful city.

Aarattupuzha Pooram
The famous Ayyappa Temple at Aarattupuzha is just 14 km from Trichur (Thrissur). The temple celebrates its annual pooram festival during the months of April/May. The ceremonial possessions carrying the images of the deities of 41 neighboring temples is the high point of this festival.

Kerala Kalamandalam
Kalamandalam is Kerala's deemed university for Kathakali dance drama and other indigenous performing arts. It was founded in 1930 by the renowned poet Padmabhooshan Vallathol Narayana Menon and is located on the banks of River Nila in the Cheruthuruthy village of Thrissur district. Cultural tourism has recently been initiated at the university, called "A day with the Masters", allowing visitors to spend few hours at the campus and observe the inner aesthetics of traditional arts.

Peechi Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
The Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary, comprising of dense, moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, is situated about 20 east of Trichur in the catchment area of the Peechi and Vazhani dams. It is the second oldest and one of the significant wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala. Animals, like tigers, leopards, elephants, sambars, spotted deers, and braking deers, make up for the attractions in the sanctuary.

Soochipara Waterfalls
Soochipara Waterfalls, also known as Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, is located 22 km from Trichur. It is a three-tiered waterfall, sited in Vellarimala in Wayanad District and is surrounded by wet evergreen and tropical shola forests. On de-boarding the vehicle, one can reach the waterfalls after a 2-km walk into the dense equatorial forests of Wayanad. Furthermore, the 200-meter Soochipara Waterfalls offer a cliff face that is ideal for rock climbing.

Thriprayar Temple
About 25 km southwest of Trichur, Thriprayar Temple is one of the most interesting and fascinating temples dedicated to Lord Rama. The exquisite woodcarvings, sculptures, and mural paintings make for an exciting sight at the temple. During Onam celebrations, the snake boat race, held in the months of August/September, is one of the main attractions that draw huge crowds in.

Thrissur Pooram
Trichur (Thrissur) is best known for its lavish Pooram Festival, which is the most colorful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala. Held in the Malayalam month of Medam from mid-April to mid-May, it is the largest pooram festival in Kerala and hence, is also called the pooram of all poorams. The festival is a marvel in itself with the sight of caparisoned elephants standing in unison and fireworks that are capable of competing with firework shows from anywhere in the world.

Archaeological & Art Museums
Both Archaeological Museum and Art Museum are located in the compounds of Trichur Zoo. The Archaeological Museum is famous for its collections of murals and relics from all over Kerala. Apart from this, the museum also holds big life-sized statues of famous personalities from the past. The Art Museum, on the other hand, displays collections of metal sculptures, woodcarvings, and ancient jewelry. A rare collection of artifacts and paintings is also on display to create awareness about the architectural heritage of the state.

Peechi Dam
About 23 km from Trichur, the Peechi Dam is one of the most loved tourist spots in Kerala. Built across the Manali River, the dam is a vast catchment area of nearly 3200 acres with extensive botanical gardens and cascading fountains offering numerous inviting avenues for tourists. Visitors can choose to boat on the reservoir or take a stroll through the beautiful gardens, or even both. Often times, while boating, the Peechi Vazhani Sanctuary nearby provides a sneak peek at the wild animals residing there.

St. Thomas Memorial
St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ, is believed to have landed in Kodungalloor (formerly called Muziris) in 52 AD. The St. Thomas Church houses relics from the ancient days that are displayed for visitors at certain times.

Sakthan Thampuran Palace
Sakthan Thampuran Palace, once a palace belonging to Rama Varma Kunhijipilla Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin, is now a heritage museum that has the largest collection of unearthed megalithic structures. It is believed that the palace was reconstructed by Rama Thampuran in Kerala Dutch style in 1795 and is now preserved and protected by the Archaeological Department.