Thrissur District Information

About Thrissur District

District Area	3,032 Sq.Km.
Population	2975440
Sex Ratio	1092
Growth Rate	8.70
Density per km²	981
Literacy	92.56 %
Rainfall	310 cm (Annual)

The name “Thrissur” is the abbreviated anglicized form of the Malayalam word "Thrissivaperur" which means the town of the "Sacred Siva". The town is built on an elevated ground, at the apex of which is the famous "Vadakkumnathan" Temple with Shiva as its presiding deity. Known as "Vrishabhadripuram" and "Ten Kailasam" in ancient days, Thrissur is a place of great antiquity. It has rich history, cultural heritage and archeological wealth and thus it is referred as the cultural capital of Kerala. Trichur is famed and wide for its pooram festival. The festival of festivals, the Pooram is celebrated with an unmatched pageantry of a hundreds of drums, dozens of caparisoned elephants and brilliant fireworks.

The Thrissur today is the inheritor of the glorious tradition of art and culture. Many famous cultural institutions and organisations of the state are located in the district. Some of them are the Kerala Sahitya Academy, the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, the Kerala Lalitkala Academy, the Kerala Kala Mandalam, the Thrissur Museum, the Archaeological Museum, etc. Thrissur also has some of the best educational institutions in the State. Thrissur also lead in women's education with its plethora of colleges and schools run mostly by the Church. The town is also famous for its gold and jewellery business.

History

Thrissur District has played a significant part in the political history of south India. The whole of the present Thrissur District was a part of the early Chera Empire. The district fostered the trade relations between Kerala and the outside world in the ancient and medieval period. It also fostered the cultural relations by laying the foundation of a cosmopolitan culture in this part of the country. Kodungalloor which is referred as the "Primum Emporium India", gave the first shelter to all the three communities of the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims. Between 9^th and 12^th centuries, Thrissur was ruled by the Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram. From 12^th century onwards, it has the history of the rise and growth of Perumpadappu Swarupam. The Perumpadappu Swarupam had its headquarters at Mahodayapuram and that a number of Naduvazhies in Southern and Central Kerala recognized the supremacy of the Perumpadappu Moopil.

The Perumpadappu Moopil is even referred to as the "Kerala Chakravarthi" in the "Sivavilasam" and some other works. One of the landmarks in the history of the Perumpadapu Swarupam is the foundation of a new era called Pudu Vaipu Era. The Pudu Vaipu Era is traditionally believed to have commenced from the date of which the island of Vypeen was thrown from the sea. The 14^th and 15^th centuries marked a period of aggressive wars. The Samorins of Calicut acquired a large part of the present Thrissur District. Then, the Portugese dominated the region. Towards the beginning of the 17^th century, the Portugese power was on the verge of collapse. Internal dissension in the Perumpadappu Swarupam helped the Dutch in getting a footing on the Kerala Coast. Later, the Dutch and the English established their controls over the region. Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan are also figured very prominently during this period.

Thrissur has been a centre of learning since ancient times. With the decline of Buddism and Jainism and the establishment of the supremacy of Brahminism during the revival of Hinduisum, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning. The great Sankara Acharya had taught Advaita here. After his travels in different regions of India he is believed to have come back and settled in Thrissur and died here.

Sakthan Thampuran, the enlightened Maharajah of Cochin (1790-1805), revived the by-gone glory of the town. Sakthan Thampuran shifted his residence to Thrissur because of its salubrious climate and for safety from the depredations of the naval powers of the West. It was, Sakthan Thampuran who settled several Syrian Christian families in the town from their business centres in adjoining areas. Soon, Thrissur was built into the most flourishing centre of internal trade in Kerala. Their financial acumen has been mainly responsible for building up the Kuri system of financing which has now become an all-India institution, thus making the Thrissur, the most important banking centre in Kerala.

Places of Interest

Vadakkunath Temple, Art Museum, Thrissur Zoo, Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, Kerala Kalamandalam, Peechi Dam Wildlife Sanctuary, Anakkayam, Athirapally, Vazhachal, Shakthan Thampuran Palace, The Lourdes Church, The Town Hall