Thrissur  previously known as Trichur, is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the headquarters of the Thrissur District.Thrissur city is built around a 65-acre (26 ha) hillock called the Thekkinkadu Maidan which seats the Vadakkumnathan temple. Thrissur is the 5th most populous city in Kerala by populationand the second-largest city corporation by area in the state.It is located about 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram and 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of the major port city of Kochi.

Thrissur is also known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala because of its cultural, spiritual and religious leanings towards history.It houses the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy, Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi and Kerala Sahitya Academy.The city hosts the Thrissur Pooram festival, the most colourful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala.The festival is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidan in April or May.Thrissur has a large number of well-known temples including the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple, Vadakkumnathan temple and Paramekkavu temple, as well as two famous churches, the Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral and the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours.Thrissur is also the venue of Pulikali during Onam celebrations in August or September.

The city derives its historical importance from when Christianity, Islam and Judaism entered in to the Indian subcontinent. Thomas the Apostle set foot here 2,000 years ago.The country’s first mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid, opened in AD 629.It has opened the gates for Arabs, Romans, Portuguese, Dutch and English.

The city is an incubator for every Malayali entrepreneur,and is a major financial and commercial hub of Kerala.It flexes its economic muscle in India as the headquarters of three major scheduled banks, South Indian Bank Ltd, Catholic Syrian Bank and Dhanalakshmi Bank Ltd and a clutch of Chit funds.The city is also a big centre for shopping in Kerala for silks and gold jewellery. Thrissur ranks first in the number of domestic tourists in Kerala.

Apart from being the cultural nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Police Academy, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala University of Medical and Allied Sciences and Kerala Institute of Loca 

The best months to visit Thrissur are between October- February, you would have conveniently missed the terrible humidity in the summer months and the heavy rains. If you can brave the heat and humidity in April-May the 8-day Pooram festival is held. It is really worth visiting Thrissur during this time.

How to get there by Air

The closest airport to Thrissur is the Nedumbassery International Airport at Kochi. Kochi is approximately 79 kms and a 3 hour drive from Thrissur. You can hire a cab or take a bus from here to Thrissur. From Kochi to Thrissur is also an easy 2-hour train journey.

How to get there by Rail

There are trains to Thrissur from Kochi,Kozhikode(3 hours approximately),Chennai. Many run eastwards through the Palakkad Gap to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

How to get there by Road

The state transport and privately operated services have separate bus stops. State transport has a larger network with buses plying from Chennai (13 hours), Thiruvananthapuram (8 hours),Kochi(3 hours),Kozhikode(3 ½ hours),Kottayam and Palakkad (1 ½ hours).