Athirappilly - Vazhachal Waterfalls (3km)
This is the perfect place of solace where you fetch a bit of respite making an intimate company with nature and its untainted elements. As you venture into the evergreen forests, the virgin flora and fauna easily fall in friendship with you. Play a hide n' seek with them and move forward until you find that spectacular sight. There, the perennial fall of water into a depth of 80 feet evokes a celestial tintinnabulation for your ears. As a gush of cool, fresh breeze sprays all over you with untainted water droplets, your eyes get glued to that heavenly sight of Kerala's largest waterfall, christened, Athirappilly-Vazhachal Waterfalls. Being Kerala's own Niagara, this waterfall is the nature's gift for the recreation of large number of visitors who seek seamless slackening for the mind.
Temple of Lord Vadakkumnatha (3km)
This temple of divinity is an unbeatable showpiece of historic transformations of humanity as well. Believed to be built by Lord Parashurama, whose swaying of the divine axegot the piece of land called Kerala emerge from the sea, this temple has got Lord Shiva as its principal deity. Listed as one among the 108 famous Shiva temples of the country, Vadakkumnatha Temple has got so much to tell one about the flow of events it has witnessed. Widespread is the belief that there was a Shiva Linga, an aniconic representation of Lord Shiva that was placed beneath a banyan tree and worshipped by Lord Parashurama. Later, the 6th century evolution of Kingdom of Cochin saw a large scale renovation of the place of worship that resulted into the architectural marvel of today. Estimated to be over 1600 years old, the temple remains to be major identity of Thrissur and its pristine lawns turn into a majestic venue for the acclaimedannual ritual celebration, ThrissurPooram. A Thrissur tour is unfulfilled without a visit to this serene spot.
Basilica of Our Lady Dolours (3km)
A visit to this holy place keeps the treasure chests of history wide open for you. Beneath the 260 feet tall towers of this majestic church which is described as Asia's third largest church, you are led to an enchanting Indo-Gothic architecture that would evoke poetic expressions in every mind. Spread over 25,000 square feet area, the evolution of Basilica of Our Lady Dolours dates back to 1814. With the intervention of a Chaldean Catholic bishop Elias Mellus, the devotees got divided and the church's glory declined. Instead, a group of devotees were committed to recapture the glory for the church and started building a modern, Indo-Gothic spectacle in 1929. On completion, it became the renovated Basilica of Our Lady Dolours, popular as New Church. There are majestic steeples that house tower bells. Each chime of these bells carries us down memory lane of rousing stories about Maharaja, SakthanThampuran who brought Christians together, evolution of the old church, division among the devotees and their unity that grew into the stupendous New Church of today. Inside the church, your spiritual disposition gets sumptuous encounters with biblical mural paintings and eleven altars spread into five on each side.
Chimmony Dam (3km)
Chimmony Dam and its encircling wildlife sanctuary form an ultimate haven of solitude. The pristine spread of the wild, unspoiled nature works the magic of relaxation for minds. Thus the place is a sure recourse for all those who are on a hunt for peace, pleasure and a bit of adventure. Just escape to this wonderland where hordes of wild animals and birds warily, yet shyly peep at you from their natural abodes. Let the child in you find no bounds to excitement when an elephant crosses the road or a wolf throws an impish look at you or an endemic avian beauty chirp and flirt around you. The dam site and the surrounding sanctuary have got trekking trails for you to vent your stock of adventurism.
Thiruvambadi Krishna Temple (3km)
This is a unique temple of Lord Krishna and Goddess Bhadrakali where both the principal deities are enshrined in their child forms. The fact that Krishna and Kali are placed together in the sanctum sanctorum is a remarkable feature of this temple making it different among temples. With the principal deities being seated as children, it is believed that devotees who sincerely pray before them are endowed with boundless bliss. During the annual ritual festival, Thrissur Pooram Thiruvambadi Temple and Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple pay their obeisance together in front of Vadakkumnathan Temple. Thereafter they engage in an enchanting competition between them by parading caparisoned elephants, changing flamboyant umbrellas and displaying the best of fireworks. Altogether all these result into visual spectacle and feast for mind for an ocean of people who gather to witness the event.
Nehru Park (3km)
This is children's park in memory of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Since its inauguration by the first Vice President of the country, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the park has been a resort for children to play and recreate. The Nehru Park is maintained and operated by the Thrissur City Corporation, which owns it.
Kerala Kalamandalam (3km)
Kerala Kalamandalam is a deemed university offering higher learning in performing arts of the State. It was Kerala's revered poet VallatholNarayanamenon who founded Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930. Ever since its inception, he was looking for elevating it into an authentic centre for learning all echelons of knowledge pertaining to traditional performing art forms of Kerala. Pragmatic ideas in this regard got sparked in his mind during his rendezvous with Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan, Kolkatta. Kerala Kalamandalam is perched on the graceful banks of River Nila, the principal source of inspiration for many authors who have brightened the literary horizons of Kerala. Kerala Kalamandalam functions in age-old Gurukul system where students and their gurus stay together and make the learning teaching a lively process. Currently this centre of performing arts offers 3-year Art High school, 2-year Higher secondary, 3-year Undergraduate and 2-year Postgraduate courses. Besides, those who cherish to have higher studies in performing arts can pursue M.Phil. and Ph.D. A visit to this university of traditional arts will certainly excite minds and provide a close encounter with the exceptional vibes of Kerala's traditional art forms like Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Mohiniyattam among others.
Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple (3km)
This is a temple of Goddess Bhagavathy that has been attracting large number of devotees. They believe that the deity will listen to intense prayers and ambitions will be fulfilled for worshippers. Legend state that there was an elderly warrior belonging to Karuppal sect who used to regularly travel to ThirumandhankunnuBhagavathy. As he became so aged, it became impossible for the old man to travel further and he deeply prayed Bhagavathy to be with him so that he can see his beloved deity whenever he wanted. The wish was granted and the Goddess got enshrined in the umbrella of the old man. He placed his umbrella on the foot of a shady mimusops (elanji) tree and took some rest. While returning from there, he pulled the umbrella with all his strength but could not. Then astrologers predicted that the umbrella has become a seat for the Goddess. At first, the Bhagavathy was worshipped at the same spot in front of Vadakkumnathan Temple. Latter, it was placed at an adjacent spot near a tree locally called 'Parom'. Hence the new temple became famous as 'ParamekkavuBhagavathy' Temple. This temple looks westward and faces the Vadakkumnathan Temple that looks eastward. It is believed to be much auspicious to visit both temples for fetching the blessings from Lord Shiva and Goddess Bhagavathy.
Peechi Dam (3km)
For those who are ready to spend time for listening to the nature's bounty, Peechi Dam and the encircling rich biodiversity constitute a must see destination. Animals, birds, orchids, trees, water, air or the perfect tranquility… whatever is your fascination, get it aplenty at Peechi. There is always persistently refreshing cool breeze that entices you with the fresh forest fragrance that would certainly revitalize your mind. At Peechi, be an avid listener to the nature's marvels and don't miss over 50 types of orchids waving majestically at you. Take deep breaths as much as you can to fill your lungs with pure air scented by a variety of indigenous medicinal plants. Let your eyes vigilantly watch to see a leopard taking a respite on top of a tree… to find dancing Sambar and spotted deer… to spot a tiger walking regally... a stout bison staring straight at you… or a herd of elephants walking cool and quenching their thirst at the waterfront. Further cool your soul by listening to myriads of avian songs.
Snehatheeram Beach (3km)
Snehatheeram means shore of love. Snehatheeram beach gifts beautiful sight for its visitors. There are shelters with enchanting architecture for people to stand and watch. There is also a children's park with many interesting rides. Just stroll through the Sneehatheeram shore and let your mind communicate with the endless Arabean Sea and its countless waves. Especially captivating is the place during sunset. Large number of people gathers here to watch the entrancing sunset.
Kerala Sahithya Akademi (3km)
Malayalam, the south Dravidian language has got a unique identity of being a language that has given birth to a number of renowned literary works. Quite interestingly, Malayalam has got its own calendar which counts some 825 years behind the Gregorian calendar. If to go by Malayalam calendar, the first six centuries of Malayalam literature were mainly poetries or 'paattu'. Malayalam established a strong bondage with Sanskrit to form an exquisite bled of language called 'Manipravalam'. Revolutionary progress was brought to the language in 16th century by ThunchatRamanujanEzhuthachan, revered as the Father of Malayalam language who formed a well set 51-character alphabet system. Since then the language has been soaring into heights of literary achievements. Today, there are world renowned works in Malayalam with many among them being translated into English, French, German and many other languages. Kerala SahithyaAkademi is an initiative by the government of Kerala for the progress of Malayalam language and its literary works. The Akademi offers earnest service to assure welfare for the writers and promoters of the language. A visit to this place will provide language and literary buffs an engrossing feast of knowledge about the past, present and future of Malayalam language.
Zoo and Archaeological Museum (3km)
The current Zoo and Archeological museum of Thrissur began its inception as a Museum in 1813 at a remote place called Viyyoor. By 1912, it was shifted to Chembukavu, the current location and was elevated as State Museum of Cochin. The next year the Maharaja of Cochin established a Zoo, also. Sprawling into over 13 acres of land right at the heart of the city, the Thrissur Zoo and Archeological Museum is also a breath year pocket for the city. The area has thick ever green trees and gardens that cool one's mind and body even in times of scorching heat. For those who find fun and fantasy of watching and learning about animals, plants and historic relics, this is a suitable option. Currently, the zoo houses about 50 species of animals including Lion, Lion tailed macaque, Leopard, bird like Grey hornbill, Crested bulbul, Kingfisher…and snakes including King Cobra. At the botanical garden you gasp fresh air among a variety of plants and trees including Black plum, Dividivi, Rose apple Sapota, Asoka, Bottle brush and others. This is an ideal place to hang out and take a brisk relief from the city's bustles.
Punnathur Kotta (3km)
It's a practice for the affluent Hindu devotees to offer an elephant calf or a teen elephant to their beloved deities. Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple alone has got a collection of about 59 such elephants offered by staunch believers. With the temple having not enough space to rear such a large number of pachyderms, all those animals are carefully reared and tactfully tamed to become obedient, loving ones at a place called PunnathurKotta. Once an abode of local rulers, now, PunnathurKotta is a place for rearingand training the largest number of elephants. Visitors to this place get awesome, rare sights of the mundane routines of elephants from bathing to eating and taming to sleeping. Much domesticated animals are allowed to interact with visitors, like giving a salutation raising its trunk, taking a photo with the visitor or even allowing a visitor to touch its tusks. All these are but done under the supervision of able 'pappaan' (mahout). Those yet to be tamed are kept in special sheds where scientific training is provided until they become friendly with human beings. A visit to PunnathurKotta will definitely stock your mind with mammoth memories.
Sakthan Thampuran Palace (3km)
There was a medieval Kingdom named PerumbadappuSwaroopam or else the Kingdom of Cochin that ruled a large geographical area of northern Kerala including Thrissur and its neighboring districts. Later with the sporadic interferences by the Zamorins of Calicut, the PerumbadappuSwaroopam's jurisdiction got considerably reduced. This being the short historic background, the SakthanThampuran Palace unravels inspiring anecdotes on the strongest Maharaja of the Cochi, Ramavarma IX who is called 'SakthanThampuran' by virtue of his powerful reign. The palace was built by him in the year 1795. Adding to its enthralling architecture is a sumptuous fusion of Kerala and Dutch styles. The palace is two storied, yet has got a Nalukettu, which is atypical of Kerala way of building construction. A visitor feels worth visiting this monument for there is also a museum with separate galleries throwing light over some of the alluring aspects of the bygone days. These include a bronze gallery, numismatic gallery showcasing old coin system, epigraphy gallery displaying ancient scripts, household gallery introducing a large stock of antique utensils, and even a megalithic gallery showing some of the Stone Age relics. Not over, there are ancient serpent grove, heritage garden of and a number of plants and shady trees for comforting you after an engaging visit.
Anakkayam (3km)
Imagine a piece of land on this earth which is not yet disturbed by human interferences; a place that has got thick virgin forest around with only cicadas cries and weird bird tweets breaking the silence; a location that has got a placid pool of fresh water formed by the confluence of pure streams emerging from the dark of the forests… To experience all these, you must not seek an Amazone destination, but proceed to Anakkayam proximate to the Sholayar-Peringalkuthu road. If you want no barrier between you and nature, then Anakkayam is an ideal choice. And in the deep solitude where you and nature engage intimately, well chiseled rocks stand silent witness. A step onto this serene spot is refreshing; a breath here is indeed, rejuvenating.
Guruvayur Temple (3km)
Guruvayur temple is the holy dwelling place of Lord Sri Krishna, where you find the paramount of divinity and worship. The idol of the deity here is believed to have some 5000 years of age. Though there is no candid evidence to substantiate this, there are ample references about 'Kuruvayur' in antique Dravidian literatures. However while relying on certain Dutch and British records related to the temple and the place, one could assume that the temple has been existing since 52 AD. With such long history of existence, the Guruvayur temple was also at the receiving end of the ebbs and flows of political advances. Attack by the Dutch in 1716, conquer by Hyder Ali in 1766 and the ravaging advance by Tipu Sultan in 1789 had left indelible scars on the monumental structure. Years after, it was an accidental fire in 1970 that destroyed many parts of the temple, but not the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Krishna and subordinate deities. That was an occasion when people irrespective of their caste, creed or religion joined together in dousing the fire and saving the temple. Today, the temple is an asylum of Krishna devotees who make long winding queues for getting a sight of the beloved deity. The deity here is in typical Lord Vishnu character with four hands, each one holding conch, wheel, club and lotus. The temple has got 101 bells made of silver and coated gold.
Marottichal waterfalls (3km)
Wading 4 kilometers through the jungle and experiencing celestially beautiful cascades all the way. From one cascade to the other, it is all a riveting march enjoying the mélange of natural splendors. A family walk will be interesting for children as well as children among the adults get lot of chance to freely exude their ecstasy of embracing the Mother Nature. In short, these are what Marottichal waterfalls has in stock for you. The adjoining Marottichal village was recently in the BBC news for the exceptionally huge obsession the villagers have got for playing chess.