trissur

Thrissur

Thrissur City(angl. Trichur)
Cultural Capital of Kerala



Thrissur City
Location of Thrissur Cityin Kerala and India
Country
India
State
Kerala
District(s)
Thrissur District
Mayor
R. Bindu
Population• Density
317,474 (2001[update])• 3,100 /km2 (8,029 /sq mi)
Time zone
IST (UTC+5:30)
Area• Elevation
101.43 km2 (39 sq mi)• 2.83 m (9 ft)
Codes[show]
• Pincode
• 680XXX
• Telephone
• +0487
• Vehicle
• KL-8
Footnotes[show]
Temperature Range: 22.5°C -35 °C
Website
http://www.corporationofthrissur.org/
For the district with the same name, see Thrissur district.
Thrissur pronunciation (help·info)(Malayalam: തൃശൂര്‍) is a city situated in the central region of the state of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Thrissur District. It is known as the 'Cultural Capital of Kerala'. Thrissur city is built around a beautiful hillock atop which the Vadakkumnathan temple which has Shiva as the presiding deity is built. It is the cultural and spiritual centre, offering an array of festivals, historical and natural sights as well as religious experiences. Thrissur is the fourth largest city in Kerala, and the nearest city to the international airport at Nedumbassery.
It is famous for the Thrissur Pooram festival, the most colourful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala. The festival is held near the Vadakkumnathan temple, in April or May. It has a large number of well-known temples which include the Thiruvambady temple, Vadakkumnatha temple and Paramekkavu temple, and two churches of note, the Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral and the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours (Puthan Pally or New Church). It is also the venue of Pulikali during Onam celebrations in August or September. Thrissur is an important business centre in South India and also one of the leading shopping centers in Kerala for Silks and Gold ornaments.
Contents
[hide]
1 Toponymy
2 History
3 Geography
4 Climate
5 Economy
6 Civic administration
7 Politics
8 Transport
9 Demographics
10 Culture and Literature
11 Education
12 Media
13 Sports
14 Notes
15 External links
//
Toponymy


Vadakumnathan Temple Gate
The present name "Thrissur" (Malayalam: തൃശൂര്‍)is colloquially and gradually transformed from the original name "Thrissivaperoor" (Malayalam: തൃശ്ശിവപേരൂര്‍). Revenue documents and government notifications in Malayalam till two decades ago used this name Thrissivaperoor almost universally. Thrissivaperoor is derived from the conjugated words thiru(sacred), -Siva (Lord Shiva), per (named) and ooru (place). It literally meant "The sacred place in the name of Lord Shiva".
Until recently, the place was also known as Trichur, an anglicized form of 'Thrissur'. However, the state government has officially changed the usage of name 'Trichur' to Thrissur. Thrissur was also known as 'Vrishabhadripuram'(Malayalam: വൃഷഭാദ്രിപുരം‍)(The town(puram) with the hill(adri) of bull(vrishabha)) and 'thenkailasam' (Malayalam: തെൻ‌കൈലാസം‍)(The Kailasam at the south) in ancient days.[1]
History


An elephant carrying Thidambu during the Thrissur Pooram festival.
History of Thrissur plays a pivotal role in defining the history of the region of South India. The city held an important position in shaping the political and the social perspectives of the region. The name of the region is derived from Thrissivaperur. From ancient times, the region of Thrissur has occupied an important administrative seat in the Deccan region of India. The region of Thrissur had witnessed the rise and fall of various dynasties that ruled in the southern part of India. In the Sangam period, Thrissur was a part of the Chera Empire that ruled from its capital in the city of Vanchi. Between the 9th and the 12th century, the Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram ruled the region. It was in the medieval age that the region prospered in culture and became the host of the various communities like the Jews, Muslims and the Christians.
Since the 12th century, the region prospered as a part of Perumpadappu Swarupam who started the Pudu Vaipu Era in the region. The possession of the region of Thrissur changed hands during the mid 14th and 15th centuries. The Zamorins of Calicut emerged as a ruler over the region and continued to occupy Thrissur till the arrival of the Portuguese. The Dutch and the English also seeped into the region to counter the Portuguese occupation of the region.
In 1790, Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran, ascended the throne of the Kochi kingdom. He rebuilt Thrissur from destruction after attacks from Tipu Sultan's army,[citation needed] clearing the magnificent teak forest around the Vadukunathan Temple. Sakthan Thanpuran is hence known as the architect of Thrissur town. For a brief period, Thrissur was the capital of this kingdom, thus gaining prominence. The Shaktan Thampuran Palace was the abode of the Cochin king. 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. Soon Thrissur was built into a flourishing centre of internal trade in the kingdom.
Thrissur has traditionally been a centre of learning. With the decline of Buddhism and Jainism due to the growing supremacy of Brahminism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning.[citation needed] It is believed that the great Hindu saint Adi Shankara was born in answer to the prayer made by Arayambal and Sivaguru at Vadakkunnathan temple here. Sankara's disciples Hastamalaka, Thotaka, Padmapada and Sudhachara established four Madoms in the city, namely the Northern Madom, the Middle Madom, the In-Between Madom and the Southern Madom.[citation needed] Thrissur has been visited by other religious icons such as Swami Vivekananda and St. Thomas. Sree Narayana Guru, who fought against the caste system in Hindu religion, founded his first temple in Koorkanchery.[when?]
Geography


Elephants standing on the west side of the Vadakkunnathan Temple during Thrissur Pooram festival for Kudamatam.
The region of Thrissur city is located in the geographical coordinates of 10 degrees 32 minutes north and 76 degrees15 minutes east longitude. Thrissur Municipal Corporation has a population of 317,474 (2001) spread over an area of 101.42 km2. Thrissur city alone accounts for 38% of the urban population in the Thrissur district. Thrissur Development Authority (TDA) area encompasses the Municipal Corporation area and adjoining gram Panchayats. The total area under Municipal Corporation jurisdiction is 101.42 km2 and the area under the Panchayats is 18.83 km2 Together the aforesaid constitute the development area covering 120.25 km2. According to Census 2001, the total population in the TDA is 344,933 i.e., 317,474 persons in the Municipal Corporation area and 27,459 persons in the Panchayat area.
Climate
Thrissur city enjoys a tropical climate. The region lies in the south western coastal state of Kerala in India. The best time to visit Thissur city is from October to February. The hot season from March to May is followed by southwest monsoon from June to September. October and November form the post monsoon or retreating monsoon season. The average annual rainfall is 3,159 mm. The southwest monsoon generally sets in during the last week of May. After July the rainfall decreases. On an average, there are 124 rainy days in a year.
The climatic conditions in Thrissur do not face a drastic change in the summer and winterseason. The maximum average temperature of the city in the summer season is 35 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature recorded is 22.5 degrees Celsius. The winter season records a maximum average of 32.3 degree Celsius and a minimum average of 20 degree Celsius. The city is drained in the monsoonal season by heavy showers. Cold climatic conditions do not prevail in the city of Thrissur.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Thrissur
Thrissur, the heartland of Kerala’s business acumen and home to almost every leading Malayali entrepreneur, is a major financial and commercial hub of South India and Kerala after Chennai and Kochi, India. [2] Historians say that Kochi King Sakthan Thampuran invited and settled several Syrian-Christian families and Brahmins to Thrissur city from their business centres in adjoining areas. Soon, Thrissur city was built into a flourishing centre of internal trade in Kerala, as crores of gold jewellery is traded annually in the city. It is one of the main manufacturing centres of plain gold jewellery and rolled gold in South India. 70% of Kerala's jewellery is manufactured in Thrissur. According to the World Gold Council, the total annual sale of gold in Kerala for all purposes is around 70 tonnes while in the Indian market it is around 700 tonnes.
Thrissur is also the headquarters of three major scheduled banks, South Indian Bank Ltd, Catholic Syrian Bank and Dhanalakshmi Bank Ltd. There are thousands of chit fund companies around Thrissur city. The other industries are diamond polishing and automobile tire molding. Major business groups like Kalyan Group, Alukkas, Josco etc. are located in Thrissur. M.M. Ramachandran of ATLAS Jewellery & Group, Gulfar Mohammadali, Emke Yousafali, Goodnight Mohan, Ujala Ramachandran, Mr. P.N.C Menon (Sobha Developers) and the like have roots in Thrissur.
The Infopark Thrissur, a 42-acre campus in Koratty, links Thrissur to the information technology highway which it has missed. The Info Park at Thrissur will form a part of the planned hub and spoke model of development with Info Park in Kochi acting as the hub.
Civic administration
See List of Thrissur Corporation wards


Town Hall at Thrissur where public meetings and cultural programmes are held.
Thrissur Municipality came into existence on 1 July 1949 and the Municipal town was upgraded to the level of a Municipal Corporation on 1 October 2000 with the Panchayats of Ayyanthole, Koorkkenchery, Nadathara, Vilvattom (part), Ollur and Ollukkara. The Corporation comprises three legislative assemblies (Thrissur, Ollur, Cherpu). 50 members are elected to the corporation council from 50 wards. The Thrissur Mayor is Professor R Bindu.
Thrissur Police is headed by Thrissur Superintendent of Police, who is an IPS officer. The Thrissur Police comes under the jurisdiction of Kerala Home Ministry. Thrissur city is divided into two zones, Thrissur Town West and Thrissur Town East. Thrissur is one of the three cities in Kerala which will automate the functioning of police control rooms and flying squad patrol vehicles. Mobile patrol vans equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Terrestrial Trunked Radio Network (TETRA) will help Thrissur police to respond quickly to distress calls. This system will enable the Thrissur police to identify the location of the police vans on a digital map of the Thrissur District. The system automatically identifies the approximate location of a distress caller on a Geographic Information System based digital map of the district if a person calls the police control room (100) from a landline.
Politics
Main article: Thrissur (Lok Sabha constituency)
Thrissur has played a significant part in the political history of South India. Even as early as 1919 a committee of the Indian National Congress (INC) was functioning in Thrissur. During the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1921, several people from the Thrissur city took active part and courted arrest. Thrissur Assembly constituency is part of Thrissur (Lok Sabha constituency). The current MP is PC Chacko. Therambil Ramakrishnan is the representative of Thrissur constituency in the Kerala State Assembly.
Transport
Main article: Transport in Thrissur
Thrissur city is largely dependent on private buses, Taxis and auto rickshaws (called autos) for public transport. State-owned Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs inter-state, inter-district and city service. Thrissur have three bus stations. One is Shaktan Thampuran Private Bus Stand, Thrissur in Sakthan Thampuran Nagar (S.T.Nagar). Second one is the Vadakke Stand (Northern Bus Stand) and third one is the KSRTC Bus Station near the Thrissur railway station.
Thrissur city lies on National Highways NH 47 and NH 17. These highways traverse through the entire length and breadth of the city from different points and gain access to nearby cities and towns like Kochi, Kozhikode, Coimbatore and Palakkad. It has also many artery roads which connect to other parts of Thrissur district like Chalakudy, Chavakkad, Irinjalakuda, Kodungallur, Mala, Wadakkanchery and Guruvayur.
Thrissur Junction connects Thrissur city to the railway map of India. This station is considered as the gateway to Kerala, by providing trains to any direction. It lies on the busy Shoranur-Cochin Harbour section. Thrissur city have a satellite station in Poonkunnam and two minor stations in Ollur and Mulankunnathukavu. Suburban rail services from Thrissur to other neighbouring districts are on the cards. This will provide fast connectivity to Cochin, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had carried out a study on the feasibility of operating an inter-district suburban-rail service. The report said that suburban services were possible in the Guruvayoor-Thrissur-Cochin; Alappuzha-Cochin; and Kottayam-Cochin sectors. Suburban trains would also see bus commuters shift to it, as the fares will be much lower.
There is no airport in Thrissur city. The Cochin International Airport, which is about 50 kilometres. Calicut International Airport at Karipur , near Calicut, is the second nearest airport near to Thrissur, which is 80 km from the city.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[3] Thrissur city had a population of 317,474. Males constitute 48.6% and females constitute 51.4% of the total population. The density of population is 3,130/sq.km. The sex ratio is 1,092/1,000 male. The total number of the households in the city is 66,827. The average family size in Thrissur city is 4.27 members. Provisional results from Census 2001 indicate that Thrissur city has a slum population equivalent to 0.50% of the total city population and 0.37% of the State’s slum population. Thrissur city has an average literacy rate of 86.5%: male literacy rate is 87% whereas female literacy rate is 86%.
Culture and Literature


Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple gate
Thrissur, often hailed as the Cultural Capital of Kerala, is built around a hillock crowned by the famous Vadakkunnathan temple, believed to have been founded by the legendary saint Parasurama. This Shiva temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture and houses several sacred shrines. Asia's highest church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours (Puthan Pally), Our Lady of Lourdes's Metropolitan Cathedral of Syrian Catholics is noted for its imposing interior. Its main attraction is an underground shrine which is a masterpiece of architectural design. The [[Sacred Heart Latin Church of Latin Catholics and the Marth Mariam Big Church, Indian headquarters of Chaldean/Assyrian Church of the East, are also situated at Thrissur. The district also houses the headquarters of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church in Thozhiyoor. The ancient port of Muziris or Kodungaloor is the cradle of Christianity and Islam in India. This is where St. Thomas arrived in India. Later he established the first church in India at Palayur. Kodungaloor houses the first Muslim mosque of the country built by Cheraman Perumaal, a Hindu king who accepted Islam. It is believed that Aadi Shankara spent his last days here.


Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple.
The major cultural attraction is the Thrissur Pooram festival, celebrated during April and May. The Elephant - Umbrella Display competition is spectacular, as richly caparisoned elephants carrying ceremonial umbrellas take the deity around the main temple. The passionate drum concerts and the spectacular firework displays are all part of the Pooram celebration. Another attraction of this city is the "Puli Kali" ("Puli" means 'tiger' and "Kali" means 'play') on the fourth day of Onam celebrations (Nalaam Onam). It is a procession of different clubs from all over the city. Participants with tiger-striped body paint captivate the onlookers with their energetic dances. The festival attracts thousands to the city. Thrissur is widely acclaimed as the land of elephant lovers.
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Kerala Lalithakala Akademi are headquartered at Thrissur. Kerala Sahitya Akademi was established to promote the growth of Malayalam language and literature. Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi promotes dance, music, drama and folk arts of Kerala. Kerala Lalitakala Akademi was established to promote fine arts and artistic heritage.
Jose Theater, the first theatre in Kerala equipped with a movie projector, is in this city. Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi movies are shown in the eight major theatres. For the last few years, the city has been hosting the International Film Festival of Thrissur (IFFT). Around 100 films from 35 countries are shown. It is the second largest film festival in Kerala; the largest is in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2006, another International Film Festival started in Thrissur, nathe mely Thrissur International Film Festival (TIFF).


Sarpa Kavu at Sakthanthamburan palace, Thrissur.
Thrissur can easily be called the cradle of Indian Communism. Famous thinkers such as Joseph Mundassery, C. Achuthamenon and many others were from this city. Current Books and House of Knowledge were two prominent bookstores in the 1950s to 80s of Thrissur history. A land of famous writers, artists, musicians and journalists as well, Thrissur boasts of having benefited from the best of men and women. All belonging to Thrissur District, Ouseppachan and Johnson are well-known film musicians and Sathyan Anthikkad, a noted film director ,Noted Film-stage actor and social reformist Sri. Bharath Premji.
Thrissur is also the birth place of Kerala's Indian Coffee House movement. The first ICH of the state was opened in Thrissur in 1959 with Advocate T.K. Krishnan and Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai as founders. The laid-back business culture of Thrissur is well known amongst the rest of Kerala. Known for their quick-witted repartee and accents, the Thrissurians still maintain a daily working schedule of 10 am - 7 pm. Thekkinkadu Maidan is full of card players and evening political debates take place here every day.
Education
Main article: Education in Thrissur
Thrissur city also has many educational institutions, known all across Kerala for the quality of education they impart. Thrissur has a reputation for being student friendly. With the existence of agricultural university, three medical colleges, a proposed medical university, about a dozen engineering colleges, an ayurveda college, a veterinary college, business schools, law college, fine arts college, well-known arts and science colleges, good residential schools, Thrissur is a scholar's city. It is also the center of coaching classes for the aspiring doctors and engineers of the future. Around thousands of students go through these coaching classes for various undergraduate entrance examinations in Kerala and other states, as well as civil service exam.
Media
The first newspaper published in Thrissur was Lokamanyan in 1920[citation needed] and the second one was Deenabandhu in 1941[citation needed]. Today, leading newspapers such as Mathrubhumi, Express, Thejas, Malayala Manorama, Deshabhimani, Kerala Kaumudi, Deepika, Madhyamam Daily and Mangalam have Thrissur editions. Doordarshan and a number of private Malayalam channels have regional studios in the city. The Press Club of Thrissur [1] is situated at Round North. Private FM radio stations in the city are Club FM 104.8 (Mathrubhumi Co Ltd), Radio Mango 91.9 (Malayala Manorama Co Ltd), BEST FM 95 (Asianet Communications Limited), and Red FM 93.5 (Sun TV Network). All India Radio AM/MW Radio Station Thrissur (630KHz) has been broadcasting for several decades. Telephone services are provided by various players like BSNL, Reliance, Tata Indicom, Virgin Mobile India, Airtel, Idea, Vodafone, Aircel and MTS India .
Sports
Football is the most popular sport in Thrissur city. Thrissur has a floodlit stadium, known as Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium. There are three more stadiums (Thope, Kerala Varma College and Agricultural University). It also has two indoor stadiums (V.K.N.Menon Indoor Stadium & Thope Stadium) and a Sports Authority of India (SAI) maintained swimming pool with international facilities. The veteran footballers and former Indian captains C. V. Pappachan, I. M. Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri hail from this city. Thrissur has contributed many national and international bodybuilding stars to India, such as T. V. Poly and V. M. Basheer.