The summer holidays are closing in and the best way to spend the vacation is to make a short trip. If one is to pick a place in Kerala, Thrissur offers a wide range of options - right from forests to seashores to museums and a zoo.
Many people from other districts come to Thrissur’s tourist spots. If planned well, the district can be covered in three days.
Thrissur town
The Thrissur town is laid out around a 65-acre hill called Thekkinkad Maidanam. On the hill is the Vadakkumnatha temple. The Thrissur Pooram takes place on this ground. The Swaraj Round fringes the ground and as a cascade, the town is designed as ‘rounds.’ Outside the Swaraj Round runs the outer ring road. The design of the town, in circles, ensures that traffic blocks are relatively lower in the town. Also, it is interesting to see the town moving in a circular pattern, from a height.
Paramekkavu temple
The temple is dedicated to Vaishanvi Devi and is the largest temple in the state to have this presiding deity. It is estimated that the temple is 1000 years old. The temple is open to devotees from 4 am to 4 pm. The temple partners in the Thrissur Pooram and parades 15 caparisoned elephants and a Melam ensemble for the Pooram.
Dolours Basilica
The 2500-sq ft Dolours Basilica is built in the Indo-Gothic style. It is the third-largest in Asia and the largest in the country with double-storey corridors. The basilica is the place of worship for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The church can be seen from Paramekkavu and takes 10 minutes by road from there. The 260-ft high Bible tower right behind the basilica is worth a watch. A beautiful view of the state unfolds from the top of the tower. The basilica itself has intricate wall paintings and biblical incident inscriptions. The twin facade towers of the basilica are 140-ft high.
Puthoor zoo
The Puthur zoo is a model one which enables a visitor see animals in its natural habitat. Animals roam freely in large enclosures and are not confined to cages. The zoo is the largest in South India. An animal gets a space between 70 cents and one acre to move about. There are moats that run around every enclosure to keep the animals inside their enclosures. The zoo is designed by eminent designer Jon Coe. (The zoo is expected to open soon).
