For most of us, Thrissur is all about Athirappilli waterfalls and Guruvayoor temple. But Krishna Teja IAS, assistant collector of Thrissur – incidentally a non-Keralite – insists there are many more things that add to the Central Kerala district's tourist attractions: beaches, dams, varied cultures, heritage etc.
Teja is not just making the claim, but is also explaining the district’s tourism potential through the “Thrissur Tourism Circuit” program. The plan proposes six tourism circuits in the district for the purpose. It is projected to be implemented with assistance from people working in different segments of society, like the District Tourism Promotion Council, hotels, travel agents, taxi drivers, Kudumbasree, etc.
Blue Circuit (Water tourism)
The Blue Circuit plan envisages a 7am start in Thrissur to arrive in Vazhachal by 8.30am. After spending an hour in Vazhachal, one can move on to Charppa, which is five kilometers away. The next stop is Athirappilly at 11am. One can spend two hours at the famous waterfall location.
Lunch will be at Thumpoormuzhi, around 1.30pm. From there, the circuit goes straight to Munakkal beach, 47 kilometres away, reaching there by 4.30pm. This is where you can see dolphins.
Brown Circuit (Dam visits)
Thrissur has the largest number of dams Kerala. Teja's plan insists dams can be used not only for drinking water and irrigation, but also for tourism.
In this circuit, one leaves Thrissur by 8 in the morning to reach Chimmony dam by 9.30am. Peechi dam is 29 kilometers from there. After reaching Peechi by 11.30, one can proceed to Vazhani. dam. Lunch is at Vazhani at 1.30pm. After the lunch, one can go to Poomala dam. After a 16-kilometer journey from there, the trip can reach Vilangankunnu and return to Thrissur after experiencing the joy of twilight from there.
Green Circuit (Backwater tourism)
The Green Circuit is planned with Chimmony, Enamavu and Snehatheeram beach in focus. Enamavu will host a house boat trip and exquisite food with local dishes. The boat will reach Snehatheeram at around 5.30pm before the sunset.
Yellow Circuit (Cultural tourism)
Thrissur is known as the cultural capital of Kerala and the Yellow Circuit focuses on familiarizing a traveler with its cultural centers. One heads for Kerala Kalamandalam, 32 kilometers away from Thrissur town, by 8 in the morning, reaching by breakfast time. After spending two hours there, the visitors are driven to Puppet Art Gallery by 11.30 am. From there, one moves to Thrissur Shakthan Thampuran Museum, which is situated 43 kilometers away. The afternoon schedule includes the Zoo Museum and the Ayurveda Museum, which cap the cultural tour.
Orange Circuit (Muziris Heritage tourism)
This segment presents a journey to know closely the rich heritage of the district. It starts from Thrissur at 8am and reaches Paravoor, where a visit is set to the synagogue. Kottapuram Fort, Paliam Palace, Pattanam Excavation Centre and Museum are also covered, enriching one's knowledge of the history and heritage of Thrissur.
Red Circuit (All in one tour)
This one is a plan for those who wish to cover all parts in a single day. The journey begins from Thrissur at 8.30am. Vilangankunnu, Vazhani Dam and Zoo and Museum are covered, ending the journey at Snehatheeram beach in the evening in time for a nice view of the sunset. The package includes representative locations from the other packages.
The Circuit tourism package is not implemented by the government or DTPC or the Corporation. It is the responsibility of everyone to implement it. It's just a guidance to those who would love to undertake a leisure journey during the vacation or at weekends. It links up tourist spots in the district that we can visit by ourselves. Taxi owners, hotels, and travel agents can also come forward to implement the plan.
Benefits of Circuit tourism:
1. Organized tourism plans.
2. Self-employment possibilities focusing on tourism areas.
3. Taxis and hotels at decent rates.
Future plans:
1. Increase the number of tourism circuits.
2. Mobile apps for visitors.
3. Arrangements to convey messages to nearby police stations in emergencies.
4. Tourist guides with ratings.
