Main Pilgrim centers

This temple is a classic example of the architectural style of Kerala and has monumental towers on all four sides and also a kuttambalam. Mural paintings depicting various episodes from Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. Thrissur town gets it name after this ancient Lord Shiva Temple. The real meaning of the name Thrissur is the ‘Town with the name of Lord Shiva’. Thekkinkadu maidan, encircling the Vadakkunnathan Temple, is the main venue of the Thrissur Pooram. There is a multi-shrine complex called as Nalambalam or Chuttamabalam in the centre, with three main shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vadakkunnathan, Shankaranarayana or Hari-Hara (a combined form of Shiva and Vishu) and Lord Rama. To the left of the entrance is the theatre hall called “Koothambalam”. This unique and beautiful structure has well-designed sloping roof of copper plates. This Koothambalam is a tall and spacious structure which contains fine vignettes of wood carving and interesting bracket figures.

Guruvayoor, the abode of Lord Sree Guruvayoorappan, is located 29 kms north west to the cultural capital of the ‘God’s own country’, Kerala. This narrow coastline strip of land on the south western edge of Indian subcontinent is one of the 10 paradises in the world. The Guruvayur temple is known as “Bhooloka Vaikunta”,believed to be at least 5,000 years old[citation needed] and the main idol is believed to have been installed by Brihaspati and Vayu, and to have been blessed by Shiva and Parvati. The temple was built by Vishwakarma the divine architect. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple. Guruvayur is well connected with the other parts of the country by road and rail. Ulsavam (Festival) is conducted in the month of Kumbha (Feb-March) and lasts for 10 days. The Vrishchika Ekadasi (Sukla paksha) is called as Guruvayur Ekadasi in Guruvayur, Kerala. This falls in the Mandala season. The Navami (9th day) and Dasami (10th day) are also very important. As a part of the Ekadasi fete, an 11-day Chembai music festival is organized, in which an incredible array of some 2000 Carnatic musicians give their best.The renowned musicians of South India participate in this festival. An impressive obelisk was erected right at the center of the Devaswom Satram to commemorate the Satyagraham of 1931. The plaque on the obelisk carries a tribute to the memory of this great historical event and a homage to its hero, Sri. K. Kelappan. The temple opens at 3.00 am and temple will be closed between 1.30pm and 4.30pm and reopens at 4.30 pm and will be closed at 9.15 pm.

The Cheraman Juma Mosque is a mosque in Methala, Kodungallur Taluk, Thrissur District. On first glance, Cheraman Juma Masjid resembles a traditional Hindu temple, and this historic spot draws in devotees in large numbers to this day. Built in AD 629, it is the first mosque in India and the second in the world where Juma prayers were started. The mosque has an ancient oil lamp which always burns and which is believed to be more than a thousand years old. People of all religions bring oil for the lamp as offering. Like most, this mosque allows entry for non-Muslims.

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayur is located at Palayur (also spelt Palayoor), in Thrissur district. According to tradition, it was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It was the first Christian Church in India. St. Thomas, the Apostle, arrived in 52 AD at Crangannur {now Kodungallur} with Jewish merchants for the propagation of Christ’s message and through the sea route reached Palayoor in 52 AD and built the Church here. After the construction of the church was complete, its appearance elevated considerably and is now a spectacle to behold. In its architecture, one can see may see many elements from the Hindu culture and of Persian ornamental decorations.

Triprayar Sree Rama Swami Temple, located in Thrissur district of Kerala is one of the important temples dedicated to Lord Rama. Nalambala Darsanam is an annual pilgrimage to four well-known temples in central Kerala during the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam (July 17 to August 16). Nalambala Darsanam involves offering prayers at the Triprayar Sree Rama Temple, Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple, Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple, and Payammal Shathrughna Temple, which are dedicated to Lord Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna respectively, on a single day. The Ekadasi festival in the month of Vrischikam(November – December) is the main festival.On Ekadasi day, Sree Rama is taken in procession with as many as 21 elephants participating. The Darshan timings are 4.30 am to 12.30 pm and at 4.30 pm and will be closed at 8.30 pm.

The ancient Mammiyur Temple is situated at a walkable distance of 200 metres North West to the famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple. The main diety is Lord Shiva in the form of Uma maheswara. Lord Vishnu is also given equal importance in a sanctum sanctorum near to that of Lord Shiva. The temple opens at 4.30 am and temple will be closed at 12.30 pm and reopens at 4.30 pm and will be closed at 8.30 pm.

Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Kerala, is located in the heart of Thrissur City in the state of Kerala, India. Dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, the Syro-Malabar Catholic church is noted for its imposing interior. The main attraction is an underground shrine, considered a masterpiece of architectural design. Fr John Maliekkal is said to have planned and constructed this church. The exterior of the church features an Indo-European facade with pink spires. The centenary of this church was celebrated during the historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Thrissur City in 1986.

Our Lady of Dolours Basilica alias Puthanpally, is a minor basilica of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Thrissur City in the Indian state of Kerala. The third tallest church in Asia, it is famous for its Gothic style architecture. Built in fine Indo-Gothic style with an area of 25,000 square feet, it has soaring belfries at the entrance, double storeyed aisles all along the nave and transepts, and eleven altars, five on either side of the main one. It is the largest church in India and its exuberant interior decorations include fine specimens of murals, images of saints and scenes from the scriptures.

Kanakamala is a village near Chalakudy town, Thrissur district, which bears the same name as a hill in the area. The hill is a part western ghats(sahyadri) and it has 3000 feet height at kanakamala. There is a Roman Catholic church in Kanamala, established in 1943 and dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. It is a place of pilgrimage during the holy week, particularly on Good Friday. Many pilgrims used to climb the hill as an act of prayer and offering.

Koodalmanickyam is the Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit word Sangameswara. Koodalmanikyam Temple is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata, the third brother of Rama. The temple is one of four in Kerala state that form a set called “Nalambalam”,[8] each temple dedicated to one of the four brothers in Ramayana: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Thriputhari on the Thiruvonam day in the month of Thulam (October-November) is an important occasion in the Temple. The temple holds its chief annual festival for ten days each year in the month of Medam (April/May). The festival starts one day after the famous Thrissur Pooram and comes to a close on the next Thiruvonam day. The Darshan timings are 3.00 am to 11.30 pm and at 5.00 pm and will be closed at 8.30 pm.

Shatrughna Swamy Temple is located in Payammal in Thrissur District of Kerala. This is one of the few temples in India that is dedicated to Lord Shatrughna, youngest brother of Lord Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Shatrughna Temple is the fourth temple which devotees visit when they embark on the Nalambalam (Four Temples) yatra or visit. Visiting Nalambalam is considered to be a sacred event during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.