Avittathur Siva Temple
About 4 km from Irinjalakuda this ancient Siva temple of architectural workmanship hosts an annual festival for 10 dayS

Arattupuzha Temple
About 14 km from Thrissur this temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The annual festival Pooram is a grand celebration in April and May during which the revered processions of the deities of 41 temples in the neighbourhood to this village take place.

Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple         

Venue: Sree Krishnaswamy Temple, Guruvayoor, 30 km from Thrissur, Thrissur district, North Kerala.

One of the most renowned and oldest temples in Kerala, the Sree Krishnaswamy Temple has an interesting legend behind its origin. According to mythology, Sree Krishna before departing from the earth left his idol with his devotee Udhava.This idol was installed by Guru( Guru or Brihaspathy is the teacher of Devas who are the residents in heaven),Vayu  (the wind God) and Parasurama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the legendary creator of Kerala), at this sacred place. Hence the place took the name Guruvayoorpura and later Guruvayoor.  

The shrine, as it stands today, was constructed during the 16th and 17th century A.D. The elaborate rituals performed here are said to have been prescribed by Adi Sankaracharya , the philosopher saint of Kerala. Apart from this tenday annual utsavam, the temple celebrates the Ashtamirohini   and Vishu festivals in a grand manner. The tenday festival begins with the elephant race which is a unique event here.

The winning elephant is accorded the previlege of carrying the deity's idol (the Thidambu) on special occasions for one year.  Krishnanattom   , a performing art based on the tales of Sree Krishna is staged here as a ritual offering by devotees. Many cultural and religious programmes are conducted during the festival days.

Guruvayur is the most revered and sacred pilgrimage centre of Hindus in Kerala. On any given day, the place witnesses thousands of visitors from India and abroad. The main temple in the town is dedicated to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'.

A large number of young couples come to the town to get married and the busiest business in the area is conducted by the flower and garland sellers. Guruvayoor, according to legend, came into existence when an idol of Lord Krishna was saved by the Guru of the Gods with the help of Vayu, the God of wind, and brought to Kerala. The two gave their names to Guruvayur.

The star attraction of the temple town is the Shree Krishna Temple, where non-Hindus are not allowed. If you are lucky, you could witness the special processions of the images taken out on the elephants of the temple. During festivals, the temple is decorated with thousands of earthen lamps. Near Guruvayur, at Punnathur Kotta, you can see the 44 temple elephants at their home

Guruvayur Festivals

Ashtami Rohini : In the month of Chingam (July-Aug), under the Rohini Nakshatra, on the 8th day of the waning moon of Sravana is the day of Lord Krishna's birth i.e. Janmashtami.

A very special day in all Sree Krishna temples, Guruvayur Devaswom itself offer a niramala (full of garlands and lamps), devotees flock in with cakes of rice paste and jaggery considered the most favourite food of the Lord on that daAarattu: Lord's Thidambu is taken to the Rudratheertha (temple pond) for Aarattu, amidst the chanting of mantras.

Ekadasi : The most important festival during the Mandalam period, lasting for a month. It was on the Guruvayur Ekadasi day that Lord Krishna revealed the Gita to Arjuna.

Chembai Sangeetholsavam : This carnatic music festival is held for 11 days in the memory of Sri Chembai Vaidyanadha Bhagavathar, as part of the Ekadasi celebrations.

Ulsavam : This festival is conducted in the month of Kumbha, i.e., in February or March and lasts for 10 days. The hoisting of the temple flag atop the flagstaff (Dwajastambham) about 70 feet high marks the beginning of the festival. On the 1st day, an elephant race is held.

The next 6 days, devotees can witness elephant processions in the morning, afternoon and night. In the morning, there is the Sribhuta Bali (offering of oblation at various altars). Besides this there are also various cultural programs. On the 8th day, during 'Utsavabali' (from 10 am to 4 pm) oblations are offered to the Lord's lieutenants. A sumptuous feast then awaits the devotees. Pallivetta or the hunting expedition of the Lord takes place on the 9th day. This hunt is symbolic of the destruction of Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and other such evils that plague us in our life.

After that the Lord's idol is takan to the Rudratheertha (temple pond) for Aarattu, amidst the chanting of mantras. Thousands of devotees also take the dip, chanting the Lord's name to wash off their sins. Then noon Pooja (which takes place at night only on this day) is held at the Bhagavati shrine. Finally, the Lord returns to the sanctum sanctorum after 11 circumambulations. The temple flag is then lowered signifying the end of the festival
  
Getting there
Nearest railway station:
Guruvayoor, the station is very close to the shrine.

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport,  about 87 km towards the south.

Koodalmanikyam Temple

 Venue:   Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, North Kerala.  

The Koodalmanikyam Temple is the only one in India dedicated to Bharatha, the brother of Sree Rama, hero of the epic Ramayana. The colourful eleven day annual festival here begins with   Kodiyettam     (flag hoisting) and concludes with the   Arattu     or holy bath.   Ezhunallathu (procession of twelve caparisoned elephants),Manoramamelam, Kathakali,Chakyarkoothu etc are the highlights of the festival days. To know more about the temple and the festival see Koodalmanikyam.  

Getting there
Koodalmanikyam Temple is about 23 km from Thrissur town.

Nearest railway station:
Irinjalakuda.

Nearest airport:
Cochin International Airport, about 58 km from Thrissur town.

Mahadeva Temple
About 12 km away from Thrissur this temple dedicated to Lord Siva is an architectural splendour of the traditional Kerala style. The temple complex spans a large area.

Puzhayannur Bhagavathy Temple
This Bhagavathy Temple which hosts a number of festival is situated about 20 km from Ottapalam a town near Thrissur.

 Thrissur Pooram

The most colorful temple festival of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram, attracts large masses of devotees and spectators form all parts of the State and even outside.

Celebrated in Medom (April-May) it consists of processions of richly caparisoned elephants from various neighbouring temples to the Vadakunnatha temple, Thrissur.

This festival was introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state. The Pooram festival is also well-known for the magnificent display of fireworks.

It is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks more grand and more colorful.

Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each party to secure the best elephants in South India and the most artistic parasols, that are raised on the elephants during the display. The commissioning of elephants and parasols is done in the utmost secrecy by each party to excel the other. Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations last till the break of dawn, the next day.

At the close of the Pooram both these groups enter the temple through the western gate and come out through the southern gate to array themselves, face to face, one from the round and other from the Municipal Office road. This spectacle is highly enchanting. Although this grand festival is known as Thrissur Pooram, it is in fact the conclusion of the eight -day Utsavam of nine temples.

The procession of the Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkunnatha Temple and back is not only important, but also quite enlivening. The marvelous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments, is to be felt and enjoyed

 Uthralikavu Pooram

The annual festival at the Sree Ruthira Mahakaalikavu Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, is the most famous event in the region and is called the Uthralikavu Pooram. The eight-day celebration is highlighted by day-and-night elephant processions. The concluding day of the festival is celebrated as pooram day, when about 21 elephants in traditional caparisons line up with colourful parasols, swaying venchamarams (white tufts like those used for cheerleading) and Aalavattams (peacock-feather fans). Traditional musical ensembles like the Panchavadyam and the Pandimelam add rhythm to this magical spectacle. The cultural fare during the festival includes temple and folk art performances.

Venue: Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple, near Vadakkancherry, Thrissur district.

Event Date : February 28, 2006

Getting there: Nearest railway station: Thrissur, about 20 km away. Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 58 km from Thrissur

 Udyaneswara Temple Trichur

VADAKKUNNATHAN TEMPLE, THRISSUR

The Vadakkunnathan Temple at Thrissur is one of the famous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest temples in Kerala. Adi Sankaracharya is supposed to have spent his last days in this temple. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture. The shrines and the Koothambalam (Temple theatre), display exquisite vignettes carved in wood. Legend says that this temple was built by Parasurama. This temple is famous for its April/May Pooram Festival, which includes colourful and magnificent processions, brightly decorated elephants, fireworks etc.

The principal diety is Mukunda Krishna (Chaturbhuja). The 80th anniversary of the pratista took place in 1980.