Dsp thrissur ch2

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District Spatial Plan - Thrissur HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGE 15

Chapter – 2
HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGES

Thrissur is a central coastal district of Kerala situ-
ated approximately 295 Km north of
Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The District
played a very important role in fostering trade rela-
tions between Kerala and outside world in the ancient
and medieval periods. This is an introductory chapter
which include an introduction about Thrissur district,
its historical background and physical setting of the dis-
trict with respect to the nearby important settlements
are described.

2.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Sakthan Palace, Thrissur
Thrissur with its rich history, cultural heritage and
archaeological wealth, is called the cultural capital of
the colonial period.
Kerala. From ancient times, this district has played a
significant role in the political history of South India. The district played a very important role in fos-
Many rulers and dynasties beginning with the Zamorins tering trade relations between Kerala and outside world
of Kozhikode, Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Europeans in- in the ancient and medieval periods. The sea port of
cluding the Dutch and the British moulded the destiny Muziris of the Sangam age is the modern Kodungallur
of this region. Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as of Thrissur district.
“Sakthan Thampuran” was the architect of the present The political agents of British Government had
Thrissur Town. their temporary head quarters in Thrissur. The Trichur
The term Thrissur is the abbreviated anglicized was connected by roads to hinterland settlements. The
form of the malayalam word “THRISSIVAPERUR” which Trichur-Coimbatore road was inaugurated in 1844. A
means the town of the “SACRED SIVA”. The town is built narrow gauge railway line from Shornur to Ernakulam
on an elevated ground, at the apex of which is the fa- through Thrissur was commissioned in 1902. This was
mous “VADAKKUNNATHAN” Temple. A place of great later converted into broad-gauge in 1944.The existence
antiquity, Thrissur was also known as of the Trichur Public Library dates back to the seventies
“VRISHABHADRIPURAM” and “TEN KAILASAM” in an- of the 19th century. The Museum, Zoo and Botanical
cient days. Thrissur is also named as ‘Trichur’ during Gardens were started in 1885. The Central Jail of Cochin

Department of Town & Country Planning, Kerala

16 HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGE District Spatial Plan - Thrissur

yam), Poonthanam (Njanappana), Unnayi Warrier
(Nalacharitham), Kunjikuttan Thampuran known
as Kerala Vyasa, Vallathol Narayana Menon,
C.Achutha Menon, Panditaraja K. Rama Pisharoti
are some prominent personalities belonging to
this district.
Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthi, re-
nowned the world over for its Kathakali training
Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthi
Centre, The Kerala Nritha Kalalayam, The Kerala
Sahithya Academy, The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka
State was established in 1914. Academy , Kerala Lalithakala Academy (fostering de-
The present Trichur district is a part of erstwhile velopment of Kerala Dance, Drama and Music) are lo-
Cochin state. Cochin state had been divided into
‘Nadus’, these Nadus were subsequently divided into
‘Kovilakathum-vathukkals’ or Taluks. The taluks were
grouped into two divisions- Vadakkemugham and
Thekkemugham. The Cochin area of present Trichur
comes formed part of the Vadakkemugham. With ef-
fect from the 1st July 1949 a new district named Thrissur
was formed with 6 taluks of the erstwhile Cochin State
viz. Thalappilly, Chittoor, Thrissur, Mukundapuram,
Canannore and Cochin-Kanayannur and taluks of erst-
while Travancore areas, namely, Kunnathunad and
The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy
Parur.
cated here. School of Drama, established in 1977 is also
Melpathoor Narayana Bhattathiri (Narayanee-
in this district. The Trichur Town hall contains the Ar-
chaeological Museum and Picture Gallery, where mu-
ral paintings from all parts of the state are copied and
exhibited.
Thrissur city have a large number of historic
temples such as Thiruvambady temple,
Vadakkumnathan temple and Paramekkavu temple and
the temples participates in the colorful Thrissur
pooram. Thrissur pooram is a spectacular religious fes-
tival in South India and known as “Mother of all Poorams”
which brings thousands of people from around the
world. In Thrissur city there are two well known
churches, the Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathe-
dral and the Our Lady of Dolours, popularly known as
“Puthenpally” (the New Church). It is the biggest church
The Kerala Sahithya Academy


Vadakkunnathan Temple Guruvayoor Temple

in South Asia. The Cheraman Juma Masjid, believed to 2.2 REGIONAL LINKAGES
be the oldest Mosque in India is situated in Thrissur Thrissur district is in the central region of Kerala
District. state lying between 10010’ and 100 46’ north latitude and
The famous Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur lies 750 57’ and 760 54’ east longitude. Thrissur district is
just 25 km from Thrissur town. And there are many his- bounded on the north by Malappuram and Palakkad
toric temples like Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple, Districts, south by Idukki and Ernakulam districts, east
Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple, Irinjalakuda by Palakkad district and Coimbatore district of
Koodalmanikkyam Bharatha Temple, Thiruvilwamala TamilNadu and west by Lakshadweep sea.
Villuadrinatha Temple etc. Thrissur is placed approximately 295
Millions of money is traded in Km north of the state head quarters of
the city of Thrissur under the name Kerala, 71 kms north to Kochi, the indus-
Gold and that is why Thrissur is also trial hub of Kerala and 120 kms south to
Known as the Gold capital of India. Kozhikode, the commercial capital of
All major jewelleries in Kerala have
branches in Thrissur and 70%
of manufacturing of plain gold and
rolled gold happens in this city.
Thrissur city is also an
important center of garments made
of Silk in Kerala. This city holds the
record for the highest number finan-
Puthenpally (New Church) Cheraman Juma
cial institution as they exceed 1000,
both government and private. Three predominant Malabar region. (figure 2.1) Thrissur town lies 55 km far
scheduled banks in Kerala, the South Indian Bank, the from Cochin International air-port and 80 kilometer far
Catholic Syrian Bank and Dhanalakshmi bank have their from Kozhikodu air-port. Thrissur railway station is an
headquarters at Thrissur. Diamond polishing and auto- important railway station that connects South India to
mobile tyre moldings are the remaining industries that rest of India through Trivandrum-Chennai and
play an important role in Thrissur economy. Trivandrum-Mangalapuram routes. KSRTC operates bus



Thiruvambadi Temple Paramekkavu Temple

services to Thrissur from all important cities in Kerala
and also interstate buses are available to reach Thrissur
from Madurai, Chennai, Coimbathoor etc.

2.3 CONNECTIVITY
The road network is the most important mode of
transportation in the district connecting almost all im-
portant nodes. Thrissur district is well connected with
almost all the major towns and cities of the state as
120 k.m. well as nation. The district has comparatively good con-
nectivity due to the two National Highways (NH-47, NH-
17) having a total length of about 124.56km, twenty State
Highways (374.03km), district roads (1249.06kms) and
the railway route network.
71 k.m. Broadly, the transport network structure in the
district is a network of roads and railway routes. The
existing National Highways in the district are:
1. Kanyakumari – Salem NH-47 start from
Karukutty (Pongam) to Vaniyampara of length 60km.
2. NH-17 from Moothakunnam to
Palapetty of length 64.562km and Kodungallur Bye-Pass
of length 3.75 Km

295 k.m. NH-47 act as a main spine of traffic movement
for the district. It facilitates commutation of passen-
Fig 2.1 Regional conectivity with other district gers and goods from within the state and outside the


state. This may be due to the fact that NH 47 is the only work of Thrissur district is shown in Fig 2.2
national highway passing through the district in 1980’s.
Before the construction of roads in the latter half
NH-17 acts as a coastal corridor connecting coastal belt th
of 19 century, inland traffic in the district was carried
of Kerala. It also facilitates transportation of perishable
on almost entirely over backwaters and rivers. The taluk
coastal goods.
of Kodungallur and portions of the taluks of
Railways play an important role in the transport Mukundapuram and Trichur are so admirably served by
sector of the district in terms of inter-regional passen- backwaters and rivers that they not only afforded easy
ger and goods movement. Railways provide the cheaper and cheap means of conveying the produce of the inte-
and fast inter-city and intra-district transportation fa- rior to the ports of Cochin, Kodungallur and Chettuvai
cility for commuters. Thrissur is an important railhead but also enabled the old Cochin state to enjoy the lion’s
of southern railways. share of the trade with the Portuguese and the Dutch
on the Malabar coast for nearly 3 centuries. Indeed ca-
The network pattern of the railways in the dis-
nals are important means of communication in early
trict is primarily in the form of two corridors:Double
Cochin that successive rulers devoted much attention
lane broad gauge running from Ernakulam to Shornur
to their improvement and maintenance.
(ie. South-North), parallel to NH-47 and East-West Broad
gauge (Single Line) connecting Poonkunnam to world The main canals of the district at that time are
famous temple town Guruvayoor. Transporation net- 1. Ponnani canal in Chavakkad Taluk

Fig 2.2 Transportation Network - Thrissur District


Fig 2.3 Water Bodies - Thrissur District


Thrissur swaraj round

2. Cannoli canal lying between Chavakkad and logical wealth act as cultural capital of the state. The
Mukundapuram taluk district is also well known for festivals (Thrissur
3. Shanmughom canal in Mukundapuram taluk Pooram), number of cultural and art institutions (like
Kalamandalam, Kerala Sahithya Accadamy, etc.), gold
4. Puthenthodu in Trichur taluk
and diamond industry and number of historic temples,
These canals form the main arteries of water com-
Churches & Mosques. Thrissur District is connected to
munication. Now Canoli canal is only existing water other parts of the state and the country through two
way. Water bodies in Thrissur district is shown in Fig modes of transport, rail and roads. The waterway, which
2.3. was once the major mode of transport of the district, is
in an abandoned state now. The nearest airport
2.4 INFERENCE
“Nedumbassery” (Kochin International Airport) is lo-
It can be concluded that Thrissur District with its cated at a distance of 55kms, and the nearest port Kochi
rich history, heritage, cultural, religious and archaeo- at a distance of 80 kms.


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Dsp thrissur ch2

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