Dsp thrissur ch2

District Spatial Plan - Thrissur HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGE

Department of Town & Country Planning, KeralaDepartment of Town & Country Planning, Kerala

Chapter – 2HISTORY 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

Thrissur with its rich history, cultural heritage and

archaeological wealth, is called the cultural capital of

Kerala. From ancient times, this district has played a

significant role in the political history of South India.

Many rulers and dynasties beginning with the Zamorins

of Kozhikode, Tipu Sultan of Mysore and Europeans in-

cluding the Dutch and the British moulded the destiny

of this region. Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as

“Sakthan Thampuran” was the architect of the present

Thrissur Town.

The term Thrissur is the abbreviated anglicized

form of the malayalam word “THRISSIVAPERUR” which

means the town of the “SACRED SIVA”. The town is built

on an elevated ground, at the apex of which is the fa-

mous “VADAKKUNNATHAN” Temple. A place of great

antiquity, Thrissur was also known as

“VRISHABHADRIPURAM” and “TEN KAILASAM” in an-

cient days. Thrissur is also named as ‘Trichur’ during

the colonial period.

The district played a very important role in fos-

tering trade relations between Kerala and outside world

in the ancient and medieval periods. The sea port of

Muziris of the Sangam age is the modern Kodungallur

of Thrissur district.

The political agents of British Government had

their temporary head quarters in Thrissur. The Trichur

was connected by roads to hinterland settlements. The

Trichur-Coimbatore road was inaugurated in 1844. A

narrow gauge railway line from Shornur to Ernakulam

through Thrissur was commissioned in 1902. This was

later converted into broad-gauge in 1944.The existence

of the Trichur Public Library dates back to the seventies

of the 19th century. The Museum, Zoo and Botanical

Gardens were started in 1885. The Central Jail of Cochin

Sakthan Palace, Thrissur

15

admin

Text Box

<< CHAPTER 1

admin

Text Box

< CONTENTS >

District Spatial Plan - Thrissur


HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGE

State was established in 1914.

The present Trichur district is a part of erstwhile

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

Parur.

Melpathoor Narayana Bhattathiri (Narayanee-

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

Centre, The Kerala Nritha Kalalayam, The Kerala

Sahithya Academy, The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka

Academy , Kerala Lalithakala Academy (fostering de-

velopment of Kerala Dance, Drama and Music) are lo-

cated here. School of Drama, established in 1977 is also

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

Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthi

The Kerala Sahithya Academy

The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy

16



in South Asia. The Cheraman Juma Masjid, believed to

be the oldest Mosque in India is situated in Thrissur

District.

The famous Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur lies

just 25 km from Thrissur town. And there are many his-

toric temples like Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple,

Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple, Irinjalakuda

Koodalmanikkyam Bharatha Temple, Thiruvilwamala

Villuadrinatha Temple etc.

Millions of money is traded in

the city of Thrissur under the name

Gold and that is why Thrissur is also

Known as the Gold capital of India.

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-

cial institution as they exceed 1000,

both government and private. Three predominant

scheduled banks in Kerala, the South Indian Bank, the

Catholic Syrian Bank and Dhanalakshmi bank have their

headquarters at Thrissur. Diamond polishing and auto-

mobile tyre moldings are the remaining industries that

play an important role in Thrissur economy.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Guruvayoor Temple

2.2 REGIONAL LINKAGES

Thrissur district is in the central region of Kerala

state lying between 10010’ and 100 46’ north latitude and

750 57’ and 760 54’ east longitude. Thrissur district is

bounded on the north by Malappuram and Palakkad

Districts, south by Idukki and Ernakulam districts, east

by Palakkad district and Coimbatore district of

TamilNadu and west by Lakshadweep sea.

Thrissur is placed approximately 295

Km north of the state head quarters of

Kerala, 71 kms north to Kochi, the indus-

trial hub of Kerala and 120 kms south to

Kozhikode, the commercial capital of

Malabar region. (figure 2.1) Thrissur town lies 55 km far

from Cochin International air-port and 80 kilometer far

from Kozhikodu air-port. Thrissur railway station is an

important railway station that connects South India to

rest of India through Trivandrum-Chennai and

Trivandrum-Mangalapuram routes. KSRTC operates bus

Puthenpally (New Church) Cheraman Juma

17



HISTORY AND REGIONAL LINKAGE

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

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.

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

NH-47 act as a main spine of traffic movement

for the district. It facilitates commutation of passen-

gers and goods from within the state and outside the

Paramekkavu TempleThiruvambadi Temple

Fig 2.1 Regional conectivity with other district

71 k.m.

295 k.m.

120 k.m.

18



state. This may be due to the fact that NH 47 is the only

national highway passing through the district in 1980’s.

NH-17 acts as a coastal corridor connecting coastal belt

of Kerala. It also facilitates transportation of perishable

coastal goods.

Railways play an important role in the transport

sector of the district in terms of inter-regional passen-

ger and goods movement. Railways provide the cheaper

and fast inter-city and intra-district transportation fa-

cility for commuters. Thrissur is an important railhead

of southern railways.

The network pattern of the railways in the dis-

trict is primarily in the form of two corridors:Double

lane broad gauge running from Ernakulam to Shornur

(ie. South-North), parallel to NH-47 and East-West Broad

gauge (Single Line) connecting Poonkunnam to world

famous temple town Guruvayoor. Transporation net-

Fig 2.2 Transportation Network - Thrissur District

work of Thrissur district is shown in Fig 2.2

Before the construction of roads in the latter half

of 19th century, inland traffic in the district was carried

on almost entirely over backwaters and rivers. The taluk

of Kodungallur and portions of the taluks of

Mukundapuram and Trichur are so admirably served by

backwaters and rivers that they not only afforded easy

and cheap means of conveying the produce of the inte-

rior to the ports of Cochin, Kodungallur and Chettuvai

but also enabled the old Cochin state to enjoy the lion’s

share of the trade with the Portuguese and the Dutch

on the Malabar coast for nearly 3 centuries. Indeed ca-

nals are important means of communication in early

Cochin that successive rulers devoted much attention

to their improvement and maintenance.

The main canals of the district at that time are

1. Ponnani canal in Chavakkad Taluk

19


Departm

ent of Town &

Country Planning, KeralaD

epartment of Tow

n & Country Planning, Kerala

HISTO

RY AN

D REG

ION

AL LIN

KAG

E

Fig 2.3 Water Bodies - Thrissur District

20



Thrissur swaraj round

2. Cannoli canal lying between Chavakkad andMukundapuram taluk

3. Shanmughom canal in Mukundapuram taluk

4. Puthenthodu in Trichur taluk

These canals form the main arteries of water com-

munication. Now Canoli canal is only existing water

way. Water bodies in Thrissur district is shown in Fig

2.3.

2.4 INFERENCE

It can be concluded that Thrissur District with its

rich history, heritage, cultural, religious and archaeo-

logical wealth act as cultural capital of the state. Thedistrict is also well known for festivals (ThrissurPooram), number of cultural and art institutions (likeKalamandalam, Kerala Sahithya Accadamy, etc.), goldand diamond industry and number of historic temples,Churches & Mosques. Thrissur District is connected toother parts of the state and the country through twomodes of transport, rail and roads. The waterway, whichwas once the major mode of transport of the district, isin an abandoned state now. The nearest airport“Nedumbassery” (Kochin International Airport) is lo-cated at a distance of 55kms, and the nearest port Kochiat a distance of 80 kms.

21

admin

Text Box

CHAPTER 3 >>

admin

Text Box

< CONTENTS >

Travel

Dsp thrissur ch2