Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur - An Ancient Shiva Shrine

Thrissur, KeralaTEMPLE

An ancient Shiva temple in Thrissur, famed for its classic Kerala architecture, murals, and as the venue for the Thrissur Pooram festival.

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TEMPLE

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1-2 hours

Accessibility

Not Wheelchair Friendly

Parking

No Parking

Photography

No Photography

About the Destination

Overview

Located in the heart of Thrissur city, Vadakkunnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The entire complex is a classic example of Kerala's traditional architectural style, enclosed by a massive stone wall and situated within a large, open ground known as Thekkinkadu Maidan. Inside the walls, you'll find four main gateways, or gopurams, leading to the inner sanctum. The temple complex includes multiple shrines, with the main three dedicated to Vadakkunnathan (Shiva), Shankaranarayana (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu), and Rama.

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Location & Address

Swaraj Round S, Kuruppam, Thekkinkadu Maidan, Thekkinkadu Maidan, Thrissur, Kerala, India

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is from October to March when the weather in Thrissur is pleasant and dry, making it comfortable to explore the temple grounds. The famous Thrissur Pooram festival, held in April or May, offers a spectacular cultural experience, but expect massive crowds and high temperatures. The monsoon season, from June to September, sees heavy rainfall which can make sightseeing difficult, although the temple and its surroundings look lush and green.
Peak Crowd: April-May (during Thrissur Pooram), November-January (Sabarimala pilgrimage season), and on major festival days like Maha Shivaratri.
Moderate Crowd: Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the year and during evening prayer times.
Low Crowd: Weekday mornings (Monday to Friday) and during the monsoon months of June to September.

How to Reach

Air

Cochin International Airport (COK) is the nearest airport, located about 55 km from Thrissur. It takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the temple by taxi.

Train

Thrissur Railway Station (TCR) is a major railway station in Kerala, located just 2 km from the temple. It is well-connected to all major Indian cities. You can hire an auto-rickshaw or taxi from the station.

Road

Thrissur is well-connected by a network of national and state highways. KSRTC and private buses operate regular services from major cities in Kerala and neighboring states. The temple is located at Swaraj Round, the city's focal point.

Local Transport

Auto-rickshaws are the most common mode of local transport and are readily available. City buses also have frequent services that pass by the temple grounds. Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Ola operate in Thrissur.