Around Thrissur
Exploring Thrissur from Neelambari
Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala, and Neelambari is about half an hour from the middle of it. Most of what we send guests to see is within about an hour's drive, so you can base yourself here, spend the day out, and come back to the village in the evening. Distances below are by road.
In the city
The Vadakkunnathan temple (about 15 km, half an hour) is the monument around which Thrissur grew. Siva is the presiding deity, and the city takes its name from him. Several of the temples around the city are described on our Temples of Thrissur page. Of these the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples, within the city, play the central roles in the Thrissur Pooram.
Shakthan Thampuran Palace (about 18 km) is now an archaeological museum. It is close to the Vadakkunnathan temple, so the two go well together.
The Thrissur Zoo and Museum (about 18 km), in Chembukkavu, belongs to the same part of town as the palace.
Our Lady of Dolours Basilica, known locally as Puthan Palli, is a Syro-Malabar Catholic church in the Indo-Gothic style, and an easy stop in the middle of the city.
A day out
Kodungallur (about 29 km, under an hour). Kodungallur was once the port of Muziris, where the Romans traded, and it is considered the cradle of Kerala's history. The Cheraman Juma Masjid here is traditionally dated to 629 CE and is called the oldest mosque in India. Its building, unusually, resembles a Kerala temple. The Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple, one of the great Goddess temples of Kerala, is nearby; we visit it on the Temples of Thrissur programme.
Kerala Kalamandalam (about 45 km, an hour and a quarter). At Cheruthuruthy, Kerala Kalamandalam is the premier institute where Kerala's classical performing arts are taught: Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Mohiniyattam and Thullal, among others, with the percussion and vocal music that go with them. You can go as a regular visitor, or take its guided programme, A Day with the Masters. On the programme, the guides, who are its project coordinator or trained senior students, receive you at the entrance to the campus and take you to the Koothambalam (the temple theatre), the kalaris (classrooms) where percussion and Kathakali music are taught, a gallery of costumed figures of the art forms, and the Vallathol museum, in the former home of the poet Vallathol, who founded Kalamandalam and after whom the campus is named.
Peechi Dam (about 34 km, nearly an hour) is a dam and reservoir, popular for a picnic. Chimmony wildlife reserve is a little further on.
Athirappilly and Vazhachal waterfalls (about 50 km). The falls are the biggest draw in the area, and are usually visited together. The drive takes about an hour and a quarter each way, so plan on most of a day.
Guruvayur (about 40 km, an hour) is perhaps the most visited place of worship in Kerala, and has the elephant sanctuary at Punnathur Kotta.
In the evenings
You do not have to leave the village for culture. We arrange performances of Kathakali, Koodiyattam or Mohiniyattam in the Koothambalam at Neelambari, with an introduction beforehand, and Panchavadyam or Melam can be arranged too.
How to plan it
We can arrange a car and driver, and plan a route that keeps the drives short. For the temples we arrange a guide as well, and we arrange the visits that depend on timing, such as the festivals and the performances.
Planning your visit
Message us on WhatsApp, call +91 94005 25150, or use the enquiry form. We will take it from there.