The city of Thrissur is located at an altitude of 9.38 feet above the sea level and is populated by about 3,00,000 people. Malayalam is the native and widely spoken language here. The city is the fourth largest city of central Kerala and the headquarters of Thrissur District. It is built on a hillock known as Thekkinkadu Maidan which is an open ground in the center of the city, where the famous Vadakkumnathan temple is located. As per the 2011 census data, the total population of the district is 3.1 million out of which 35 percent constitutes the working age population.10 percent of the workers are involved in agriculture, 3 percent in the household industry while 87 percent work in the industrial and services sector. Manufacturing, trade, commerce and retail business are the bulk employers in the district. Jewellery manufacturing provides large direct and indirect employment to the people. Ayurvedic drug manufacturing is also important in this region. The city hosts one of the biggest and most colorful temple festivals of Kerala known as Thrissur Pooram, showcasing the rich heritage, history and culture of the state. Thrissur is an abbreviation of Thrissivaperur, which means “Abode of Lord Shiva”. The beautiful temples and churches add to the charm of this city. Thrissur is aptly referred to as the “Cultural Capital of Kerala”, which also played an important role in fostering trade relations between India and other countries during the ancient and medieval periods. The city lies near the tectonic area of the Indian Plate and is thus is subjected to occasional volcanic activity.
