Quick answer
Thrissur Pooram is a temple festival at the Vadakkunnathan Temple and Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur, Kerala, held in the month of Medam, in late April or early May. Expect caparisoned elephants, the Ilanjithara Melam percussion, the parasol exchange called Kudamattam and pre-dawn fireworks. Book Thrissur rooms six to eight weeks ahead and prepare for heat and huge crowds.
Highlights
- Two sides of 15 caparisoned elephants each facing off at the temple
- Ilanjithara Melam, a two-hour chenda performance by 250-plus musicians
- Kudamattam, the rapid exchange of sequinned parasols at sunset
- Pre-dawn fireworks over the Thekkinkadu Maidan
- Pakal Pooram and the goddesses' farewell the next day
What happens at Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram was started in the late 18th century by Sakthan Thampuran, ruler of Kochi, and is now Kerala's most famous temple festival. Ten temples take part, but the show is a friendly contest between two sides, Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu, each parading 15 caparisoned elephants around the Vadakkunnathan Temple and the Thekkinkadu Maidan that surrounds it.
The main day, in order:
- Madathil Varavu in the late morning, a panchavadyam performance by the Thiruvambadi side.
- Ilanjithara Melam in the early afternoon, when 250-plus drummers and wind players build a chenda melam for over two hours.
- Kudamattam around 5:30 pm, when the two sides face each other at the south gate and swap rapid sets of sequinned parasols on the elephants' backs.
- Fireworks in the early hours of the next morning, usually around 3 am.
The day after, Pakal Pooram ends with the goddesses' farewell around noon. A sample fireworks display is held two days before the main day.
Best days and timings
If you can, arrive the day before for the sample fireworks, and plan the main day around Ilanjithara Melam and Kudamattam. Many visitors skip the 3 am fireworks; if you go, watch from the edge of the maidan and bring ear plugs.
Where to stay and how early to book
Thrissur hotels that charge ₹2,000–4,000 normally ask ₹3,000–7,000 during Pooram and sell out six to eight weeks ahead. Guruvayur, about 25 km away, and Kochi, about 80 km and under two hours by train, are good fallbacks.
Heat, crowds and safety
April and May are Kerala's hottest months, 33–35°C and humid, and the maidan has little shade. Carry water and a cap, and rest in the afternoon. Crowds run into lakhs; keep children close and stay well back from the elephants, which can be stressed by noise and heat. Elephant welfare at festivals is a live debate in Kerala, and the rules on parading them have tightened.
Photography and what to wear
For Kudamattam, find a raised spot near the south gate an hour early. Do not use flash near the elephants or get close for selfies. Entry to the temple's inner areas is restricted to Hindus, but the processions and Kudamattam are in the open. Wear light cotton and slip-on sandals.
Combining it
Add Guruvayur, the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy and the Athirappilly falls, then finish in Kochi. See the best time to visit Kerala, things to do in Kerala, our April ideas and the festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thrissur Pooram?
What time should I be at Thrissur Pooram?
Can non-Hindus and foreigners attend Thrissur Pooram?
Is Thrissur Pooram suitable for children and older travellers?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
