Trichur, the name being derived from 'Tiru-Shiva-Perur' (the town with the name of Lord Shiva), is often called the cultural capital of Kerala.

The town is built around a hillock with its most prominent feature being the Vadakkunathan temple which has Lord Shiva as its presiding deity. Sankaracharya is supposed to have spent his last days in this temple. The Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur and Ponnani (Bharatha Puzha) are the main river systems in the district. Trichur's rise as a town of importance is attributed to Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as 'Sakthan Thampuran', who ascended the throne of the State of Cochin in 1790. This former capital of Cochin State was captured by Zamorin of Calicut in the 14 and 15 centuries. Later, in the latter half of the 18th century, Tipu Sultan held sway over Thrissur, as it was known then, until the European domination began under the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English. 

The wave of nationalism and political consciousness which swept through the country since the early decades of this century had its repercussions in the district as well.