Thrissur has traditionally been a centre of learning. With the decline of Buddhism and Jainism due to the growing supremacy of Brahminism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning[citation needed]. It is believed that the great Hindu Saint, Adi Shankara, was born in answer to the prayer made by Arayambal and Sivaguru at Vadakkunathan temple.For a brief period, Thrissur was the capital of the Kochi kingdom. The Shaktan Thampuran palace, which was the abode of the Cochin king, Raja Rama Varma, also referred to as Sakthan Thampuran, was recently renovated by the Archeological Survey of India. The entire credit for the rise of the modern city of Thrissur goes to Raja Rama Varma, who ascended the throne of the state of Cochin in 1790 Raja Rama Varma rebuilt Thrissur from destruction after attacks from the Tipu Sultan's army.

Thrissur city has played a significant part in the political history of South India. Even as early as 1919 a committee of the Indian National Congress was functioning in Thrissur. In the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1921, several people in the city took active part and courted arrest.

Thrissurites have played an important part in the history of Kerala ands in particular Kochi. The famous Shaktan Thampuran, the most important ruler in Kochi history married into the Kuruppath family of Thrissur. The consort of the Maharaja, Parukutty Neithyaramma was from the Kuruppath clan.

Thrissur is situated in south western India 10.52° N 76.21° E and is in the central part of Kerala state, India. Thrissur is at sea level and spans an area of about 66.15 km². The center of the city is the Swaraj Round and it lies around small hillock called Thekin Kaadu Maidan on which the famous Vadakkumnathan temple is located.

The city enjoys a tropical climate, the monsoons start in June. The months of April-May can get pretty humid which is also one of the best time to visit the city for the famed Thrissur Pooram. The best weather is from October to February.

As per 2001 Census, Thrissur had a population of 3,205,440.Population Density per square Kilometer is 3587. Males constitute 49% and females constitute 51% of the total population.10% is coming under six year of age. Thrissur has an average literacy rate of 86.5%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%. male literacy rate is 87% where as female literacy rate is 86% in the city .

Historians say that Sakthan Thampuran invited Brahmins from the neighbouring Pandya Kingdom, established them at Oottupura or Mass Feeding centres and encouraged them to do business in textiles.

Thrissur can also be referred as the gold capital of India, since there is around Rs. 700 crore business of gold every year in the city. Almost every major jewellery shop in Kerala has its branches in the city. It is one of the main manufacturing centers of plain gold jewellery in the South India. 70% of Kerala's jewellery is manufactured at this city.

Thrissur is also known as the financial hub of Kerala. It is the headquarters of three major scheduled banks, South Indian Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank and Dhanalakshmi Bank Ltd. There are over 4200 chit companies around the city doing roaring business. The other industries are diamond polishing and tyre moulding.

There is a rich variety of flora and fauna here.A variety of wildlife that consists of many rare species of animals, birds and plants.Plants include rosewood, teakwood and orchids etc. Among the wildlife there are animals like leopards, sambar deer, wild dogs, barking deer, spotted deer, bison and elephants and snake etc.