The Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple is a 1,300-year-old architectural marvel dedicated to Lord Shiva, serving as the spiritual heart around which Thrissur was built. As a masterpiece of indigenous Kerala architecture and a UNESCO Heritage Award winner, it is world-renowned for hosting the grand Thrissur Pooram and its unique sanctum where the Shiva Linga is perpetually covered in a massive mound of sacred ghee.