The History and culture of Thrissur has been developed by the influence of different cultures like Buddhism, Jainism, Brahminism and other European civilisations. Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning. The great Hindu Saint, Adi Shankara, was born very near to the city. Sankara's disciple established four Madoms (muth) in the city.

The history of Thrissur is interlinked with the Cheras of the Sangam age, who ruled over vast portions of Kerala with their capital at Vanchi. From the 9th to the 12th century Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram took over the rule and from the 12th century onwards the history was of Perumpadappu Swarupam. The Perumpadappu Swarupam had its headquarters at Mahodayapuram. Central Kerala was the control of the Perumpadappu Moopil, known as the 'Kerala Chakravarthi'. In the 14th and 15th centuries the Zamorins of Calicut managed to occupy a large part of the present Thrissur district. Kodungalloor, the old harbour of India, attracted European powers to Kerala for trading spices and other commodities. In the consequent centuries the European powers dominated the scene. In the start of 15th century, the Portuguese came and by the beginning of the 17th century the Dutch and the English appeared on the panorama and challenged the Portuguese. Internal conflict in the Perumpadappu Swarupam helped the Dutch to establish their domination in Kerala coast. Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan figured very prominent in the northern part of Kerala during that period. The history of modern Thrissur started with the swearing ceremony of Raja Rama Varma in 1790, who is popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran (1790-1805). The mighty ruler Sakthan Thampuran is legendary as the architect of Thrissur town.