Category: Our Voice

Thrissur is one of the fastest developing cities in Kerala and famous for being the cultural capital of the state. It is one of the oldest planned cities in Kerala and boasts of excellent infrastructure with an impressive network of roads and bridges. This is probably one of the contributing factors towards its booming real estate industry, with numerous villa and apartment projects coming up in key areas of the district and its surroundings.

Thrissur boasts of a rich cultural heritage and offers a cohesive medley of traditional and contemporary living. It is also well-known for being the headquarters of various regional banks and Chit Funds as well as to a number of gold jewelry and silk sari showrooms. Popular as a business hub as well as being home to a number of prestigious educational institutions, Thrissur beckons out to homebuyers to come settle down in this bustling city that has everything. With many developers, including Vishraam builders being part of the real estate scenario in Thrissur, the quality and architectural styles of homes here has only gotten better over time. You can find anything here, ranging from budget to luxury homes, villas to apartments, and everything else in-between!

A common feature amongst all these homes is the great locations of these apartments and villas. Most big-brand builders make a point of choosing locations that are well-connected, have low noise and air pollution, are in safe neighborhoods as well as have easy access to important social infrastructure. Here is a look at some of the popular residential areas in Thrissur:

Swaraj Round

Also known as Thrissur Round, it refers to a huge circular road right in the center of Thrissur city. It is about 2km long and surrounds a 65-acre hillock known as the Thekkinkadu Maidan, which houses the famous Vadakkumnathan temple. It is also where the famous Thrissur Pooram festival takes place. All major roads in the city end up linking with the centrally-located Swaraj Round, the largest roundabout in South Asia. All the localities based around the Swaraj Round are high-end properties due to their easy connectivity to the rest of the city. They are among the top-rated residential areas in Thrissur too.

Punkunnam

This is a bustling commercial and residential area in Thrissur and homes here are always in high demand due to their central location and easy connectivity. Punkunnam is located just around 2km away from the Swaraj Round and boasts of a high-end neighborhoods and enviable residential addresses. Owning a residence in Punkunnam is a matter of great prestige. This locality is well-known for the Sitaram Textiles industry based here since the early 1940s as well as the renowned Punkunnam Shiva temple.

Kottapuram

The meaning behind this word translates to ‘the place around a fort’. The fort referred to here is the Cranganore Fort which is almost in ruins now. It was built by the Portuguese in 1523 and later destroyed by the Zamorins and Tipu Sultan. Modern-day Kottapuram is nothing like its heydays and is a peaceful, predominantly residential area now. It lies near the Kottapuram Bridge and is also where the Kollam-Kottapuram National Waterway III ends.

Amala Nagar

This is probably one of the best residential locations to live in. It is close to the Amala Hospital and Medical College and a number of prestigious educational institutions and places of worship. It is also just around 4km away from Sobha Mall. It runs along State Highway 69 and homeowners here get to enjoy stunning views of the nearby Vilangan Kunnu hills.

Chembukkavu

This is another great residential area situated in Thrissur and home to the Thrissur Zoo and the famous pilgrimage site, Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple. This bustling urban area is a popular residential area too.

You couldn’t possibly go wrong in choosing any of the above localities to settle down in, in Thrissur. For those in the market to buy a home, Vishraam builders have a number of prestigious apartment and villa projects located in these premium residential areas.

Along with the state-of-the-art architectural designs, every Vishraam home is an ode to Mother Nature and built responsibly without harming the environment. Come have a look at any Vishraam home today and fall in love!

The centrally-located city of Thrissur in Kerala, is famous for a number of reasons. Not only is it considered the Cultural Capital of Kerala due to its spiritual, cultural and religious leaning throughout history, but it’s also considered a sacred region, being home to the country’s first Church and Mosque and also to Guruvayur, a famous Hindu pilgrimage center. The popular Thrissur Pooram festival, the largest Hindu temple festival in Kerala, also takes place here.

Thrissur is also well-known as the finance capital of Kerala, being the head office of 4 regional banks as well as several Chit Funds. It’s famous for its gold ornaments and silk sari showrooms too. Aside from these, Thrissur has many famous personalities who have contributed in one way or another to Kerala too. Here is a look at some of them:

Chelat Achutha Menon – He was the Chief Minister of Kerala for two terms, serving the state from 1969 till 1977. He left behind a legacy of having initiated a number of institutions and development projects in Kerala. Till recently, he was the only politician to hold the record of being the CM of Kerala for two consecutive terms.

Gopika – Born as Girly Anto to Syro-Malabar Catholic parents in Thrissur, Gopika started off her career as a model before moving on to become a movie star. Though she has acted in more than 35 Telugu, Kannada and Tamil movies, she predominantly acts in Malayalam movies.

Biju Menon – He is a movie actor who made his debut in 1995 and has gone on to star in over 100 Malayalam movies along with a few Tamil and Telugu movies too. He mostly appears in supporting roles, but has taken on the mantle of lead and villain roles in a few movies.

M. Leelavathy – She is a well-known Malayalam writer, educationist and literary critic. During her long illustrious literary career, she has taught at various colleges and has been the recipient of several awards including the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award. She retired as the principal of Government Brennen College, Thalassery. She is a contemporary of luminaries such as K.M. George, N. Krishna Pillai and P.K. Balakrishnan.

Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly – He is an Indian business magnate, philanthropist, humanist and a writer too. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of V Guard industries Limited as well as a renowned chain of amusement parks called Wonderla. Chittilappilly is also the founder of the not-for-profit organization, K. Chittilappilly Foundation that is engaged in philanthropic and charitable activities. Government of India has also bestowed the national Rashtriya Samman award to him.

Justice P. Janaki Amma – Though born in a small village in Thrissur in 1920, she went on to conquer the world of law by becoming just the second female High Court judge in India on 30th May 1974. This was a rare achievement in those days. She served in this position till her retirement in 1982. She was a career-oriented woman and remained a spinster till her death in 2005.

Bharathan – A maestro with many hats, he has played many roles in the art world, including being a movie director, art and music director as well as being an artist, a lyricist, a sculptor and a poster designer. One of his major achievements was founding a school of movie making in Malayalam cinema.

Yusuff Ali M.A. – He is an Indian businessman with business interests spread out across the globe. Managing Director of the EMKE Lulu Group of Companies based in Abu Dhabi, he owns the Lulu hypermarket chain comprising of 120 outlets. He is currently the 24th richest Indian and the 737th wealthiest person in the world, according to a recent Forbes publication.

The list of luminaries from Thrissur is much longer than this, and to get to be a part of such an inspiring heritage, maybe it’s time you settled down in Thrissur too! For those on the lookout to buy apartments or villas in Thrissur, look no further than the prime properties offered by the prestigious Vishraam builders.

With over 21 years of excellent experience building over 45 beautifully-architected projects, Vishraam builders are proud to have over 2000 delighted customers. What’s more, every Vishraam project is built responsibly without harming Mother Nature. Come have a look at a Vishraam home today!

Buying your first home is special, but buying your second home is even more special. Investing in a second home means that you found your first home investment to be lucrative and are now fully ready for a second round of investment! It also means that you will now become a proud owner of two homes, ensuring lifelong financial security and a steady source of rental income.

Even though the pandemic has brought in a lot of changes in the country, the housing market remains steady. With developers having a large inventory and banks giving the lowest interest rates, this is the best time to take the plunge and invest in a second home. However, you do need to keep a number of factors in mind before investing in a second home and here is a look at some of them:

Long-term Goals

Don’t go in for impulse buying, but plan out your long-term financial goals in life before committing to buying a new home. Buying your second home on a whim might end up with your not being able to pay the EMIs! You also need to decide whether the second home is for your own use or for giving out as a rental.

Locality

Even if you don’t plan to use the second home for yourself, you need to ensure it’s located in a good neighborhood with easy access to important infrastructure. Facilities such as schools, hospitals, shopping centers, bus stops, career hubs, etc., should be within a short distance. Visit the locality during peak times and off-peak times to know if it’s prone to traffic congestions too.

Type of Home

You will need to decide whether your second home should be a villa home or an apartment. This decision should be based on whether you want the second home for your own use, or for a second income. While it’s easier to get renters for apartment homes, villas may take a little longer to attract tenants.

Hire an Agent

Sometimes, it’s best to go with a knowledgeable local real estate agent, than to trundle around a new locality by yourself. A local agent has better knowledge of the area and can advise you accordingly about the market.

Additional Expenses

Aside from the expense of buying the property and its monthly EMI repayments, you need to factor in other expenses such as stamp duty and registration, and maintenance and home insurance. With ongoing climate changes and its adherent floods and cyclones, home insurance and maintenance amount to a pretty penny too.

Home Loan

Banks offer loans with varying interest rates and processing fees. With home loan interest rates being at a record low, this is the right time to go for a home loan. Choose a repayment plan that best suits your pocket. However, do note that you need to pay off your previous loans and credit card bills to improve your CIBIL score before applying for a new loan. A CIBIL score of at least 750 points needs to be attained.

Secondary Income

You also have the additional option of using your second home as a source of extra income. Till you are ready to use the second home for your own purposes, you can give it out for rent and use the income generated to pay off monthly EMIs.

Tax Benefits

While you have to report income generated from rent collected, do note that you can claim back moneys spent on maintenance. Aside from this, you can also claim back tax on interest paid out on EMIs under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act – you can claim back up to 2 lakhs this way per financial year.

For those on the lookout for buying an apartment or villa in Thrissur, look no further than the premium residential projects by the prestigious Vishraam builders. With over 21 years of excellent experience, 45 projects and over 2000 satisfied customers, Vishraam builders offer both villas and apartments located in prime parts of the city and its surroundings to suit every kind of taste and need.

Vishraam builders believe in protecting Mother Nature and as such, every Vishraam home is built responsibly while conserving natural resources, minimizing waste generation and pollution control. Come visit a Vishraam home today!

Flooring trends don’t change as frequently as other parts of the home, including such features as wall colors or kitchen designs, etc. However, a change in flooring does create the biggest impact possible as it runs through the whole house. And needless to say, changing the flooring of your home means a major makeover that can get overwhelming.

With changing technologies and arrival of new flooring options in the market, homeowners can develop a passion for new styles. And just because a certain type of flooring is all the latest craze, you need not follow the trend unless the flooring suits the local climate. Before opting to follow the latest flooring trends, do ensure they are suitable for your needs – whether you want a spill-proof floor or a soft flooring or you need something that is both functional and stylish.

The latest flooring trends show a penchant for no-fuss floorings like ceramic and vitrified tiles with patterns that mimic natural materials such as marble, wood and granite. These faux flooring cost a fraction of the original material, are long-lasting and give your home a high-end look too. Here is a look at some of the flooring materials trending this year:

Wood Flooring

Carefully treated and stained in rich hues, wooden flooring is gaining traction amongst those who know what good living is all about. In India, wooden flooring is associated with posh living and can be found in luxurious flats and villas. Rich wooden tones enhance the natural graining of the wood, adding an appealing aura to your flooring. For those who can’t afford the expense of wooden flooring, don’t get disheartened as there are many types of faux wooden flooring available too to fulfill your dream.

Patterned Wooden Flooring

Stylish, patterned flooring are part of the new trend in 2022. For those who are looking for unique floor designing, think in terms of patterned wooden floorings. It’s better not to relegate this job to a DIY project as it requires experts to install patterned floors perfectly. Add this eye-catching flooring to your living room, hall and dining areas and wow your visitors. This type of flooring is kind on the feet too.

Black and White

This vintage look has started to trend again, but with a small twist. Though the colors remain the same, the patterns created are bolder, more graphic and more luxurious looking. Invoking the warm nostalgia of decades past, the modern version of this vintage flooring uses smaller tiles and is a perfect blend of old-fashioned and contemporary look.

Nature-inspired Motifs

Ceramic or porcelain tiles with nature-inspired motifs are very popular. Featuring whimsical organic motifs, these floorings are trending as far as bathrooms, kitchens, sun rooms and balconies are concerned. These water and botanical-inspired ceramic floor tiles bring a fresh feel to the room and soften the atmosphere.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is an excellent flooring material as it is soft on the feet, quiet and can withstand heavy traffic, water and doesn’t fade or stain easily. The best part is it comes in a selection of colors and designs that mimic hard wood and tiles. They come in different variants too, including VCT, SVT and LVT.

Porcelain Tiles

Hexagon porcelain tiles are continuing to trend, especially in the kitchen and bathroom areas. This year however, get ready to see larger hexagonal porcelain floor tiles in the living room and bedroom areas too. They create beautiful, eye-catching impact in whichever room they are laid, and are all set to gain in popularity in the coming years too! They come in different colors, sizes and textures to create the perfect design for any room.

For those looking to own inspiring flooring designs, check out the delightful apartments and villas by Vishraam builders. Carefully executed, these masterpieces help fulfill all your dreams of the perfect home, as they are crafted keeping your unique needs in mind!

With over 21 years of experience of executing 45 high-end projects across Thrissur and its nearby areas, Vishraam builders hold the unique privilege of having over 2000 satisfied customers. The best part is that Vishraam builders strongly believe in constructing responsibly, without harming Mother Nature. Come have a look at a Vishraam home today and fall in love!

Just like the ever-changing seasons are a welcome variation, it’s nice to refresh the looks of your living room too. Styles keep changing and creating a fresh look keeps your living room a focus of interest. Contrary to popular opinion, revamping your living room doesn’t have to break the bank either, as there are numerous ways to create a fresh interest in your living room again.

The secret to adding new life to your living room doesn’t necessarily have to do with spending loads of money on outrageously pricey accessories or new furnishing. You can brighten up your living room and add fresh vibes to it in a very affordable way – more than you ever thought possible. Before you know it, your living will blow you away with its new and chic look.

And you don’t have to upgrade everything in a room either to give it a peppy look. Sometimes even just a little rearrangement of the furniture is enough to refresh your living room’s look and make it look interestingly different again. You can make numerous smart and savvy changes to the hum-drum look of your living room by just making minor but impactful changes to it. Making bigger changes could involve getting a whole new set of drapes or even changing your sofa set.

While revamping your living room can appear daunting – more so if you haven’t made any changes to it in a long while – here is a look at some creative tips to help get you started:

De-clutter

It’s normal for a much-used room to eventually get cluttered without your even realizing it. Take a photo of your living room and appraise it for visually-dense areas. Keeping in mind that less is always more, start reducing the clutter from all flat surfaces. In the process, you might even find things that belong to other rooms of the home!

Rearrange

Create fresh vibes in your living room by rearranging the furniture. This is one of the best ways to refresh your living room’s look without dipping into your pocket. It will unlock new flow of energy and add serenity into the room where the family hangs out.

Paint

Sometimes a fresh lick of paint can be used to revamp your living room and add a bright and fresh feel. And it isn’t too heavy on the pocket either. You could completely change the colors of your space, add an accent wall, get creative with paint textures, etc. Color your walls a brand new color, and your living room will become the topic of conversation at the next gathering!

Small Changes

Sometimes the addition of simple features like throw pillows on the sofa are enough to freshen up a room’s appeal. It can add new life to an otherwise dull-looking sofa. In case you already have throw pillows, you can reupholster them in bright contrasting colors that are in the same accent tone of other features in the room. Alternatively, you could reupholster your sofas for a completely new look!

Swap Items

A little thinking out-of-the-box and you could come up with another great way to freshen up your living room’s look – swap items from other parts of the house and relocate them into the living room. This idea works well with features such as wall art, lamps, potted plants, etc. You could even switch the drapes from one room to another – provided the colors blend in with the color palette.

Get Creative

There are so many ways you can get creative and fashion décor items from things available in your surroundings. You could create a unique vase arrangement with interesting-looking twigs, dry flowers and grasses. Or you could create a gallery wall and display a collage of old family photos or framed pictures of your favorite hobby… birds, butterflies, vintage cars, etc.

And if you have made the wise decision of buying an apartment or villa home by Vishraam builders in Thrissur, then you are in luck. Combined with the building experience of over two decades as well as the skills of innovative-minded architects, every Vishraam home is mindfully built keeping the natural environment in mind. These delightfully-designed homes afford you unlimited opportunities to revamp your home and keep you happy for a lifetime!

Since the commencement of commercial plastic production in the early 1950s, it has become a global success and its use is growing exponentially. Due to its easy malleability, it has become the ideal material for packaging and is being used in the production of almost everything these days! However, too much of a good thing and its misuse, have led to major plastic pollution crisis of the environment.

There are huge floating trash islands polluting the Caribbean and Pacific oceans comprising of an estimated 5 trillion plastic materials and weighing around 250,000 tons. Unless we take monumental steps to curb our plastic use and dependence on single-use plastic products, it’s been estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fishes left in the oceans!

Causes of Pollution

It’s been projected that Americans alone throw away 30 million tons of plastic waste every year, with only 8% of this waste actually getting recycled. The remaining goes into landfills or into the waterways from where it eventually ends up in the oceans (according to the Plastic Pollution Coalition). Interestingly, around 80% of this marine plastic litter is generated on land, mainly from improperly disposed household waste. Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and continue to leak microplastics into the environment and creating havoc on soil and water organisms. Around 700 marine animals and bird species have been affected by this plastic pollution as they unknowingly ingest them or get entangled up in them, leading to a slow, cruel death. Humans are also consuming these microplastics as it has been found in table salt, foods, beverages and human waste. Cancer is postulated to be one of the main results.

Pandemic

The ongoing pandemic hasn’t helped much either as it has led to a further increase in the use of single-use plastics in the form of pre-packaged foods, take-away parcels as well as a huge rise in medical waste in the form of gloves, disposables, PPE kits, etc.

The fight against plastic wastes can start with a single individual. Here is a look at ways you too can contribute from your home to the ongoing war against plastics:

Avoid Plastic Bottles

Avoid buying and drinking water from single-use plastic water bottles. Around 20,000 plastic water bottles are sold every second on a global scale (according to Euromonitor International), with 480 billion bottles having been sold in 2016 alone. Astoundingly, according to the 2019 Plastic Atlas compiled by the Heinrich Boel Foundation, people drinking water from plastic water bottles also end up consuming around 130,000 microplastic plastics annually as compared to just around 4000 microplastic particles in those who drink tap water.

Disposable Plastic Utensils

Though it’s very convenient to use disposable plates, glasses, cutlery and straws, they are proving to be very dangerous to marine life. If the US alone switched to using reusable cutlery, there would be around 100 million less cutlery pieces entering the oceans annually. According to a beach cleanup data in 2018, there are around 7.5 billion plastic straws littering American beaches.

Bulk Shopping

Just by switching from buying smaller pre-packaged foods, to shopping for larger quantities from the bulk bins in your supermarkets, cuts down markedly on plastic packing material usage. Aside from the fact that it also brings down your shopping bill, buying individually packed grocery products is another way of generating excessive single-use plastic waste.

Biodegradable Packaging

Responsible businesses are becoming increasingly aware of their carbon footprint and investing in R&D to change to using innovative biodegradable materials. Several companies have now started packaging their food products such as coffee, tea and chocolates in biodegradable materials – opt for such food products to reduce dependence on plastics.

You should take a pledge as an individual and as a community to adopt anti-plastic policies and reduce your carbon footprint. Take a pledge to Refuse the usage of disposable plastics, Reduce plastic dependence, Reuse single-use plastics and Recycle whatever is possible.

Brilliant builders of apartments and villas like Vishraam Developers in Thrissur are also very aware of reducing their carbon footprint. Likewise, every home built by Vishraam builders isn’t just an architectural wonder, but is also built responsibly, without harming Mother Nature.

Thrissur lies in the heart of the verdant state of Kerala and is well-known for its culture and spiritual heritage. It holds the unique distinction of being home to the country’s first church and mosque buildings. Aside from this, Thrissur is also home to the famous Vadakkumnathan temple, with its being one of the most outstanding features of this city. The temple is also referred to as Thenkailasam or Vrishabhachalam.

Location

Located atop a hillock in the center of a massive 9-acre round-about, this ancient Shiva temple stands tall and proud. The round-about is known as the Swaraj Round with all major roads in the city eventually linking up with it. Interestingly Thrissur also gets its name from this temple; Thrissur is a short form of the word ‘Thrissivaperur’ which means ‘the town having the name of Lord Shiva’.

Temple Complex

This beautifully-architected temple is said to be over a 1000 years old and reflects Kerala’s true values, culture and traditions. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this grand temple never fails to grab attention of its visitors. It is believed to be the first Shiva temple built by Lord Purasurama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The temple has three main shrines devoted to Lord Shiva (Sri Vadakkumnathan), Lord Rama and Lord Shankara Narayana, respectively. There is a shrine for Goddess Parvati too. Outside the main temple, there are two smaller temples dedicated to Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devi also.

The temple has 4 magnificent Gopurams (gateways), facing in all 4 cardinal directions and is home to some mesmerizing murals depicting realistic scenes from the Mahabharata. The temple complex also features a museum which is a treasure trove for history lovers. It houses a number of ancient paintings and intricate woodcarvings among other works of ancient art forms.

Built in the typical Kerala style architecture, Vadakkumnathan temple complex also includes a temple theater (Koothambalam). Highly-embellished with rich wooden carvings, it witnesses stage performances of ritualistic art forms such as Koodiyattam, Koothu and Nangyar Koothu.

Thrissur Pooram

The entire temple grounds are surrounded by a stone wall. It is also the ground within which the festival of all festivals – the all-famous ‘Thrissur Pooram’ festival takes place. This 36-hour long festival is witnessed by lakhs of visitors each year and is famous for its highly-decorated parade of elephants, cultural displays and fireworks. Though the Thrissur Pooram is conducted within the temple compound, the Vadakkumnathan doesn’t partake in the festivities.

Temple Festivals

While the Vadakkumnathan temple doesn’t have any specific festival of its own, Mahashivaratri is celebrated very lavishly here. One lakh lamps, known as ‘lakshadeepam’ are lit in the temple, giving it an ethereal look and the day is celebrated with musical and cultural programs.

With the prevailing love for elephants in Thrissur, it is not surprising that another annual festival celebrated here is the ‘Annayoottu’, or feeding of the elephants. Believers come here to worship and feed the elephants.

Miracles

One of the interesting features in this temple is the Shiva lingam itself. The ghee offered over the lingam never melts, with the result that the lingam is encrusted with ghee poured on it over the centuries. It is seen that even the scorching summer heat doesn’t make the ghee melt! There is even a belief that the day the ghee melts, there will be major disasters and catastrophes in the world.

Dress Code

When visiting the temple, you will need to respect the temple’s traditions and follow the strict dress code in place. Men and women are expected to wear traditional Indian attires when visiting the temple.

Getting there

For believers, this is one temple that should be on your ‘must-visit’ list. Getting to Vadakkumnathan temple is very convenient as Thrissur has excellent highway and railway connectivity. The nearest airport is in Cochin, which is a bare 55km away.

Better still, why not settle down in Thrissur and worship at the Vadakkumnathan temple at your will! Vishraam Developers offer numerous apartment and villa projects in Thrissur located in niche areas to suit every taste. These responsibly architected homes come fully loaded with the best in fittings, finishings and amenities to keep you inspired for a lifetime.

Come visit Thrissur’s cultural heritage and fall in love with it!

Buying your first home is a major milestone in life and brings with it incomparable feelings of pride and joy. Owning a home is also a big commitment as it involves a large sum of money paid out over a couple of decades or more. You need to think over it carefully and first ensure that you are financially stable, have enough for a down payment as well as a lump sum set aside for emergencies.

Don’t let anyone pressurize you into buying a home till you are financially ready to do so. Buying a home in a hurry, without proper planning, could end up hurting you financially and that would lead to a lot of grief. Here is a look at the various steps involved in buying your first home:

Home Ownership-Ready

You first need to determine if you are ready to buy a home. Aside from job stability, stable income and a decision to settle down in one place, you should understand that buying your first home is more expensive than renting a home. You will not only have to dole out monthly EMIs, but also pay property taxes, home insurance, utility costs, repair costs, etc. Ensure you are debt-free and financially stable before taking the plunge into becoming a homeowner.

Down Payment

When buying a home, you will have to pay at least 20% of the actual cost of the property – whether it’s a villa or an apartment home. So you will need to have this down payment saved first, which is a neat sum in itself. Take your time to save this sum in a systematic, monthly saving scheme and invest it wisely to make it multiply.

Budget

The first property you buy need not be your final property; keeping this in mind, plan your home budget. After paying the monthly EMI and other home-associated expenditures, your expenses shouldn’t be more than 25-30% of your total income. After all, you need to consider your daily expenses too – aside from saving for retirement.

Location

Once you are done with the finances, you need to settle on the location of your new home. It should be a little away from the city center to avoid higher costs as well as the hustle-bustle associated with it. This way, you will be able to buy more space too. The location you choose will also have an impact on your home’s resale value down the years, so treat it like an investment.

Loan

Since home buying involves a huge sum of money, it is traditional to avail of a home loan to pay for it. Most banks approve home loans of up to 80% of the sale value. The remaining you have to pay from your pocket right at the onset.

Before approving a loan, your loaner bank will check your eligibility for repaying it back. For this, some of the details you will need to furnish include your age, average income, any existing loans, etc. Before applying for a home loan, clear off any other existing loans and debts so that you can have a good CIBIL score of over 750 points or more. This will influence the interest rates chargeable on your home loan and the repayment EMIs.

Additional Expenses

You need to be prepared for some additional expenses too. The most important ones include Stamp Duty and Registration fees. Depending on your city, this could add up to almost 10% of the cost of your home. Aside from this, you have home insurance to think of, the interior décor, new furniture as well as moving home and other miscellaneous expenses too.

If you are planning on buying a home in Thrissur, then you will be spoiled for choices as there are so many luxurious villa and apartment projects in Thrissur to choose from. Realty developers like Vishraam builders have a number of delightful villa and apartment projects located in niche parts of the city.

With over 21 years of experience in building quality homes responsibly without harming the environment, every Vishraam home exists in tune with Mother Nature. What’s more, Vishraam builders have also been awarded several prestigious awards for their dedicated efforts. The beautifully-architected apartment and villa projects come fully-loaded with delightful amenities and luxurious facilities, making them perfect for your dream home!

Setting up home is a major decision with many factors having to be kept in mind; the main factor however is location. If you are looking to settle in Kerala, then Thrissur is one of the best locations to settle down in. It is rich with cultural diversity, natural beauty, friendly people and an interesting history taking it back to 1000 BCE to 500 CE.

The city nestles around a 65-acre hillock known as the Thekkinkadu Maidaanam, which is the seat of the famous Vadakkunnathan temple. It is also the location of the famous 36-hour long Pooram festival which sees the city all decked up and flooded with thousands of domestic and international tourists pouring in to witness this grand annual affair.

History

Thrissur rose to prominence when Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran became the king (1769-1805) and made Thrissur the capital of the Kingdom of Cochin. He invited Brahmins and Syrian Christians from adjoining areas to set up their trade in Thrissur and ensured it became a major commercial and financial hub in south India. Thrissur was also the point of contact for the Persian, Greeks, Romans, Portuguese, Assyrians, Dutch, Arab and the English.

Cultural Hub

With Thrissur having been the melting pot of so many cultures and religions over the centuries, it has a rich heritage of cultural diversity today and welcomes visitors with open arms. It is also home to numerous academies that support the traditional art practices of Kerala. Thrissur is also the venue of the Pooram festival, the most spectacular and colorful temple festival of Kerala which takes place in the month of April or May.

Religious Diversity

Though Thrissur is historically a Hindu-dominated district, it is also home to other world religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam; these religions are said to have gained entrance into the country through Thrissur district and its surroundings. As per local belief, apostle St. Thomas, came to India through Muziris in 52 AD and set up the first church in the country in Palayur, Thrissur. It’s known as St. Thomas Major Archiepiscopal Church.

The first mosque to be built in India is also located in Thrissur and is called the Cheraman Juma Masjid which was constructed around 629 CE. The initial structure was similar to Hindu temple architecture, but has evolved over the centuries. Thrissur is well-known for its famous temples as well, including the Vadakkunnathan temple, Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple and of course the most-venerated and much-visited Guruvayur temple.

Financial Hub

Thrissur has traditionally been home to numerous finance houses and is said to have been the headquarters of 58 banks in the 1930’s – according to RBI. Still known as the business hub of Kerala, many banks and about 2000 Chit companies have their headquarters here. It is home to a thriving tile-producing industry, jewelry-making industry, Ayurveda medicines manufacturing hub as well as being famous for its textile showrooms.

Tourism

Thrissur witnesses the highest domestic tourist footfalls in Kerala and is famous for its stunning Athirappilly Waterfalls, Peechi dam, elephant sanctuary, trekking in the Western Ghats and of course the Vadakkunnathan and Guruvayur temples. This has led to a thriving hospitality industry here as well.

Aside from all these, Thrissur is also home to some of the best medical colleges and prestigious educational institutions of Kerala. Excellent infrastructure, low crime rates and easy availability of jobs and business prospects make Thrissur the best place to live in Kerala. What’s more, Thrissur enjoys excellent connectivity to the rest of Kerala as well as the country via an efficient railway network and highways. The nearest airports are at Kochi (58km away), Kozhikode (80km away) and Coimbatore (115km away).

With Thrissur still being a growing city, the real estate industry is thriving and more and more people are opting to buy homes and settle down here. Many elite builders have apartment and villa projects in this city, including Vishraam Builders. With over 21 years of excellent experience in building quality homes and numerous awards, Vishraam Builders are known for their beautifully-architected apartment and villa projects in niche areas of the city and its surroundings.

They provide living spaces that merge with Mother Nature and appreciated by those with discerning tastes. Fully-loaded with delightful amenities and luxurious facilities, every Vishraam home is built responsibly without harming the environment.

As cities run out of space, real estate is getting increasingly expensive. Homes are getting smaller even when budgets are getting larger. But having said that, living in the city up close to where all the facilities and amenities are easily available, is the best way to go, and apartments here make the most convenient homes.

Though they might be smaller on space, with a little bit of careful planning, you can still manage to fit in all your essentials. Thinking out of the box and going for smart furnishing will ensure that your home doesn’t appear cluttered and cramped up – you can still have space to move around in comfort without bumping into something first!

Here is a look at some innovative ways to create the illusion of space and actually save up on more space in your apartment:

Smart Storage

One of the most creative ways to make space in your apartment is with hidden storage areas. You can have neat boxes that slide under your bed to store your out of season clothes or extra towels and beddings, shoes, etc. Even the coffee table or ottoman can have hidden drawers to store books, magazines or other smaller items. You could even create storage spaces beneath sofas, chairs and window seats!

Dual-function Furniture

There are niche shops where you can buy multi-purpose furniture. The futuristic Murphy bed is a shining example. This wall bed is hinged at one end and folds away vertically into the wall when not in use. By closing the bed, you could be opening up a stylish sofa, a table or innovative storage spaces in the form of wall cabinets and shelves, on the exposed side. The extent of creativity is limitless with multifunctional furniture. And you end up saving on so much space!

Shelves

Why use up precious floor space for storage when you have so much vertical space available. Use the walls to hang readymade shelving units or customized shelves and cabinets to store or display things up the wall. Beautiful art pieces, books and even cookware can be put up on walls. This way, you not only save up on floor space but create the illusion of more space, by making the eye move up the walls.

Convenience in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the busiest part of your home, a place that the entire family frequents. It shouldn’t be cluttered and cramped, but appear inviting. Use vertical storage in the form of shelves, cabinets or wall hooks to hang your frequently used pots and pans. You could also use drawer organizers to further maximize space usage under the countertops, in a systematic way.

Corners

Don’t underestimate corners as useless spaces. You can actually use them to create study nooks or home office corners. And if that doesn’t work out, you could always install or buy corner shelves and use this nook for displaying your books, photos or art décor.

Lighting

Instead of taking up essential space with standing lamps or table lamps, why not go with pendant lamps. Aside from looking cool and stylish, they are also highly functional and work great for diffuse lighting or spot lighting. With hundreds of attractive designs to choose from, you can only compliment your décor style further by adding pendant lighting instead.

Scale Down

When moving into a smaller home, consider scaling down your furnishing and appliances. This way you can free up more space and still have all the things necessary for a functional home. By investing in a smaller dining table or sofa set, your home will appear more spacious. A smaller fridge in the kitchen would have the same effect too.

But if you are moving into a home by Vishraam Builders, you wouldn’t have to struggle so hard with space issues. Vishraam builders are known for crafting beautifully-architected homes that are smartly designed to maximize on space usage, giving homebuyers a luxurious treat for life.

What’s more, all Vishraam projects are located in niche areas of Thrissur and come fully-loaded with delightful amenities and luxurious facilities. Twenty one years of building homes responsibly without harming Mother Nature has also ensured numerous awards of excellence for Vishraam Builders, putting them in an elite class of their own. Come buy a Vishraam home today!