Guruvayur

Guruvayur is a pilgrimage town located in the Thrissur district of Kerala. According to the legends, this town is reckoned amid the oldest towns in India. Guruvayur was found 5000 years ago. This pilgrimage town is best-known for housing the Guruvayur temple. It is a shrine devoted to Lord Krishna and was constructed by the demi-gods Vayu Deva and Brihaspati. Therefore, the name of this temple and town is an amalgamation of the names of the demi-gods.

The town of Guruvayur stands at an elevation of 9 feet above the sea level. The uneven terrains sprawl over an area of 20 sq. km. Guruvayur experiences a tropical moderate climate as the region is surrounded by greenery. It faces mild temperatures across the year. The median temperatures scale between 25°C-33°C amid the year. Guruvayur also receives an annual average rainfall of 1700 mm.

The land of Guruvayur is adorned with eminent attractions that draw countless visitors. These places include the names like the intricate Guruvayur Krishna Temple, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Mammiyoor Temple, along with the astir markets of Guruvayur.

Places to Visit

Chavakkad Beach

 Located 4 km from Guruvayoor all the pilgrims visit this long peaceful stretch. further up the beach is a beautiful 100 foot high Chetwai Lighthouse. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the sea and the surroundings.

Elephant Camp

Located in Kottapadi, about 3 km from the Guruvayur Temple, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary is a famous elephant sanctuary in Thrissur district of Kerala. The prime attractions here are the jumbo elephants; approximately 60 of them are kept and taken care of here. This place is used to train elephants to participate in major processions and daily rituals of Guruvayur Temple. One might even get a chance to watch the gigantic bull elephants being trained for their duties.

Sprawling over 11.5 acres and surrounded by green vegetation, this elephant sanctuary or camp is a very elegant place. The playing elephant along with the scenic surrounding paints a very awe-inspiring and magical picture here. 

 People can get the opportunity to feed the elephants here. Visitors can also capture some wonderful moments with the elephants in their camera. You can also see the elephant training session, which is fun to watch.

Guruvayurappan Temple

One of the most visited temples in South India; Guruvayurappan Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, also known as Bal Gopalan. Every day, the temple witnesses a huge crowd of devotees for the daily Darshan. The mural paintings on the walls of this temple are quite beautiful and represent Krishnaleelakal, childhood of Krishna. The temple is one of the most popular places for wedding and at times more than 300 weddings take place in the temple.  

Harikanyaka Temple

Located at Ariyanoor, a neighboring village of Guruvayur, Harikanyaka Temple is believed that this ancient temple was built by Perumthachan. This temple is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. Lord Harikanyaka, a virgin form of Lord Vishnu, is the primary deity of this temple. Every year, during the months of March & April, a 15 day festival is celebrated in the temple.

Nava Mukunda Temple

Dedicated to Lord Nava Mukunda, a form of Vishnu, Nava Mukunda Temple is located on the banks of River Bharathapuzha at Thirunavaya. Legend has it that the idol installed in the temple is the 9^th idol installed by Navayogis. It is said that the day idol would descend into the Earth; Kaliyuga will come to an end.

Venkitachalapathy Temple

Located close to the Parthasarathy Temple in Guruvayur, Venkitachalapathy Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkitachalapathy, a form of Lord Vishnu. Devotees believe that visiting this temple and praying to Lord Vishnu will bring happiness and wealth in their lives. The temple attracts devotees in large numbers.

Palayur Church

Palayur Church founded by Apostle St Thomas is an important christian pilgrimage centre. Palayur church is the oldest of the seven and half churches founded by St Thomas and is the oldest church in India. Visit the Big Museum and Thaliyoorkulam pond close to the church.

How To Reach

By Air: Kochi is the nearest airport located at a distance of 90 km from Guruvayur. Regular flights link it with the main cities of India.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is located in Thrissur at a distance of 52 km from Guruvayur.

By Road: Guruvayur is easily accessible from the main cities of Kerala by road.

Shopping

A variety of handicrafts of Kerala are available in Guruvayur.