GURUVAYUR

Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.According to the legends, the idol worshipped here is more than 5000 years old. Adorned with the divine Tulasi garland the idol represents the majestic form of Maha Vishnu as revealed to Vasudeva and Devaki at the time of Krishna Avatar. The presiding deity in the sanctum-sanctorum is Mahavishnu. The rigid customs are temple which have been carried forwarded from the period when Samuthiri Kings ruled this part of Kerala.

Ekadasi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is very auspicious to the Hindus. Of the 24 Ekadasis in a year, the Vrishchika Ekadasi (Sukla paksha) has got special significance in Guruvayur temple.

Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual Carnatic music festival held in Guruvayur by the Guruvayur Devaswom at Thiruvaiyaru as a kind of homage to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, one of the icons of Carnatic Classical Music.

The Krishnattam Kali, a folk dance of Kerala originated in the premise of the Guruvayur temple.

IMP: Non Hindus are not allowed in this temple.

Official Guruvayur devaswom website: www.guruvayurdevaswom.org

How to Reach Guruvayur?

By Air
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, which is 87 KM from Guruvayur. Calicut International Airport at Karipur is about 100 KM away

By Train
Guruvayur Railway Station lies in the Thrissur-Guruvayur Section. It is the last station in this section. Thrissur Railway Station is the major rail head near to Guruvayur from which is connected to major cities of India.

By Road
Guruvayur is well connected by buses  with all major towns in Kerala.
 

Guruvayur can also be accessed from Thrissur city by state highway 49, which starts from Guruvayur and ends in state highway 69 at choondal.
 

Distances from Guruvayur

Thrisur- 29 km                       Ernakulam - 100 km

Chavakkad - 5 km                  Kalady - 78 km

Ernakulam - 85 km                 Cochin - 94km

Pollachi - 125 km                   Coimbatore - 130 km

Wayanad - 210 km                Kalpetta - 190 km

Kottayam - 150 km                Munnar - 160 km

Vagamon - 180 km                Thekkady - 215 km

Must See in and around Guruvayur

Mammiyoor Temple - At a distance of 1 km from Guruvayur Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that a devotee who visits Guruvayurappan Temple should also visit Mammiyoor Temple. The legend of the temple is associated with the day of installation of the idol of Guruvayurappan. Because the temple was crowded during the ceremony, Lord Shiva moved away and gave his blessings from the location where the Mammiyoor Temple now stands.

Athirapally Waterfalls - Athirappilly Falls located at the entrance to Sholayar ranges is a part of Chalakudy river and is approximately 80 feet in height.

Chavakkad Beach - The beach is located 5 km from Guruvayur. It is a sandy stretch at the edge of coconut groves.

Vazhachal - Vazhachal Falls is a rushing watercourse in the Chalakkudy River just 5 km from Athiraplly waterfalls.

Punathur Kota - Elephant Camp in the Punnathur Kotta, located 3 km from the Guruvayur temple is the largest elephant sanctuary in India. Once the property of the kings of Punnathur, this 10 acre camp is home to more than 50 elephants. The elephants in the camp participates in an elephant race held by the temple to determine who will carry the Guruvayurappan Idol during the festival.

Devaswom museum - The museum is located very close to the Guruvayur temple’s east gate and houses a large collection of antiques, temple materials, mural paintings, musical instruments and other valuable materials. Institute of Mural painting established in 1989 is managed by Guruvayur Devaswom is also at a walking distance.
 

Thrissur Vadakunnamnatha Temple -  Built by Parasurama, the legend creator of Kerala is spread over 10 years. Here the deity is Shiva. The famous ‘Thrissur Pooram’, fathered by Shaktan Tampuran, is celebrated in the precincts of the temple. The temple is enclosed by 15 ft massive walls. The deity Shiva is in the form of a big ‘mahalingam’. Here the main offering is ghee. The devotees brought ghee pours on the ‘lingam’ The years’ offerings has concealed the lingam. At present the devotees can see only a mound of ghee.

Rudratirtha Temple Tank - Adi Sankaracharya laid down rules for worship at this temple.The temple opens for the 'Nirmalyam' darshan to the melody of the `Nadaswaram’ the chanting of 'Narayana, Narayana'. The idol's garland of the previous day is removed, bathed and dressed to represent Krishna the child

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