Guruvayur is an important pilgrim center in Kerala. It is most famous for its Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple. Recently, ISKON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) has opened a guest house for pilgrims in the town. The temple attracts a lot of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. It is a very religious place in the district of Thrissur. It lies 25 km to the north-west of Thrissur City. History: Guruvayur is a historically significant place and the temple is believed to be at least 5,000 years old. The temple is believed to be built by Vishwakarma, the divine architect. Despite its antiquity, Guruvayur has increased in its popularity, especially after the 16th century when it became one of the most sacred temples not only in Kerala, but all over the country. Best For: • Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple • Sight seeing, and photography • Festivals and performances
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.
A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) will be sufficient.
Cochin International Airport [80 kms] is the closest to reach Guruvayur. A road trip is also recommended, in case one is driving from Thiruvanthapuram and wants to visit places in the district of Thrissur.
The National highway passes through Kunnamkulam which is just 8 kms away from Guruvayur. A lot of buses and road transportation is operated here as it is a very important pilgrimage center.
Guruvayur has got a railway station towards the east of the temple which is connected to the Madras-Mangalore main line at Thrissur. Regular bus services are available from there to Guruvayur.
Ancient and sacred temples Punnathur Kotta: It is located in Kottapadi, a small place near Guruvayoor in Thrissur district of Kerala, South India. It is here that the elephants belonging to the Guruvayoor temple are kept and looked after. Elephants are trained here for purposes related to temples. The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple: It is unarguably one of the most important and sacred pilgrim centres of Kerala. The idol is made of a rare stone known as Patala Anjana and it attracts visitors from all over the world. Shopping:
The only means of shopping here in Guruvayur is in the local markets and streets. One can get a lot of carvings and wooden handicrafts, religious books and other souvenirs from Guruvayur.
Performance and Shows:
Out of a lot of religious festivals, the two main festivals are celebrated with a lot of fanfare. One is the Ekadashi Festival which is celebrated every November and December. Ekadashi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is very auspicious for the Hindus. On Ekadasi after night pooja the famous Ekadashi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place. A lot of other festivals are celebrated here too.
The maximum temperature here is 32 Degrees C and the minimum drops to 20 Degrees C. The best time to visit Guruvayur is anytime between October and February.
Where To Eat:
There are a lot of local restaurants in Guruvayur that offer authentic South Indian food. Good quality restaurants are also in Thrissur that offer a variety of other preparations in the South Indian cuisine.
Where To Stay:
There are a lot of hotels and resorts in the actual town of Thrissur as it is one of the most visited areas in the country, for tourism, culture and pilgrimage. After the pilgrimage center was founded by ISKON, a lot of devotees and members prefer staying there.
The maximum temperature here is 32 Degrees C and the minimum drops to 20 Degrees C. The best time to visit Guruvayur is anytime between October and February. Recommended Circuits: Cochin- Thrissur- Kodungallur- Guruvayur
