Guruvayur Tourist Places

My family members hail from the state of Gujarat and are ardent devotees of Lord Krishna. My childhood was filled with stories of the deeds of Lord Vishnu and his different incarnations. Hence, I was always keen to know what exactly happened to the town of Dwarka, and why it went underwater. Every year during the festive season, my family travels to one sacred place devoted to Lord Krishna. This year we decided to visit the different Guruvayur tourist places of Kerala.The best time to travel to Guruvayur is during the winter. But my grandmother wanted to see the famous Guruvayur festival celebrated at the temple in February. So, we planned the trip accordingly and started on our journey to the holy place of Kerala.

Since my grandparents are quite old, we opted for flying and reached Kerala in around three and a half hours. From there we took a car and reached the town of Guruvayur. My personal experience in this town was excellent. The closer we got to the city, the more we felt a deep sense of calmness within us. After reaching the hotel, we rested for a bit and then went out in the evening to visit the famous Guruvayur temple. This temple is extremely famous all over the world for its sacred history. I saw a lot of people from all around the globe who had come here to celebrate this festival in this town. I was so fascinated that I wanted to hear the stories about this town and the temple.

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History of Guruvayur

Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple is a pilgrimage site that worships the Hindu god, Guruvayurappan. This deity is believed to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. People also call this place Bhuloka Vaikunta, which means. “The Holy Residence of Lord Vishnu on Earth.”This temple is around 83 km from Kochi and is the third-largest temple which attracts approximately 6-7 million followers or devotees every year. The history behind this place is based on a story from Hindu Mythology. The story begins with Lord Krishna instructing the Vayu Deva and the Deva Guru Brihaspati on what to do with his favorite idol once he transcended into his Vaikunta Dhama. He wanted them to place that idol of Lord Vishnu in a place where people from everywhere could come and visit the god.

As told, both Vayu Deva and the Deva Guru Brihaspati got the idol and started their search for a sacred area to place the idol. However, due to the presence of a Shiva Temple, they weren’t able to find the perfect place for the idol. After a while, Lord Shiva appeared and decided to shift his temple so that the idol could be placed at that particular sacred place. As they placed the idol there and constructed the temple, it came to be known as the Guruvayur Temple. One can find a massive Temple of Lord Shiva near this temple.

A Summary of the Famous Guruvayur Tourist Places

1. Guruvayur Temple

Lord Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple is very famous among the Vaishnavitesas. The deity holds a lotus, conch, a mace and the famous Sudarshan Chakra in his four hands. The idol is made out of the sacred Patalanjana stone.

2. Narayanamkulangara Temple

Vishnumaya is the chief deity of this renowned temple of Guruvayur. Narayanamkulangara Temple is a famous site for the Hindu devotees who visit this place every year in January for the annual celebrations.

3. Chavakkad Beach

Chavakkad Beach provides an ideal weekend getaway for the people staying in its surrounding areas. One can also visit this place while visiting the town of Guruvayur for its peaceful and sandy landscapes.

4. Chamundeswari Temple

The best Guruvayur tourist places include the famous Chamundeswari Temple, which is a 2 hours drive from the main town. This place has some of the most beautiful sculptures and pillars with carvings from bygone eras. Many students like to attend the Sanskrit classes held in this temple.

5. Venkitachalapathy Temple

This temple is one of the best holy places in this town. One must visit this place to see the majestic beauty of the sculpted entrances of this temple.

6. Chowalloor Siva Temple

This temple is known as the home of Lord Shiva. The entire interior of this temple is sculpted and carved to depict the stories of the epics. The temple has deities of both Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. Devotees from all over the world visit this temple during the festival of Shivratri to see the grand celebrations.

7. Nava Mukunda Temple

This temple is situated in Thirunavaya and is famous among the locals for fulfilling the wishes of the devotees.

8. Harikanyaka Temple

Located in Ariyanoor, this temple is a must-visit when you are in Guruvayur. Just like the other temples in this area, this one is also decorated with beautiful sculptures and statues.

9. Parthasarathi Temple

Leave all your worries and stress behind and experience the peaceful environment of this temple. This temple dates back to the 8^th century and was built by the famous Pallavas. One can also study the ancient history of India here.

10. PunnathurKotta

It is a famous tourist place in India where one can witness the mighty elephants. This place also has a temple devoted to Lord Shiva.

11. Devaswom Museum

The museum has a rare collection of antiques, mural paintings, instruments, folk art decorations, etc.

12. Thriprayar Sri Rama Temple

This temple is devoted to Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. People believe that this god has elements of both Shiva and Brahma as well as other Hindu Gods. So, this deity is worshipped as the Trimoorti idol.

13. Statues of Maraprabhu and GuruvayaurKesavan

Another attraction of this town is the tall statues of Mahaprabhu and GuruvayurKesavan. The figure is around 54m tall and depicts Lord Vishnu in the shape of a tree-man. One can visit this place to see the beautiful design of these statues.

14. Golukam Estates

A great biodiversity hub, this place is very popular among biologists for its vast collections of flora and fauna.

15. Sree Krishna Temple

Sree Krishna temple is among the famous pilgrimage locations for the devotees of Lord Vishnu. People travel to this place every year to fulfill their desires through the blessings of the Almighty.

16. Elephant Camp

This sanctuary has the sole aim of maintaining the best natural habitat for elephants. One can see the daily activities of the elephants and also play with baby elephants here.

17. Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple

This temple is exceptionally famous among devotees and most of them believe in paying homage to this temple every year. Many believe that while visiting this town, one must make a pilgrimage to this temple for peace of mind and spiritual comfort.

18. Jayshree Theatre

A beautiful theatre in this town, it is ideal for couples and also for friends to watch movies together.

19. NenminiBalarama Temple

This temple is around 4km from the town and is quite popular among the Hindus. The deities here are the Ayyappa and the Balaramaof from the famous Mahabharata epic.

How to Reach the Destination-Guruvayur?

The town of Guruvayur is well-connected by air, land, and rail with all the major cities and states of India. So, you can choose from any of the following options to reach the destination in Kerala.

By Air: Kochi International Airport is the nearest airport to this town and is around 81 km away. Calicut airport is at a distance of 100kms from the city. You can quickly get hold of a cab or a bus from the airport to reach your destination.

By Road: You can also plan a road journey to reach here, either by car or a bus. Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has bus services from cities like Madurai, Palani, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Mookambika, Udupi, Thiruchendur, etc. to this town.

By Rail: Guruvayur station is the nearest railway station which is connected by the Madras-Mangalore railway line. You can get easy access to state buses and taxi services from this station to reach Guruvayur.

Some Important Points to Keep In Mind While Visiting Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple:

Every famous place has its own rules and regulations which one should always maintain while visiting that area. Likewise, while visiting this pilgrim site, please keep these points in mind:

Do not litter or throw anything on the premises of the temple.
There is a strict dress code for both men and women. A woman must wear a sari, long blouse and skirt or salwar kameez to the temple. Men must cover their chests while visiting this temple.
Do not shout in the temple or engage in any kind of argument with the temple attendants.
Electronic devices like camera and phones are not allowed inside the temple.
Liquor is strictly prohibited in this temple.
Maintain the timings and cleanliness of this temple.

We stayed in this heavenly place for around six days and visited almost all the Guruvayur tourist places. This trip was religious as well as peaceful. I haven’t enjoyed this amount of silence and serenity ever in my life. I could feel an unknown connection to this place, and I feel like I must visit this town again. I suggest that everyone should visit this place once in their life. You can experience the beauty and grandeur of this place in the presence of the Almighty that is felt here.