Guruvayur

Guruvayur is a famous pilgrim town in Kerala. Situated at a distance of 29 kilometers from the Thrissur district, Guruvayur is also known as Bhoolokaviakunta, which means Heaven on Earth. It attracts thousands of devotees from different parts of the country as well as foreign tourists. October to March is the best season to visit Guruvayur.

The Guruvayur temple is the chief attraction here. Often referred to as the Dwarka of South, this temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is lovingly called Guruvayurappan. It is said that the temple was constructed under the guidance of Viswakarma, the celestial architect. The temple opens very early in the morning at 3 a.m and closes at around 10 p.m. Devotees have to enter the temple through the eastern entrance. The square sanctorum of the temple called the Sreekovil houses the main deity of Lord Krishna in the standing posture with four hands. The upper left and right hands hold the chakra and the conch, while the lower arms hold a lotus and a mace. The walls of the sanctorum are adorned with exquisite mural paintings and artistic carvings that depict various scenes from the Hindu mythology. The door as well as the roof of the Sreekovil is covered with gold. Within the temple there are idols of Ganapthy, Sree Ayappa and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagavathi as well. It is in this temple that Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed the famous devotional poem 'Narayaneeyam'. Every morning Narayaneeyam is played in the temple. The Guruvayur temple is known for its great healing powers.

Celebrated festivals in the temple include Ekadasi (November / December), Utsavam (February / March), Vishukkani (April) and Ashtami Rohini (August / September).

Guruvayur is a popular site for weddings. A lot of young couples come to the Guruvayur temple to get married and seek the blessings of Lord Krishna

Other attractions in Guruvayur include

• Anakotta: Just 2 kilometeres from Guruvayur, Punnathoorkotta houses the largest elephant park in the world. This is a major tourist attraction and is very popular amongst wildlife lovers.
• Museum and Zoo: - The art museum and zoo are located at a distance of 2 kilometers from Thrissur. The museum displays some exquisite paintings, ancient jewelry and some traditional art work from Kerala, while the snake park in the zoo is one of its prime attractions.
• Peechi - It is a nice picnic spot situated close to Guruvayur.
• Athirapilly and Vazhachal Waterfalls - These two popular waterfalls are located at a distance of 63 kilometers from Thrissur. This is a gorgeous site with amazing scenic beauty, greenery and tranquility.