Majestic temple city of Kerala- Guruvayoor

Guruvayoor is known as the Dwarka of South. One of the prominent cities of the temple is a good place to visit for temple lovers. This season plan a tour to Guruvayoor with your family. Here is a brief description of the place.

Guruvayoor one of the holiest and important pilgrimage spots in South India. It is believed to be the home of Lord Vishnu on Earth. Guruvayoor is a town located in Thrissur district of Kerala. Thrissur is a very colourful district full of life. It celebrates the famous Thrissur Pooram temple festival. In terms of the number of devotees every day, Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple is the 4th biggest in our country. Guruvayoor is popularly known as the Dwarka of South. There is an interesting story about the city name; it has adopted its name from three deities Guru, Vayu and Oor. Guruvayoor has many Hindu temples which play an important part in defining the cultural history of the town. It is a perfect place to visit for those who have an inclination towards religious sites and who love temples. Guruvayoor hotels have grown on the temple vicinity. Guruvayoor is a peaceful getaway from the hectic city life.

The annual Guruvayoor festival is one of the major attractions of the place. Pilgrims from around the country rush during this festival. Guruvayoor Utsavam is held during February to March. The festival is inaugurated with Anayottam which is the elephant race. The race starts under a banyan tree which is earthed in the eastern entrance, then the elephant takes seven rounds and touches the flag pole. The winner elephant gets a chance to carry Lord Guruvayoorappan on all special occasions for the rest of the year. This 10-day festival is full of music and drama. It displays the culture, heritage and tradition of Kerala. Religious dance dramas are performed which are based on the life of Lord Krishna. However non-Hindu is not permitted in temple vicinity.

Apart from the most famous temple, there are around 18 places to visit in Guruvayoor. Here is the list of some popular spots which you don’t want to miss. Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple, Narayanamkulangara Temple, Chamundeswari temple, Chowalloor Siva temple, etc are there. If you feel that you want to take a break from religious tour, then Chavakkad Beach is a must visit. History lovers can also peep into Devaswom Museum and also one of the India’s largest elephant sanctuaries Elephant Camp of Punnathur Kotta.

August to December is the ideal time to visit Guruvayoor. The pleasant climate will let one visit every temple. Embroidered handicrafts are very famous and an elephant showpiece can be taken as a token of remembrance. Mural paintings and photographs of the temple -- all are available in the local shops near the temple. The nearest airport is Kochi, Nedumbassery International Airport which is 65 km away from Guruvayoor. Kochi airport is well-connected to foreign cities also. The taxi service is very good at Guruvayoor. Local transport will take you to the nearest hotel both from the airport or railway station. Guruvayoor hotels are situated across the city and especially in the temple vicinity.

Sandeep is an experienced travel consultant, who enjoys travelling and loves to write about the destinations he has been to and shares his experience. He also writes about travel tips, world's best holiday destinations, best hotels in a destination,