be online with us
 
011 47 800 900 - 48
0991 0696 303
Tourist Attractions
Temples in Kerala
Hotels in Kerala
Guruvayur Temple

Place : Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala
Significance : Guruvayur temple, one of the greatest Krishna shrines in India
Best Time to Visit : October to March

Guruvayur also known as the Dwarka of the South is the one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage spots in Kerala, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country. It is situated 33km North of Thrissur, around 100km from Ernakulum. The main attraction here is the Sree Krishna temple known as 'Guruvayoor Ambalam' one of the greatest Krishna shrines in India. The structure of this historic temple is typically Kerala style with gopuram (gateways), repeated Mandapas, sreekovil, subsidiary shrines around a courtyard circumambulatory.

The idol of the Sri Krishna Temple is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma himself at Dwarka and gifted to Vishnu in his Krishnavataram. After Lord Krishna left this earth for his heavenly abode, and the holy city of Dwarka was to be submerged, 'Guru', the preceptor of the Devas and 'Vayu', Lord of the winds were entrusted with the job of finding an equally holy spot for the idol. At the end of a long quest for an appropriate site they entered Kerala and met Parasurama, legendary creator of Kerala.

He led them to a beautiful lake full of lotuses, the present temple tank, 'Rudra Tirtha', beside which Shiva and Parvati waited to welcome them. The idol was duly installed at this spot and lovingly called Guruvayurappan, or the Lord of Guruvayur. Since the installation was done by Guru and Vayu the place was named as Guruvayurappan and later on as Guruvayur. Shiva and Parvathi installed themselves in Mammiyoor Temple at the opposite bank of the lake. Guruvayur temple is linked with Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, the author of 'Narayaniyam' (16th century) a Sanskrit work comprising 1000 Slokas (couplets) of inimitable beauty which is believed to have been composed in front of the deity here.

Precious materials are everywhere, as in a golden flagstaff and flimsy replicas of the arms, legs, ears and other affected parts of worshippers that are given as offerings. The temple faces east with two gopurams (gateways) one on the east and the other in the west. The Eastern 'gopuram' (Kizhakke Nada) of the Sri Krishna temple, also known as Bhooloka Vaikuntam, is the main entrance to the shrine. In the centre of the inner courtyard stands a pillared hall known as the 'Nalambalam' or ' Chuttambalam' with scores of oil lambs fixed on its walls. Inside the Chutambalam or outer enclosure is the square two-storeyed Sreekovil (main shrine) with three rooms, the innermost of which is the sacred sanctum sanctorum housing the main deity and can be viewed from the temple entrance.

 
Famous Tourist Destinations in Kerala
 
exotic-kerala Alleppey
exotic-kerala Ernakulam
exotic-kerala Kasargod
exotic-kerala Cochin
exotic-kerala Kollam
exotic-kerala Kottayam
exotic-kerala Kovalam
exotic-kerala Kumarakom
exotic-kerala Munnar
exotic-kerala Nilambur
exotic-kerala Silent Valley
exotic-kerala Thekkady
exotic-kerala Thenmala exotic-kerala Trivandrum exotic-kerala Varkala
exotic-kerala Wayanad        
           
Plan Your Travel
All fields are mandatory
Arrival
Departure
Services
People
Fill Your Contact Information
Name
Email
Phone No
Country
Enquiry
48152
Indian Hot Tours
Buddhist Pilgrimage
Luxury_Train_Tour
Incredible India
Royal Rajasthan
Golden Triangle
         
         
Backwaters Tours Hill Station Tours Beaches Tour Ayurveda Tour Honeymoon Tour
Backwaters Hill Stations Beaches Ayurveda /Yoga Honeymoon
         
Copyright © 2016 exotic-kerala.com All Right Reserved.