Guruvayur Temple is a famous Hindu temple located at Guruvayur / Guruvayoor in Kerala state, India. Guruvayoor Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is regarded as one of the most important temples for Hindus.

The Main entrance to Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayur.

The presiding deity at this Temple is Mahavishnu. Lord Vishnu is worshiped tantrically according to routines laid down by the great Adi Shankaracharya. The Vedic traditions followed at the temple are its hallmarks. The deity worshiped at this temple is said to be more than five thousand years old.

Guruvayoor temple is called the Bhuloka Vaikunta, which in English means the abode of Vishnu on earth.

There is a strict dress code for people wishing to enter the Temple. Men should wear traditional Vesti. Ladies can wear either a saree or a Churidar. (Chiridar was added to Saree a few years ago when the dress code relaxation issue was taken up).

Punnathur Kotta or Punnathur Fort and Elephant Camp

Punnathurkotta is a Fort at Kottapadi village, approximately three kilometers from the Guruvayur temple.

Kottapadi alias Anakotta is an elephant camp at Kottapadi village near the fort. It is spread over 11.5 acres and is home to the elephants owned by the Guruvayur temple.

How to Go to Guruvayur Temple

Guruvayur is well connected by road to other parts of India. It is 29 Kilometers from Thrissur. NH 47 (Salem – Kanyakumari Highway) passes through Thrissur.

Even though there is a railway station at Guruvayur (with station code GUV), only one long-distance train, i.e., Guruvayur – Chennai train, goes to Guruvayoor railway station. The temple and the railway station are about 750 meters distance by walk.

The Major railway station near this temple is at Thrissur, with railway station code TCR. (Trichur is the city’s old name, and Thrissivaperur is the Malayalam name of the city). Those coming by long-distance trains from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkotta, Chennai (by Thiruvananthapuram Mail, Thiruvananthapuram Express or Allepy Express), Hyderabad, Bangalore, etc., are required to get down at Thrissur.

Cochin International Airport at Nedumbrassery is the nearest airport, nearly 125 kilometers away.

Accommodation near the Guruvayur Temple / Guruvayoor Temple

There are many hotels in Guruvayur with different rates suitable for all categories of pilgrims. The temple (Guruvayur Devaswom) runs the rest house, Panchajanyam Rest House. There are a large number of rooms, and it is well maintained. A dining hall is located on the ground floor of the adjacent building in the same compound. Kousthubham Rest House and Sreevalsam Annex are the other two rest houses run by the temple administration board, Guruvayur Devaswom.

To cater to the ever-increasing number of pilgrims, many new buildings are coming up near the temple and also across different parts of the city.

Cloak Rooms and Dormitory near Temple

There are different clock rooms near the temple. The municipality has a dormitory cloakroom. You can also freshen up here. Frshingup, with cloakroom charges, is approximately Rs. 40 in November 2023. Kudumbashree runs it. It is on the Western side (west nada) of the temple.

Freshup facilities are available on the Western and eastern sides under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme.

Also, at the railway station at Guruvayoor, there are clock rooms and fresh-up facilities. Beware of thieves at the railway station while freshening up.

There are toilets in the Devaswam Toilet block. You can then take a bath in the temple pond.

Marine Aquarium near Chavakkad

CISO Marine World is the Marine Aquarium on the Panchavadi Beach Road at Edakkazhiyur near Chavakkad. It is the largest public aquarium in India. It is approximately 9 kilometers away from the temple. The phone number of MarineWorld is +91-85899-80546, and the mail id is info@marineworld.in

Charges are Rs 400 for adults. Senior citizens are charged Rs 350 only. For Children above 95 cm in height, the entry fee is Rs 280. For children below 95 cm in height, there is no Entry Fee at Marine World.

Note: Please confirm the given amounts with the authorities, as they are subject to change.