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Guruvayoor
Guruvayoor has emerged as one of the most important places of worship in Southern India like Tirupati and Sabarimala. It is more than a spiritual journey for hundreds and thousands of people who visit Guruvayoor irrespective of their age and origin.
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Chamundeswari Temple : Chamundeswari Temple is located in the close proximity of Guruvayur temple. The presiding deity is Sri Chamundeswari, a revered form of Lord Durga. There is a separate shrine in the premise of this temple devoted to Thazhthukavu Bhagavathy. This deity is placed as a simple stone slab. The temple boasts many years age and the temple witness regular flow of devotees all through the year.
Chowalloor Shiva Temple : Renowned as one of the 108 Shivalayas (Abode of Shiva) the Chowalloor Shiva Temple is in the neighborhood of Guruvayur. The temple location is scenic, calm and cool. The premier deity is Shiva with a special Shivalinga installed in the sanctum Sanctorum.
There is an image of Thiruvambadi Krishna in a shrine just at the entrance of the Shiva temple. The surroundings are best places to spend hours together in solitude. Evenings at this place are attractive and rejuvenating.
Devaswom Museum : Devaswom museum is located very close to Guruvayur temple’s east gate. The museum has many collections of antiques, temple materials, mural paintings, musical instruments and other valuable materials. The temple devaswom museum serves as a place to store valuable offerings in the temple.
Devaswom museum displays the images and remains of famous religious poets like Melapthur and Poonthanam. Also it showcases adornments used in folk arts like Krishnanattam and Kathakali. The precious items used to adorn renowned elephants in Guruvayur are also displayed in this museum. The museum is open to public on all days.
Elephant Camp : Elephant Camp in the Punnathur Kotta is the largest elephant sanctuary in India. At present it has more than 60 elephants. All these elephants are offered to Guruvayur temple by the devotees of Guruvayurappan. This elephant sanctuary is a specimen example elephant love and preservation.
This elephant camp has produced many renowned elephants like Guruvayur Kesavan and Guruvayur Padmanabhan. The elephants are well treated in this camp. These elephants are used to carry Guruvayur temple idols in the procession known as Shiveli.
Guruvayurappan Temple : Guruvayurappan temple is one of the most famous and most visited temples in the south India. The prime deity of this temple is the child form of Lord Krishna, known as Balagopalan. The devotees get mental calmness by visiting and offering prayer in this temple. Each and every day, the temple witnesses huge crowd and hence big queues for Darshan.
The mural painting and images on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum are very much attractive and depicts Krishnaleelakal, childhood of Krishna. This is the place where the famous folk art Krishnattam took birth. The Shiveli procession with temple elephants carrying the cute beautiful idol is really worth seeing.
Harikanyaka Temple : Harikanyaka Temple is located at Ariyanoor, a neighboring hamlet of Guruvayur. It is believed that this ancient temple was constructed by the by Perumthachan. This is a preserved structure and is maintained by Archeological Survey of India.
The prime deity in the temple is Harikanyaka mean a virgin form of Lord Vishnu. Hari means Vishnu and Kanyaka means Virgin. Mythology connects the Ayyappa as the son of Harikanyaka and Lord Shiva. This temple was much richer than Guruvayur temple in the past and it had a rich history. Present Ariyannur, earlier known as Harikanyakapuram was the head of 32 deshams.
Institute of Mural Painting : Institute of Mural painting established in 1989 is managed by Guruvayur Devaswom. This institute was founded by renowned master of mural painting, Shri Mammiyoor Krishnankutty. The institute is located at the east gate of the Guruvayur temple.
This institute follows a traditional Gurukula system with residential facilities for the students. It offers many courses for the art loving students. The courses offered include five year diploma courses in mural painting, aesthetics, sculpture and art. This institute arranges exhibitions, seminars and training related to the art and culture of Kerala. Many students from Kerala and other states undergo training here.
Mammiyur Mahadevan Temple : Mamiyur Mahadevan temple is located at a close distance of Guruvayurappan temple. It is believed that the pilgrim tour to Guruvayur will not be complete without offering prayers at Mammiyur temple. The temple enshrines Lord Shiva and it is believed that Parvathy is also present inside the sanctorum. The temple is located at a spot where Lord Shiva is moved after donating his place for Guruvayurappan temple.
Nava Mukunda Temple : An ancient temple dedicated to Nava Mukunda, a form of Lord Vishnu is located at Thirunavaya, on the shores of Bharathapuzha. It is believed that the idol installed in this temple is the ninth idol installed by famous saints known as Navayogis. Legends tell that first eight idols disappeared as soon as they are placed and the ninth one sunk up to knee by which time it was forcibly stopped.
Parthasarathy Temple : This is a famous temple credited with an idol of Parthasarathy, Lord Krishna in the form of Guiding Arjuana (Partha). It is believed that this idol was installed in this temple by Adi Shankara. This temple also has a shrine for Adi Shankara. The temple sanctum is in the form of chariot with wheels and horses. Many devotees regularly visit to offer prayers and temple ambiance is good for silent prayer and meditation.
Thiruvambadi Krishna Shrine : Thiruvambady Krishna temple is one of the most ancient temples located in the central and north Kerala. The temple is located nearby Thrissur. The prime deity in this temple is Lord Krishna. The temple is associated with the famous Throssur Pooram during April- May every year. The procession from Thiruvambady is the main attraction of Thrissur Pooram festival.
Venkitachalapathy Temple : Venkatachalapathy temple is located nearby the Parthsarathy temple in Guruvayur. The prime deity in this temple is Venkatavhalapathy, as in Thirupathi. The idol is a form of Lord Vishnu. People believe that this is a temple in which happiness in life can be attained by praying to Venkatachalapathy.
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