Guruvayur is a town located in Kerala State, in the southern part of India. Well connected by road and train. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (50 km). This was a typical yet possibly the strangest journey to a pilgrimage, considering that these temples are significant on the pilgrimage map of Kerala, at least. They are certainly famous, but they don’t usually align with the routes taken by regular pilgrims. In that sense, my journey was unique for me, and I was also curious to check out the 1200-year-old temples on the Kerala map.
The places that we must visit in Guruvayur are the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple, Mammyur temple, elephant sanctuary, Chhavakad beach, and Marine World.
Our journey
We took a train from Bengaluru to Thrissur, arriving at 6:30 AM. We spent a few hours in Thrissur, refreshing ourselves at the National Tourist Home for 3 hours before checking out three temples.
At 3 PM, we hopped on a government bus to Guruvayur, which took about an hour since it’s only 28 KM away. We stayed at a hotel in Guruvayur and explored the Marine Aquarium and Chavakkad Beach.
The next day, at 9:30 AM, we grabbed a taxi to Athirapalli, where we visited three waterfalls and returned to Guruvayur by 6:30 PM. The following day, we checked out three famous temples in Guruvayur and then took a government bus to Alleppey, which was a 5.5-hour journey.
Where to stay
There are many homestays and hotels in Guruvayur. We stayed in Sterling Guruvayur.
The room rent was Rs. 2800 per day, which excludes breakfast. This hotel is 1.5 km from the main Guruvayur temple.
Expenditure
The whole trip cost Rs. 36,000 with a 5N stay and a taxi trip from Guruvaur to Athirapalli waterfalls. It was a self-conducted tour. Mostly all journeys by train and auto and average hotels.
Temple timings
It’s thought that after checking out the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple, devotees should also swing by the Mammyur temple.
Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple timings
Darshan – 3am- 12.30pm, 4.30pm-9pm
Parikrama – 9 pm -11 pm
Mammyur temple timings
Darshan – 5 am- 10 am, 5pm-8pm
Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple
“The name “Guruvayur” combines Guru (Brihaspati, the celestial sage) and Vayu (the wind god), who are believed to have brought the idol of Lord Krishna from the submerged city of Dwaraka and installed it here. Lord Shiva marked the location, bestowing divine sanction. The site is also known as Bhuloka Vaikuntha, or “Vaikuntha on Earth.” The four-armed deity is said to have been worshiped by Krishna himself, then passed via Uddhava, Brihaspati, and Vayu to Guruvayu.”
This is popular for weddings and Annaprashana (first grains feeding for infants).
Mammiyoor Shiva Temple
According to temple lore, following the deluge that submerged Dwaraka, Lord Krishna’s self-designed idol began floating on the ocean waves. Devaguru Brihaspati (Guru) and the wind-god Vayu retrieved the idol and sought a divine location for its installation. Guided by cosmic fate, they arrived at the Rudratheertha lake. Lord Śiva, deep in penance nearby, offered them the site. He graciously moved to the opposite bank, which became Mahimayur, meaning “greatness of Śiva,” later evolving into Mammiyur (Mammiyoor). The consecration site of Lord Krishna became Guruvayur—named after Guru and Vayu. Tradition says your Guruvayur pilgrimage is incomplete without visiting Mammiyoor. Its main deity is Lord Shiva. It is just 500 meters from Guruvayur temple.
Elephant sanctuary
Then we took an auto for Elephant Sanctuary, which is the property of the Guruvayur Temple Trust. This is a small training center for the elephants, and these temples are used only for the service of temples.
Chhavakad beach
This spot in Guruvayur is pretty significant and is only about 3 km away from the city center. We booked an auto at 3pm to take us to Marine World and Chhavakad Beach. The beach is more natural and doesn’t have the glitz of Kovalam or Marina Beach in Chennai. We can just chill on the sand and soak in the views of the Arabian Sea.
Marine World
The entry fee is pretty steep (Rs.300), but it’s totally worth it since you can check out fish from nearly every corner of the globe. This place took 14 years to build and was created by Muslim trustees from the Middle East. You’ll need around 2 hours to explore the 24 live galleries.
Next day we headed by taxi to Athirapally.
As we travel through the rows of stunning bungalows, they seem to be well-kept, yet no one lives in them. This is a unique feature of Kerala, and these homes almost blend into the surrounding flora and fauna. Most young and middle-aged folks have moved to the Middle East and are doing quite well for themselves. They’ve built these houses, perhaps for their parents, hoping that one day they’ll return to their nest.
On our way from Guruvayur to the Athirapally waterfalls, which is about 100 km, we also spot the massive “leechi” trees in front of many homes. The leechies are a must-try; they taste amazing and are super fresh. They’re priced at Rs. 150 per kg.
Epilogue
After checking out the Guruvayur temples, we can spend the night there and then head to Athirapally waterfalls the next day. From Athirapally, we can take the same taxi to Thrissur to catch our train to our next stop or back home.
Our ‘naman’ to the sacred Guruvayur. You’re not just a temple town; you’re a vibrant mix of faith, tradition, and culture. You’ll forever remind me that devotion isn’t just a ritual; it’s a lifestyle.
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