GURUVAYUR

Guruvayur is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim centres of Kerala. It’s chief attraction is a temple dedicated to Lord Kirshna, locally known as Guruvayurappan.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple

The temple of Lord Krishna is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim centres in Kerala. The deity in the temple is locally called ‘Gurvayurappan’. The installation and consecration of the idol is believed to have been done by the Celestial Guru, the preceptor of Devas alongwith Vayu, the God of Wind, hence the name Guruvayur. It is at this temple that Melpathoor Naryana Bhattithiri (in the 16th century) composed his renowned Sanskrit devotional poem ‘Narayaneeyam’ as an offering while he was seriously ill. The temple is renowned for its healing powers. Several modes of offering are made to the deity, one such is known as ‘Thulabharam’, where a devotee is weighed against offering of bananas, sugar, jaggery, coconut, etc.

Ladies are required to wear traditonal Kerala dress or sari and Gents are required to wear traditional dhoti. The main festivals Ulsavom (Feb/Mar) and Vishukani (Apr/May) are celebrated in the temple. Temple Timings: 0300-1230 hrs. & 1700- 2100 hrs.

Punnathur Kotta

This is the place where the Guruvayur temple elephants (numbering over 40) are housed and fed. Visitors are allowed to watch these elephants in the premises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area : 7.45 Sq.Km. Altitude : Sea level.

Temperature : Summer Max: 35.0 Deg.C. Min: 22.5 Deg.C.

Winter Max: 32.3 Deg.C. Min: 20.0 Deg.C.

Rainfall : 254 Cm.

Season : October to March STD Code : 0487.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

Air : Nedumbassery Airport near Kochi (87 Km.) is the nearest airport to Guruvayur and is well connected by Indian Airlines and private airlines with major cities. Fare: Mumbai-Kochi Rs. 5990/-(Y) & Rs. 8685/- (J).

Rail : The railhead at Guruvayur is connected with Thrissur (Trichur) which in turn is connected with major cities and towns in India.

Fare: Mumbai-Thrissur II A/c.: Rs. 1853/- & II Class: Rs. 429/-

Road : Guruvayur is well connected by good motorable roads with Alappuzha 173 Km., Kanniyakumari 419 Km., Kochi 108 Km., Kollam 258 Km., Kottayam 169 Km., Kozhikode 129 Km., Munnar 175 Km., Ootacamund 230 Km., Palakkad 95 Km., Palani 247 Km., Thekkady (Periyar) 242 Km., Thrissur 29 Km. and Thiruvananthapuram 331 Km.

ACCOMMODATION

(* Hotels approved by the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of India)

Single Double

*Hotel Sopanam Heritage *** A/c. -- Rs. 800- 1149/-

East Nada,Tel:555244,Fax: 556753. Non A/c. Rs. 700/- Rs. 800/-

*Hotel Krishna Inn*** A/c. -- Rs. 1100-1500/-

East Nada, Tel: 550777. Fax: 554169.

*Hotel Vanamala Kusumam** A/c. -- Rs. 800-900/-

South Nada,Tel: 556702, Fax:555504Non A/c. -- Rs. 550-600/-

Other Hotels

The tariff of the following hotels ranges from Rs. 300-600/- for a Non A/c. room and Rs. 500-900/- for a A/c room.

Hotel Ayodhya, West Nada, Tel: 556226; Hotel Elite, East Nada, Tel:556215-18. Fax:555218; Hotel Govindam Residency, West Nada, Tel: 552540-42; Hrishikesham Tourist Home, East Nada, Tel: 556750; Poornima Tourist Home,

East Nada, Tel: 556690-1; R.V.K Residency, East Nada,Tel: 556204. Fax:554655;

Yadava Tourist Home, East Nada, Tel: 555462;

Other Hotels

Tariff of the following hotels ranges from Rs. 150- 500/- for double room.

Aradhana Tourist Home, West Nada, Tel:556477; Brahmaputra Tourist Home, East Nada, Tel: 556761; Guruvayur Township Rest House, West Nada, Tel: 554795; Murali Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd., West Nada, Tel: 556363; Nandini Tourist Home Pvt. Ltd., East Nada, Tel: 556509; Sri Kripa Tourist Home, East Nada, Tel: 552415/21; Thulaseedalam Tourist Home, West Nada, Tel: 554019.

Other Accommodation

*Hotel Mangalya*(KTDC), East Nada, Tel: 556266/7 (Tariff: Non A/c. Rs.450/- (6 beds); *Hotel Nandanam*(KTDC), East Nada, Tel: 556266, Fax: 555513 (Tariff: A/c.Dlx. Sgl. Rs. 550/-, Dbl. Rs.600/- & Non A/c. Sgl. Rs. 275-325/-, Dbl. Rs. 300-400/-); Hotel Anjanam (KTDC), West Nada, Tel: 552408, Fax: 555513 (Tariff: Non A/c. 175-375/-). Reservations: Central Reservations, Kerala Tourism Dev. Corpn. Ltd. (KTDC), Mascot Square, Thiruvananthapuram, Tel: 0471-316736. Fax: 314406. E-mail: ktdc@vsnl.com Website: www.ktdc.com

Accommodation maintained by the Temple Devasom - Kausthubhom Rest House, Tel: 556537; Panchajanyam Rest House, Tel: 556535; Sathram Guest House; Sathram East Block; Sathram South Block; Sreevalsam (VIP Guest House), Tel: 556539. Reservations: The Administrator, Guruvayur Temple Devaswom, Tel: 556365.

Govt. Guest House, Tel:556696 (Tariff: A/c. Rs. 200-500/- & Non A/c. Rs. 100-200/-).

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES

Hotel Mangalya & Hotel Nandanam, KTDC, East Nada, Guruvayur, Tel: 556266/7.

KTDC, C/o. Kairali Emporium, Nirmal Bldg., Nariman Point, Mumbai.