Location: In the heart of the City
The Guruvayoor Krishna Temple revered amongst the five most eminent Vishnu Temples in India and exalted as one of the arch pilgrim destinations of the Hindus is metaphorically described as the ‘Bhuloka Vaikunta’ i.e. the Vaikunta (the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu) on the earth. Estimated to be more than 5000 years old, the divine idol of Lord Vishnu enshrined in the Sri Kovil (sanctum) of the Guruvayoor Temple represents the enamoring silhouette of Lord Vishnu disposed in a standing posture. In his four majestic arms the Lord carries the Panchajanya Conch, the Sudarshan Chakra (discus), the Kaumodaki Gada (mace) and the lotus flower. Adorned with a celestial Tulsi (basil) garland, the Guruvayoorappan Idol manifests the same form of Lord Maha Vishnu as appeared before Vasudev and Devki at the time of His Krishna incarnation. This four feet tall idol of Maha Vishnu facing east is carved out of the ‘Patalanjana Stone’ which is believed to be extremely sacred by the devotees.
The Lord Vishnu of the Guruvayoor Temple is venerated by various appellations in Kerala such as Guruvayoorappan, Kannan, Unnikkannan, Balakrishnan and Unnikrishnan. The Guruvayoorappan is offered daily Poojas and Sevas according to the routines and customs established by Adi Shankara and later formally written down by ‘Chennas Narayanan Namboodiri’ in the proper Tantric method. As the legend goes, the idol of the Guruvayoorappan was originally handed over by Lord Vishnu to Lord Brahma, from where after changing several hands it reached Lord Krishna; the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. After his demise, Lord Guru and Lord Vayoo enshrined the idol at Guruvayoor. Further, it is also said that a Pandava descendent King Janamejaya got cured of his leprosy by the grace of Lord Guruvayoorappan. The Lord Krishna temple of Guruvayoor is renowned all over the map for its grand annual festivals and religious and cultural fiestas.
It is to be noted that non Hindus are not permitted admission to the Guruvayoor Temple and a strict dress code is to be followed by everybody entering the temple premises. Men are supposed to wear ‘Mundu’ at the bottom and ‘Veshthi’ at the top while women can wear sari, long skirt and blouse or Churidar Pyjamas.

Location: Parked at the distance of just 500 meters from the main Guruvayoor Temple
The Mammiyoor Shiva Temple, also reckoned by the epithet ‘the Mammiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram’ is one of the 108 famous Shiva Temples of Kerala and also one of the five Shiva Temples set up around Guruvayoor and worshipped as the five faces of Lord Mahadev. As the legend goes, the present day location of Guruvayoorappan Temple was initially inhabited by Lord Shiva along with his consort Goddess Parvati. On the request of Lord Guru and Lord Vayoo who had brought the Lord Vishnu idol from Dwarka to be enshrined here, Lord Shiva vacated the place and shifted to the present location of the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple. Parked at the distance of just 500 meters from the main Guruvayoor Temple, the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple houses Lord Shiva as its presiding deity seated in the sanctum sanctorum. Along with Lord Shiva, His better half Goddess Parvati, His three sons; Ganesha, Murugan and Ayyappan and the Nagas are also installed here.
Moreover, the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple has another independent shrine where Lord Guruvayoorappan i.e. Lord Vishnu is seated. Erected facing towards east, this Shiva Temple apart from its mythological magnitude is also distinguished for its large impressive murals depicting the images of Mohini. At present this temple is managed by the Malabar Devaswom Board. Three daily Poojas are offered at this shrine and the two annual festivals grandly celebrated at the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple are ‘the Maha Shivaratri Festival’ and ‘Thiruvathira Festival’. Lord Shiva is offered Pinvilakku, Koovalamala, Abhishekams, Dhara, Vedi Vazhipadu and other services while Lord Vishnu here is worshipped with Palpayasam and Kalabhabhishekam. As per the prevailing custom every devotee who pays homage at the feet of Lord Guruvayoorappan is supposed to visit the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple too. Only Hindu devotees are permitted an entry inside the Mammiyoor Shiva Temple premises.

Location: About a kilometer away from the main Guruvayoorappan Temple
Situated about a kilometer away from the main Guruvayoorappan Temple, the Parthasarathy Temple of Guruvayoor is yet another Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. The title Parthasarathy means the ‘Charioteer of Parth i.e. Arjuna’. The reference leads us back to the era of Mahabharata when during the great battle of Kurukshetra Lord Krishna served as Arjuna’s charioteer, preached him the message of the ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ and guided him through the battle. The noteworthy attribute of the Parthasarathy Temple is that, the configuration of the main shrine is outlined in the form of a chariot driven by many horses and Lord Shri Krishna is installed sitting as Parthasarathy and advocating the Holy Gita to Arjuna. It is supposed that this idol of Lord Krishna was enshrined in this temple by Adi Shankara following the counsel of the heavenly Saint Narad. A smaller shrine dedicated to Adi Shankara is also situated close by which testifies this belief. The walls of this temple are marvelously ornamented with variant imageries and gracefully fashioned art work. Also noted for its clam and placid ambiance perfect for praying and meditating, the Parthasarathy Temple of Guruvayoor is one of the must visit destinations sited around the main Guruvayoorappan Temple. Besides, the Venkatachalapathy Temple is also stationed in the proximity with the Parthasarathy Temple.

Location: Adjacent to the Parthasarathy Temple
The Thiru Venkatachalapathy Temple to be found adjacent the Parthasarathy Temple of Guruvayoor is a smaller shrine dedicated to Lord Thirupathi Venkatachalapathy; a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. Established by certain Telugu pilgrims as a gesture of their unyielding devotion towards Lord Krishna this temple beckons hordes of devotees and pilgrims all twelve months of the year. It is believed that paying homage at the feet of Lord Thiru Venkatachalapathy will eradicate all the ill luck and hardships from your life and you will be blessed with eternal happiness and prosperity. Set up against the scintillating backdrop of luxuriant greenery and blessed with immaculate and unpolluted environs that further augment the grandeur and magnanimity of the vicinity, the Thiru Venkatachalapathy Temple is indeed a worth visiting religious destination of Guruvayoor; the sublime abode of Lord Maha Vishnu.

Location: At a small neighboring village of Guruvayoor named Ariyanoor
‘Hari’ means Lord Vishnu and ‘Kanyaka’ means a girl or a maiden. The Harikanyaka Temple dedicated to the female form of Lord Vishnu i.e. Mohini is located at a small neighboring village of Guruvayoor named Ariyanoor. Considered to be one of the 108 Durga Temples, this ancient shrine is believed to have established by Perumthachan in early 14th century. In olden times Ariyanoor was known by the moniker ‘Harikanyakapuram’ and was aggrandized as the head of the 32 ‘Deshams’. The idol of the Goddess Harikanyaka enshrined in the ‘Sri Kovil’ of the temple measures 5 feet in its height and is chiseled out of black monolithic stone. This idol is gilded with a sheet made from five metals i.e. Panchloha. Except for the presiding deity of the temple, this sanctuary also houses several other sub shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa and Goddess Kali.
As per the preponderate myth, Lord Vishnu obtained the Mohini (Harikanyaka) form subsequent to the legendary event of Samudra Manthan (the churning of the ocean) when she tricked the demons and saved the Amrit i.e. nectar by distributing it amongst the Gods only. Moreover, she also destructed Bhasmasura very cleverly when he was about to annihilate Lord Shiva. The mythological Hindu God Lord Ayyappa is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Harikanyaka. The Harikanyaka Temple of Ariyanoor boasting of its elongated glorious history is now preserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Harikanyaka Temple hosts the ostentatious Thrissur Pooram Festival that is celebrated for 15 days in the month of March or April every year. Thousands of devotees pay a visit to this temple during these 15 days of the annual Thrissur Pooram.

Location: Right in the heart of Guruvayoor close to the Guruvayoorappan Temple
The Chamundeswari Temple located right in the heart of Guruvayoor close to the Guruvayoorappan Temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeswari Devi; a manifestation of Goddess Durga. Also recognized by the sobriquet ‘Thozhuvancode Shree Chamundi Devi Temple’, this Hindu pantheon commemorates the idol of Goddess Chamundeswari made from five metals i.e. Panchloha (gold, silver, copper, lead & iron ). Apart from the presiding deity the Chamundeswari Temple also accommodates several sub shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Durga, Ananta, Mohini Yakshi, Karinkali Devi, Thamburan and the Navagrahas. An independent shrine within the temple premises is dedicated to Goddess Thazhthukavu Bhagavathy where the Goddess is manifested in the form of a simple stone slab. Endowed with immense architectural grandeur and serene religious atmosphere, the Chamundeswari Temple is a very idyllic place for praying and meditating. The temple receives a regular flood of devotees all round the year.

Location: At ‘Thirunavaya’ on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River about 8 kilometers away from Tirur in Malappuram District
The Nava Mukunda Temple situated at ‘Thirunavaya’ on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River about 8 kilometers away from Tirur in Malappuram District is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shri Krishna. The term ‘Nava Mukunda’ is interpreted as the ninth (Nava) Lord Krishna (Mukunda). As per the prevailing legend, the idol of Lord Mukunda was enshrined in this temple by the legendary saints known as ‘Navayogis’. The present idol of Lord Krishna is believed to be the ninth idol of the Lord as all the initial eight idols disappeared as soon as they were consecrated. Even this ninth idol had sunk up to its knee and was about to disappear but the devotional chanting of the mantras stopped the idol from sinking even more. The devotees hold a belief that one day this idol will completely descend into the earth which will be the signal of the end of Kaliyuga and the ensuing ‘Maha Pralaya’. Two other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma are also parked close to the Nava Mukunda Temple which renders this place a sacred domicile of the ‘Trimurthi Sangamam’.
Moreover, this is the place where Lord Parasurama performed the Tharpanam rites in the honor of his departed father. Due to this reason, Thirunavaya is esteemed similar to Varanasi and people arrive here to offer Tharpanam to their late ancestors. Distinguished for its bravura historical and cultural heritage, Thirunavaya is also the land of the ‘Mamankam Festival’ celebrated once in every 12 years. At the time of Mamankam the members of the royal family would get together and celebrate for next 28 days. The famous Warrior Fights were held at the time of Mamankam when the soldiers and the fighters used to get a platform to present their gallantry and heroism in front of the royal family and the citizens of the empire. Moreover, Thirunavaya is also a seraphic berth of the soft creamy sand and the pristine palm fringed beaches where one can unwind and spend some quiet and peaceful time away from the daily hustle bustle of the city life.

Location: Placed just 3 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple
The Chowalloor Shiva Temple placed just 3 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple and assumed to be thousands of years old is a shrine dedicated to the God of destruction; Lord Shiva. Acknowledged amongst the 108 ‘Shivalayas’ i.e. the sacred seats of Lord Shiva, the Chowalloor Shiva Temple was consecrated by Lord Parasurama; the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the mythological founder of Kerala. The unique feature of this temple is that the idol of Lord Shiva enshrined in the sanctum faces the west while the idol of Goddess Parvati; the consort of Lord Shiva faces the east. This position of the presiding deities symbolizes that they keep an eye in all the directions and shower their blessings on the entire world. An image of Thiruvambadi Krishna is seated in a shrine positioned at the entrance of the Chowalloor Shiva Temple. This Shiva Temple sited amidst the calm and quiescent surroundings endowed with immeasurable natural pulchritude is indeed an ideal locale to spend some tranquil time in placid meditation. Shivaratri is the major annual festival of this Shiva Temple and the devotees and pilgrims paying a visit to the Guruvayoor Krishna temple also pay homage at the feet of the Chowalloor Shiva Temple without fail.

Location: Stationed at Thrissur at the distance of about 26 kilometers from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple
The Thiruvambadi Krishna Temple stationed at Thrissur at the distance of about 26 kilometers from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple is one of the largest and oldest Krishna Temples existing in north and central Kerala. Regarded to be over 1000 years old, this temple is particularly reckoned for its extraordinary architecture and its breathtaking structural ingenuity. Dedicated to the infant form of Lord Krishna i.e. ‘Lord Unni Krishna’, this temple also accommodates several sub shrines dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa, Lord Bhairawa and so on. Moreover, the Thiruvambadi Krishna Temple happens to be the only Temple in Thrissur that possesses a flagpole entirely gilded in pure gold. The most noteworthy aspect for which this tabernacle is famed far and wide is its Thrissur Pooram Festival, the annual fiesta of the temple celebrated in the month of April or May. The grandiloquent procession that is carried out at the time of Thrissur Pooram involves a custom of Kudamattam, wherein numerous flamboyantly decorated elephants perform an activity of exchanging multicolored umbrellas in a proportionate and extremely well coordinated manner.

Location: In the garden of the Sree Valsam Guest House complex in South Nada r
The statues of Maraprabhu and Guruvayoor Kesavan situated in the garden of the Sree Valsam Guest House complex in South Nada are two giant statues erected here by the Guruvayoor Devaswom. The imperial statue of ‘Maraprabhu’; an innovative manifestation of Lord Krishna as a gigantic trunk of an enormous banyan tree is found on the grounds of a traditional folk-lore associated with Poonthaanam and Melpathur Bhattathiripad. As the legend goes, during the recitation of the ‘Vishnu Sahasra Naamam’ at the Guruvayoor Temple, Poonthaanam mispronounced the utterance ‘Amaraprabhu’ as ‘Maraprabhu’. On hearing that Melpathur Bhattathiripad; an erudite Sanskrit scholar made fun of him when a celestial voice was heard from the sanctum of the temple; ‘I am also the Maraprabhu’ i.e. the Lord of the trees. The 52 feet tall Maraprabhu statue constructed with reference to this anecdote happens to be the largest terracotta idols in the whole world. Designed by Maraprabhu Ramachandran, this idol depicting the Lord Guruvayoorappan in the form of ‘Maraprabhu’ is fabricated using thousands of different therapeutic herbs collected from all corners of the globe. Symbolizing the indissoluble bond between man and clay, the Maraprabhu idol of Guruvayoor is a result of incessant hard work undertaken by thousands of artists for several months. The statue of Guruvayoor Kesavan established right next to the Maraprabhu figurine is built in the memory of the most outstanding elephant of the Guruvayoorappan Temple stables; Guruvayoor Kesavan. This elephant during its lifetime was crowned as the ‘Gajaraja’ or the ‘Elephant King’ a number of times and acted as the main temple elephant of the Guruvayoorappan Temple.

Location: About 40 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Temple
The Gokulam Estate, to be found at Vengad in Malapuram District about 40 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Temple is a 100 acre estate owned by the Guruvayoor Temple Devaswom. Also known as the ‘Vrindavanam Gokulam Estate’ or just ‘Vrindavanam Estate’, this plantation area cultivates coconuts, cashew nuts, palm and other vegetation that yields cash crops and also provides food to the temple elephants and the cattle possessed by the Devaswom. Apart from that, the Vrindavanam Estate also comprises a 25 acre plot named ‘Gokulam’ where the cows offered to the Lord Guruvayoorappan by His devotees are sheltered and maintained. At the moment the estate houses more then 550 cows and operates one of the largest dairy farms of the state of Kerala.

Location: In Kottapadi about 2 kilometers away from the Guruvayoorappan Temple
The Punnathur Kotta located in Kottapadi about 2 kilometers away from the Guruvayoorappan Temple is a former palace of the erstwhile local king that is now used as a stable for housing the temple elephants offered by the devotees to the Lord Guruvayoorappan. Renamed as ‘Anakkotta’ meaning ‘the elephant fort’, this elephant abode now lodges around 66 elephants. The legendary temple elephant named ‘Guruvayoor Kesavan’ also resided here and the oldest elephant dwelling here at present is named ‘Ramachandran’ who is about 82 years old. At Punnathur Kotta, the elephants are trained for serving the Lord Guruvayoorappan and also participating in various temple festivals organized throughout the year. The ceremonies of ‘Gajapooja’ and ‘Anayoottu’ which involves worshipping and feeding the elephants are practiced here daily. The Punnathur Kotta complex also houses a training school for the Mahouts and a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Bhagavathi. The elephant camp of Punnathur Kotta happens to be the only elephant camp of its kind and the largest elephant sanctuary in the whole world. Several scenes of the popular Malayalam movie ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha’ casting Mammooty were filmed at the Punnathur Kotta Elephant Camp. Tourists can pay a visit to the elephant camp between 8:00 am and 5:30 pm. An entry fee of 5 rupees is charged here and you can also carry your camera inside after paying 25 Rs for the camera ticket.

Location: Within the Sathram Canteen Block of the Guruvayoorappan Temple parked near the east gate of the temple complex
The Institute of Mural Painting located within the Sathram Canteen Block of the Guruvayoorappan Temple parked near the east gate of the temple complex was established by the Temple Devaswom in the year 1989 under the leadership of Shri Mammiyoor Krishnankutty; a renowned master of mural painting. Established subsequent to the great temple fire of 1970 in order to preserve the declining art of Kerala Mural Paintings, this institute offers a five year National level diploma course in mural painting, aesthetics, art and sculpture through the traditional India Gurukula system. The first two years of the course are devoted to the preparatory study of Fine Arts which is followed by the three years specialized coaching in traditional Kerala Mural Painting. The students are selected on the basis of an aptitude test and the interview and the number of student admitted in every batch is limited to 10. The selected students are provided with stipend and residential as well as mess facilities. Presently, Sri.K.U.Krishnakumar serves as the Principal and Chief Instructor of the Institute of Mural Painting in Guruvayoor and scores of students from Kerala rest of the country are studying here. Every year the Institute of Mural Painting of Guruvayoor organizes exhibitions, seminars and training programs related to the art and culture of Kerala.

Location: Within the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple premises close to the Guruvayoor Institute of Mural Painting
The Devaswom Museum located within the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple premises close to the Guruvayoor Institute of Mural Painting is a menagerie where the valuable offerings presented at the feet of Lord Guruvayoorappan by His devotees are stored and exhibited. A rich collection of temple materials antique items, musical instruments, mural paintings and other precious objects are preserved at the Devaswom Museum. Moreover, the ornamentations used in traditional Kerala folk art forms such as Kathakali and Krishnanattam and the valuable items used to decorate the temple elephants of Guruvayoor are also showcased in this museum. Some peculiar possessions of the Devaswom Museum include elephant teeth, old toys and an archaic rifle. The Devaswom Museum also owns a large auditorium that commemorates the great saint poet of Kerala; Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri who praised Lord Guruvayoorappan through his devotional verses. Various religious functions like spiritual discourses, sessions on diverse cultural and spiritual topics, performances of traditional and classical music and dance forms etc are organized here. The auditorium is bequeathed with a large stage with an attached green room and it has the capacity to accommodate over 2000 audience at a time. The Devaswom Museum can be visited from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm all days of week but Tuesdays and other public holydays.

Location: At Palayur in Thrissur District just 4 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple
The Palayur Church located at Palayur in Thrissur District just 4 kilometers away from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple is one of the seven Apostolic Churches established by St. Thomas; one of the twelve close disciples (apostles) of Jesus Christ in India. Believed to be founded in 52 AD, the Palayur Church happens to be the oldest Romo-Syrian Church existing in India. Presenting a great fusion of Hindu order of temple architecture with the Persian Church Plan, this church portrays the life events of St. Thomas through the 14 granite statues installed at the entrance of the church. Palayur Mahatheerthadanam is the prime festival of the Palayur Church when pilgrims from far and wide throng this place. According to the prevalent custom, they carry a wooden cross at the time of this festival. Other festivals celebrated at the Palayur Church include Thukharana Thirunal, Tharpana Thirunal, Muppittu Njayar etc.

Location: Nested on the east banks of the Periyar River in the Ernakulam District
Kaladi, a small hamlet nested on the east banks of the Periyar River in the Ernakulam District is a prominent Hindu pilgrim destination as it is the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankara; the great philosopher of Hinduism and the advocate of the ‘Advaita Ved?nta’ doctrine. The noteworthy tourist destinations of Kaladi include the Shankara Temple, Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Sri Adi Shankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam, Sri Krishna Temple, Manickamangalam Karthyayani Temple, Mattoor Thiru Vellaman Thulli Siva Temple, Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple, Manjapra Karppilli Kavu Siva Temple, Thekke Madhom, Aryadevi Samadhi Mandapam, Kaladi Kadavu, Crocodile Ghat, Ghat of the Post Funeral Rites of Mother Aryadevi, etc. The major festivals celebrated at Kaladi are Shankara Jayanti, Navaratri, Rathotsavam and the annual festival of Lord Krishna Thrikalady Appan.

Location: In Athirapilly Panchayath of Thrissur District near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar Ranges
The Athirapilly Water Falls located in Athirapilly Panchayath of Thrissur District near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar Ranges is a 24 meters tall waterfall situated on the Chalakudy River. This segmented waterfall where the water of the Chalakudy River cascades down in three separate columns is noted for its affluent flora and fauna. A number of Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi movies have been filmed against the backdrop of this majestic water cataract.

Location: About 10 kilometers from Guruvayoor in Thrissur District
Chettuva, located about 10 kilometers from Guruvayoor in Thrissur District is one of the popular backwater destinations of Kerala; the God’s Own Country. Tourists paying homage at the feet of Lord Guruvayoorappan make it a point to also visit Chettuva and experience a stay in the hardcore Keralite milieu. The backwaters of Chettuva teeming with small clusters of islands and garlanded with dense mangroves and affluent paddy fields allure the visitors to no extent. Leisurely cruising in the placid backwaters of Chettuva in the snail paced houseboat or drifting over the backwaters in your terraced cruise boat is truly an experience of delight and ecstasy. Other than its immeasurable natural beauty, Chettuva also basks in the glory of its interesting historical legacy dating back to the period of the colonial history of the Kerala State. The Dutch and the British colonizers had camped at Chettuva during their tenure. Moreover, an ancient fort belonging to Tippu Sultan located at Chettuva also comprises one of the major tourist attractions of this place. Besides, the tourists can also relish the mouth watering Kerala food and sea food available here and also indulge in various rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage and Spa treatments.

Location: Along the coast of the Arabian Sea at the distance of just 6.5 kilometers from Guruvayoor
The Chavakkad Beach positioned along the coast of the Arabian Sea at the distance of just 6.5 kilometers from Guruvayoor is regarded as one of the most popular beaches of the state of Kerala. Endowed with pristine natural beauty and immaculate ambience, the Chavakkad Beach is particularly reckoned for its site of ‘Azhimokam’ i.e. the confluence of a river with the sea. The famous St. Thomas Church of Palayur believed to be one of the seven Apostolic Churches established by St. Thomas in India is also situated in the proximity with the Chavakkad Beach. The long stretches of the creamy silver sand fringed with coconut and palm trees swaying in the cool sea breezes and the fathomless sapphire blue waters of the Arabian Sea relentlessly washing the feet of the Indian peninsula create a sumptuous spectacle that would absolutely fascinate the visitors.