?Guruvayoor Kerala • India
Guruvayoor
Coordinates: 10°36′N 76°03′E / 10.6, 76.05
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Thrissur
Population	21,187 (2001)
Codes • Vehicle	• KL-46

Coordinates: 10°36′N 76°03′E / 10.6, 76.05

Guruvayur (also written Guruvayoor) is a small town in Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala. Thrissur ( Trichur / Trissur ( Malayalam: തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ is a district situated in the central part of Kerala state, India India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country India is a union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; It lies 25 km to the north west of Thrissur City. For the district with the same name see Thrissur district. Thrissur / Trichur / Trissur ( Malayalam: തൃശ്ശൂര്‍

Temple

Guruvayur is most famous for its temple^[1], which is many centuries old and one of the most important in Kerala. The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple (ഗുരുവായൂര്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണ ക്ഷേത്രം is one of the most famous temples in India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The temple is famous as a site for pilgrimage and also a cultural centre as it is one of the centre-points along which Kerala literature and art-forms have been developed. The temple's deity is Lord Guruvayurappan. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple.

Legend

The most prominent legend regarding the temple's statuette ('murthi' is preferred) relates to Guru Brihaspathi and Vayu, the Wind God. Brihaspati (or Brahmanaspati) is the name of a Vedic deity, personification of piety and religion the chief offerer of prayers and sacrifices represented as

At the start of the current yuga, Brihaspathi found a floating statuette of Lord Krishna. He and Vayu installed the statuette in this temple to help mankind in this yuga. This legend forms the basis for the names of both the statuette (Guruvayurappan) and the town. ^[2]

Guruvayur Temple Entrance

Other Attractions

Another attraction is the famous Elephant Sanctuary (Punnathur kotta) near the temple where elephants are trained for temple purposes. The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple (ഗുരുവായൂര്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണ ക്ഷേത്രം is one of the most famous temples in India. Punnathur Kotta is located in Kottapadi near Guruvayoor in the Thrissur district of Kerala, South India. There are currently more than 60 elephants, all of whom were offered by devotees of Lord Guruvayurappan.

Elephant Sanctuary at Punnathur kotta, Guruvayur

The temple is a main site for Hindu marriages. Punnathur Kotta is located in Kottapadi near Guruvayoor in the Thrissur district of Kerala, South India. a record number of marriages take place each day at the temple some times crossing 100 in a single day. Devotees of guruvayurappan think it is a blessing to start married life in front of the lord.

GOLOKA RETREATS The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has recently started on its center and guest house for pilgrims to the town. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) also known as 'the Hare Krishna ' movement is one of several Vaishnava groups

ISKCON is now establishing a welfare center in the holy land of Guruvayur to facilitate pilgrims and visitors from far and wide with a rich spiritual experience. One of the element of the complex is an International Guest House, the first phase of which is underway. Set in the core of the land of Guruvayur, Goloka Retreats is a five minute walk from the main Guruvayur temple and is sandwiched between the same and the famous Mamiyur Lord Shiva temple.

The Retreat will house a restaurant, one among 80 odd restaurants of the society all over the world, with select cuisine. An Ayurvedic spa and Yoga studio will keep you fit in a spiritual ambience designed for the change that you so much desire in your life. ^[3]

Transport

Buses operate every few minutes from Thrissur Shaktan Thampuran Bus Stand. Actual name of Sakthan Thampuran was Raja Rama Varma (1751-1805 Buses also operate from Ernakulam,North Paravur, Kottayam, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kodungallur and Trivandrum. This article is about the town of Ernakulam See Ernakulam district. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> North Paravur (also Parur Paravur taluk Paravoor) is a town and a Municipality in Ernakulam WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> This article is about the town of Kottayam See Kottayam district also For the district with the same name see Palakkad District. Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized is a town and a Municipality WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the district with the same name see Kozhikode District. Kodungallur (anglicised name Cranganore) is a city and a Municipality in the Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Passenger trains operate from the station to Thrissur and Kochi, as well as an overnight express train to Trivandrum and further to Chennai. Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Cochin International Airport, the nearest airport, is some 80 km. Nedumbassery is a small village in Ernakulam district of Kerala, South India. from Guruvayur. if you are coming from calicut it will take approximately 2 hrs to reach guruvayoor by bus. Goruvayur has a single plat form railway station with a few daily services.

Demographics

As of the Indian census of 2001^[4], Guruvayur had a population of 21,187. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Guruvayur has an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 59. 5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 85%. In Guruvayoor, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Satellite image

• Satellite image of the temple.

See also

• Thrissur District
• Guruvayoorappan
• Guruvayur Temple
• Punnathur kotta

References

External links

• Guruvayoor.com Web abode of Guruvayoorappan
• [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=10595104&x=76040432&z=16&l=0&m=a Satellite image of Guruvayur town
• Krishna Kripa
• Read Deatils about Sri Guruvayur Temple

Entrance of Guruvayur temple	Entrance of Guruvayur temple	Shops in front of Guruvayur temple	Entrance to Guruvayur temple
Guruvayoor Temple	Guruvayoor town view	Elephant in Guruvayoor	A picture from Guruvayoor