K E R A L A T O U R --» G U R U V A Y U R
Location
: Located in Keraka, near to Trissur(29
kms).
Area :
36 sq. kms.
Population :
Approx. 1 Lakh.
Tourist Spot in & around Guruvayur »
 Punnathur
Kotta
Chavakkad
Palayur
Sree
Krishna Temple
Anakotta
Arattu
|
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How to reach Guruvayur
?
: Roadway :
Several state-owned and private buses as well as
taxis regularly ply between Thrissur and Guruvayur.
Bus connections are also available to all the important
towns of Kerala as well as neighboring Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu.
: Railway :
Thrissur, just 29 km away, is the nearest railway
station.
: Airway :
The nearest airport is Kochi, 90 km away.
History of Guruvayur
According to the Narada Purana, Brahma himself was
installed here. Serpents are mythically related
to the famous Guruvayur temple. There is the myth
that at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, the heir of
the Pandavas, Parikshit, died bitten by Takshaka,
the king of serpent. It was because of a curse by
the son of a sage. Parakshit's son, Janamejaya,
vowed to take revenge and started a sarpa yagna
(snake sacrifice). Fearful of his certain death,
Takshaka pleaded with Indra to save him. Indra sent
Brihaspati, who requested Janamejaya to stop his
yagna and Janamejaya yielded. However, he was soon
afflicted by a virulent form of leprosy. Then sage
Athreya asked him to take refuge in the temple of
Guruvayur and worship Lord Krishna.
Guruvayur,
aptly called the Dwarka of the South, is one of
the most significant pilgrimage centers in India.
The idol of the famous Sri Krishna Temple here
is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma
himself. Everyday, endless waves of men, women
and children pour in for darshan (audience) of
Lord Guruvayur (Lord Krishna). Besides pilgrims
and tourists, brides and grooms with hundreds
of guests flock here daily to get their weddings
solemnized.
The Guruvayur Temple is unique, as it is not built
in the typical South Indian style of temple architecture.
For example, its architecture is not massive or
grand but simple in keeping with the style of
Kerala houses. Its four gateways lead to the main
gopuram (where the idol is installed), protected
by a slopping terracotta roof made of Mangalore
tiles. Again, in true Kerala style, the temple
owns 36 mighty elephants that live at Punnathur
Fort, 4 km north of the temple. |
