Guruvayoor Temple

Overview
If you take into account the sheer number of devotees visiting this temple, the Guruvayoor temple ranks right there on the top with the most popular Hindu temples of India. The place is known as the Dwarka of South India. It is believed that maximum number of marriages and Annaprasham (the rice feeding ceremony for the infants) take place in the Guruvayoor temple. The presiding deity of the temple is said to be 5000 years old. There were many attempts to destroy the temple which couldn't destroy the spirit of the temple. The most important festival which takes place in the temple is the Utsavam and it continues for 10 days. Many cultural programmes are also conducted in the period. The eighth day is the day of grand feast. The flag of the temple is lowered to mark the end of the festival

Legends Associated
It is said that Lord Paramshiva recommended this place to the Guru (the perceptor of Gods) and his disciple Vayu (the God of winds). The deity at the temple was installed by them. The place was named as Guruvayoor by Lord Shiva. The place was turned sacred by the presence of Lord Shiva.
Design and Construction
There is a gold plated flag post in the outer enclosure as well as a 7 meters high pillar of lamps which gives out a really good spectacle to the devotees of the place. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is square in shape and houses the presiding deity of the temple. The other images of Gods within the temple are that of Sree Ayappa , Ganpathy and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagwathy.

Nearby Attractions
Anakkotta
It is an elephant sanctuary located at Punnathur Kotta. It is only 3 km away from the Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and is regarded as the largest elephant sanctuary as there are more than 62 trained elephants here. These elephants are regarded as a form of Lord Ganesha. Most of the pilgrims who visit the Guruvayoor temple visit the Anakkotta Elephant Sanctuary.

Thrissur
The place is famous for its Vadakkumnathan temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thrissur is also famous for its Pooram festival which is one of the biggest festivals of Kerala.

How to Reach?
By Air
The Kochi International Airport is about 80 km from Guruvayoor whereas the Calicut (Kozhikode) airport is 100 km away. All the major airlines operate regular flights from here.

By Rail
Guruvayoor itself has a railway station of its own in the east of the temple. Those coming from Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram can get down at Thrissur which is 29 km away. Those coming from Mangalore may get down at Kuttipram station. All these places have regular bus services plying to Guruvayoor.

By Road
There are excellent road connections between Guruvayoor and other major cities of the country. The bus stand of the KSRTC is only 500 meters away from the temple.