Famous Tourist Places near Guruvayur Temple
Guruvayur is a peaceful and serene town that holds great significance to Hindu devotees and history buffs alike. It is home to the famous Guruvayur Shri Krishna temple, which is believed to be the country’s fourth largest temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this ancient temple attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, especially during the 12-day-long Shivratri festival. The temple holds cultural interest too due to its magnificent architecture and classic traditional structure which it still maintains.
However, that’s not all that’s famous about Guruvayur as it is a favorite tourism destination too. Aside from its famous elephant sanctuary, this peaceful town is well-known for being home to the country’s first church as well. Here’s a look at some of the interesting tourist places in and around Guruvayoor:
Punnathur Kotta (Elephant Camp Sanctuary)
One of the best tourist destinations in Guruvayur is the expansive Punnathur Kotta. It was originally the palace and fort of the Punathur kings. Sprawling over 11.5 acres of lush greenery, it has been converted into the world’s largest elephant sanctuary. Gear up to get amazed watching these gentle giants roaming around casually within the dense greenery of this sanctuary. Located about 3km away from the Guruvayur temple, you can watch and even participate in the daily feeding, bathing and care routine of the around 60 temple elephants resident here – or see what goes into the training of these elephants for temple rituals and processions. The sanctuary is open to visitors from 9am to 5pm and makes for a memorable day’s outing for both adults and kids!
Palayur Church
South of the town, you can stroll into another outstanding historical monument here. Believed to have been built by one of the twelve apostles of Christianity – St Thomas, in 52 AD, the magnificent Palayur church holds religious as well as historical significance for its visitors. Spend a little while soaking in the serenity and peaceful aura found within its ancient walls and come out a renewed person again.
Chamundeshwari Temple
Another significant place of worship in Guruvayur is the century-old Chamundeshwari temple. It is dedicated to Chamundeshwari Devi, one of the fiercest forms of goddess Durga. The interesting thing here is that the main Devi’s statue in the sanctum sanctorum is made up of five metals – silver, gold, copper, iron and lead. Aside from the serenity within the premises, you also get to enjoy the ornate beauty of the structure and its surroundings.
Institute of Mural Paintings
Interestingly, this institute is located within the Shri Guruvayoorappan temple complex and comes under the jurisdiction of the Devasom Board. It is a must-visit place for cultural and historical buffs alike and is home to numerous exquisite ancient paintings and murals. Students from across the world come here to study the Gurukul system up-close and earn diplomas in courses such as arts, sculptures, aesthetics and mural paintings. If your visit is well-timed, you could even attend some of the exhibitions and seminars here and enrich your cultural knowledge!
Another point of interest within the temple complex is the Devasom Museum. It houses an extensive collection of various artworks that will leave you spellbound. Feast your eyes on valuable antiques, ancient musical instruments, depictive murals, beautiful artefacts, etc.
Chavakkad Beach
And when the day is done, you can head to the Chavakkad Beach, another popular tourist destination, to watch the spectacular sunset over the Arabian Sea. Frolic in the waves or stroll on the golden beach as you unwind after a long day spent sightseeing in Guruvayur.
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