Guruvayur Temple Tour, Tours to Guruvayur Temple, Temple Tours Guruvayur

The above cost includes

Transportation using AC Indica as per the itinerary.
Accommodation in the same or similar type hotels on CPAI (Twin Sharing basis)
Daily breakfast.
All applicable hotel taxes

The above cost does not includes

Lunch, Dinner, laundry, Telephone etc at hotel, personal Entry fee during sight seeing, boat charges at Munnar/Periyar or anything, which is not mentioned in the clause “cost includes”

Itinerary

Day 01: Cochin - Guruvayoor:
Upon arrival at the Cochin airport/ Ernakulam Railway Station, our representative will meet you and will transfer you to Guruvayoor (90kms). Check in to hotel. Overnight stay at Guruvayur.

Day 02 Guruvayoor :
After breakfast visit the Temple and nearby places. It is one of the pilgrimage centres in Kerala, South India, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over India. In the evening return back to the hotel and Overnight stay.

Day 03 :
After breakfast transfer to the Cochin airport / Trichur railway station to board the flight / train to onward destination. End of Tour and services. Back home with the happy memories of the tour.

Guruvayur

Temple
Guruvayur is the most famous temple in Kerala. it is at a distance of 29 kms away from Thrissur Town. The temple's deity is Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan' in the standing posture with four hands (Chaturbahu) that carry the Sankhu (conch), the Sugarcane chakram (a serrated disk), the lotus and the mace and the idol is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma himself at Dwaraka. The idol of the deity is made of a rare stone known as Patala Anjanam.

The Lord is worshipped in his many manifestations, the favorite with devotees being the 'Sankalpa' of the Lord as 'Unnikrishnan' (Infant Krishna). Non-Hindus are prohibited inside the premises of the temple.

Legend
According to legend, came into existence when an idol of Lord Krishna was saved by the Guru of the Gods with the help of Vayu, the God of wind, and brought to Kerala. The two gave their names to Guruvayur.

Other Attractions :

Anakotta :
Guruvayur Devaswom elephant sanctuary –which is one of the world’s largest sanitarium also known as Punnathurkotta, It is the training center for elephants for temple purposes is 3km far from Guruvayur Temple. Recent estimates, states there are currently more than 60 elephants, all of whom were offered by devotees of Lord Guruvayurappan.

GOLOKA RETREATS
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness which is more famously known as ISKON 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 components 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 just a mere five minute walk from the main Guruvayur temple and is sandwiched between the same and the famous Mamiyur Lord Shiva temple.

Guruvayur Festivals

Ashtami Rohini :
In the month of Chingam (July-Aug), under the Rohini Nakshatra, on the 8th day of the waning moon of Sravana is the day of Lord Krishna's birth i.e. Janmashtami.

A very special day in all Sree Krishna temples, Guruvayur Devaswom itself offer a niramalya (full of garlands and lamps), devotees flock in with cakes of rice paste and jaggery considered the most favorite food of the Lord on that day.

Aarattu :
Lord's Thidambu is taken to the Rudratheertha (temple pond) for Aarattu, amidst the chanting of holy mantras.

Ekadasi :
The most important festival during the Mandalam period, lasting for a month. It was on the Guruvayur Ekadasi day that Lord Krishna revealed the Bhagwad Gita to Arjun.

Chembai Sangeetholsavam :
It is a Carnatic music festival held for 11 days to pay tribute to Sri Chembai Vaidyanadha Bhagavathar, as part of the Ekhadasi celebrations.

Ulsavam :
This festival is conducted in the month of Kumbha, i.e., in February or March and lasts for 10 days. The hoisting of the temple flag atop the flagstaff (Dwajastambham) about 70 feet high marks the beginning of the festival. On the 1st day, an elephant race also is held for this festival.

The next 6 days, devotees can witness elephant processions in the morning, afternoon and night. In the morning, there is the Sribhuta Bali (offering of oblation at various altars). Besides this there are also various cultural programs. On the 8th day, during 'Utsavabali' (from 10 am to 4 pm) oblations are offered to the Lord's lieutenants. A sumptuous feast then awaits the devotees. Pallivetta or the hunting expedition of the Lord takes place on the 9th day. This hunt is symbolic of the destruction of Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and other such evils that plague us in our life.

After that the Lord's idol is taken to the Rudratheertha (temple pond) for Aarattu, amidst the chanting of mantras. Thousands of devotees a take the dip, chanting the Lord's name to wash off their sins. Then noon Pooja (which takes place at night only on this day) is held at the Bhagavati shrine. Finally, the Lord returns to the sanctum after 11 circumambulations. The temple flag is then lowered indicating the end of the festival.

Climate :
It has tropical and humid climate. It experiences heavy monsoon rains from June to August therefore it is advisable not to visit Guruvayur during the monsoon season and the best season to visit Guruvayur is considered to be the winters.