Guruvayur in Kerala is a town famous for its Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. It is among the several temples that are of great importance to Hindu devotees with many pilgrims visiting the facility daily. Nevertheless, this temple is not the only one that can be found within the premises of this religious town. Here is a list of 10 places tourists from different parts visited during their stay in Guruvayur and its suburbs. 

Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple 

Lord Krishna Temple is adorned by baby Krishna and the image of the deity is worshiped. This temple is more than hundreds of years old and is regarded highly amongst Hindus. The temple’s architecture is worth admiring, particularly due to its distinctive traditional Kerala design. A large number of worshippers visit the temple in the morning hours with many performing several rituals and ceremonies during that day. One such interesting feature of the building is its famous ‘Krishnanattam’ which is a dance-drama devoted to the Lord Krishna. 

Thiru Venkatachalapathy Temple 

Thiru Venkatachalapathy Temple is located about 10 km from Guruvayur. Lord Venkatachalapathy, who is a form of God Vishnu. The temple is a popular place of worship because it is tranquil and beautiful nature. It is not extravagant but is beautiful in its simplicity, and the surroundings are ideal for thought and meditation activities. This temple is most popular among the devotees for its celebrations including the vaikunta ekadasi and draws a crowd of many devotees. It is also regarded as an important site for the performance of obsequies. 

Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary 

Another Guruvayur site with a large number of elephants is the Punnathukotta elephant sanctuary which is an integrated area of temples. Over 50 elephants live here. The site was once a palace but it has now become a sanctuary for the elephants owned by the temple. People can witness how these gentle giants are bathed, fed, and trained for their shows and performances. This elephant’s sanctity of temples fur relationship is so unique that it should be on the to-do list of those who love animals.

Chavakkad Beach 

Located just a few minutes from Guruvayur, Chavakkad Beach is one of the most untouched beaches. This beach is often overlooked since many people visit so many other beaches all around Kerala, making it easier for an individual who needs to escape the busy first pole of a temple town. 

Institute of Mural Painting 

The Institute of Mural Painting is located close to the Guruvayur Temple and is of interest to the art buffs. The institute encompasses traditional Kerala mural paintings and has several floors with murals illustrating stories from Hindu epics. It also presents how this style of art is created, as this form art is bonded with the heritage of Kerala. 

Parthasarathy Temple 

Another prominent temple in the vicinity of Guruvayur is the Parthasarathy Temple. The time is dedicated to Lord Krishna who is adored in this temple in the form of Parthasarathy, who served as Arjuna’s chariot driver in the Mahabharata. It is comparatively peaceful and isn’t packed even in high seasons which offer devotees the space they need to meditate and communicate. 

Palayur Church 

Palayur Church is one of the places worth visiting, especially for history buffs. It is believed to be one of the oldest Christian establishment churches in India. This church is believed to have been established by St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. Most of the church architecture is an infusion of both Kerala style and Portuguese influences. It is not solely just a site of worship, but also as an archaeological site which is important in portraying the early history of Christianity in India. 

Venkitachalapathy Temple 

Venkitachalapathy Temple is located about a few kilometers away from Guruvayur, and it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu It is yet another serene temple with lovely

surroundings. This temple is popular during the festival seasons where flowers and lights are used to decorate it. 

Blangad Beach 

A beach close to Guruvayur is Blangad Beach which is also quite and clean. This beach is ideal for anyone seeking relaxation on the beach while watching the sun set. You can view the natural scenery, watch fishermen go about their business or even just sit and listen to the waves crash against the shoreline. 

Elephant Camp at Anakotta 

For those who never seem to have enough of elephants, Anakotta Elephant Camp is another interesting place to go. This is said to be the largest elephant camp in the country. They can see how these elephants get up, how they are being instructed, and so on and so forth. It is a different perspective about the connection between the temple and its elephants have during the rituals of the temple. 

Guruvayur gives a lot more than just the spirituality. There’s something for everyone in the town, be it temples, beaches, elephants, or art. The quiet and calm atmosphere with the backdrop of cultural and religious importance makes this an ideal place for a rejuvenating holiday. Be it traveling for pilgrimage or just a simple trip, the memory of the place will definitely stay with you.