Famous Tourist Places Near Guruvayur Temple

A quaint little town in Thrissur, Kerala, Guruvayur is home to India’s fourth largest temple. Each year, thousands of tourists look forward to visiting the Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple, especially when it is time to witness the yearly 12-day Shivratri festival held on the premises.

But, if you think this is all there is to Guruvayur, this blog will make you reconsider that notion. There are several tourist places near Guruvayur Temple that you can check out when you’re out and about in the area. But before we get to that, let’s talk about the temple itself: -

Guruvayur Temple

The pièce de résistance in the town, this temple is one of the most ancient ones in India. Dedicated to one of the most revered forms of Lord Vishnu, the temple holds a special place in the hearts of people and is, of course, one of the most well-known places to visit in Guruvayur. Besides its cultural significance, people also visit the temple to witness the magnificent architecture of the temple, which till date maintains its classic traditional look. The temple is also home to 56 Asian elephants that visitors can interact within a safe environment, making for a truly peaceful and serene visit.

The best places near Guruvayur Temple

Guruvayur is religiously very significant owing to the numerous temples that grace the region. However, this is a classic case of ‘more than meets the eye’. Sightseeing in Guruvayur is incomplete if you don’t visit some of the elephant sanctuaries in the town. Embrace serenity and pack up your bags to head out to some of the most amazing places to visit in Guruvayur.

Elephant Camp Sanctuary

You have to travel a distance of about 3 km to reach one of the most interesting places near Guruvayur Temple, the Elephant Camp Sanctuary. This is an amazing place that can be enjoyed by adults as well as children. The complex is home to more than 60 Asian elephants that you can glimpse roaming about casually in the deep forests and lush green surroundings. These elephants also participate in the daily rituals of the temple, which is always a treat to watch. Visitors can also get up close to the majestic beasts and participate in the feeding and elephant worship rituals.

Experiences like these will help you create memories that last a long time. The sanctuary is open from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening, every day.

The Chamundeshwari Temple

Another one of the popular tourist places near Guruvayur Temple is the century-old Chamundeshwari Temple. This temple is considered as a shrine where visitors find the serenity to calm their senses and even receive the spiritual guidance they require.

Chamundeshwari Devi is one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Durga and is the deity to whom the temple is dedicated. With a beautifully designed structure, the sanctum sanctorum has a statue of the Devi that is made of five metals – gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron. This is a popular destination among the tourist places near Guruvayur Temple where people meditate amidst tranquillity. The beautiful surroundings are just another bonus!

Chavakkad Beach

Whether you are a nature lover or just looking for a place to unwind at after a long day of sightseeing in Guruvayur, Chavakkad Beach should be your go-to place.

Unsurprisingly, the beach is quite the hotbed among tourists for more reasons than one. A very unique phenomenon that you can witness here is the confluence of the river and the sea. Sunset is a popular time to visit this tourist place near Guruvayur where you can gaze at the tangerine sun as it sets over the turquoise waters to make for a surreal sight.

Palayur Church

Another one of the most magnificent tourist places in Guruvayur, Palayur Church is not just a marvellous monument, but one with a lot of historical significance. The church was established in 52 CE which makes it about a couple of thousand years old, thus making it quite the treat for history buffs. It is believed that this is one of the seven churches that were constructed by an apostle of Jesus. Another reason why the Palayur Church is counted among the top places to visit in Guruvayur is the two-day festival that is held at the church every year. This festival features beautiful pageants, colourful fireworks, and orchestra performances that are bound to stir your soul.

Punnathur Kotta

All aboard this fun place!

One of the most enjoyable tourist places in Guruvayur, the Punnathur Kotta sprawls over an area of 11.5 acres and is a complex that is surrounded by lush green foliage, making for quite a pleasing destination for anyone who visits. This is another one of the places near Guruvayur Temple which are home to majestic elephants. This complex is home to about 60 jumbo elephants and tourists visit the place in throngs to simply look at the animals play, eat, and stroll about.

Devaswom Museum

Technically, this is not one of the places to visit near Guruvayur Temple since it is located inside the Shree Guruvayoorappan Temple complex itself.

Near the east gate of the temple complex, the Devaswom Museum is one of the must-visit tourist places in Guruvayur for cultural buffs and religious enthusiasts alike. The museum houses an extensive collection of offerings that have been made to the deity of the temple. You can also gaze at antiques, murals, musical instruments, and other valuable artefacts, which even include rifles, toys, and even elephant teeth.

The Institute of Mural Paintings

This is one of the best places to visit in Guruvayur that falls under the jurisdiction of the Devasom Museum. This one too is located within the Shree Guruvayoorappan Temple complex and is home to a number of exquisite art paintings. This place plays host to the numerous students who travel from all across the world to study diploma courses in sculptures, aesthetics, arts, and of course, mural painting.

The institute is one of the best places to visit in Guruvayur where you can witness the gurukul system up close; it is in place to ensure the optimum environment for students to learn. Interested tourists can also attend seminars and exhibitions at the institute.

As you can see, there is no dearth of tourist places to visit near Guruvayur Temple. However, if planning an itinerary sounds like an ordeal, you can always go for a Gurvayur tour package to explore without the hassle of planning your travel.