Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple
ഗുരുവായൂർ ക്ഷേത്രം
One of South India's most important Krishna temples, known as the 'Dwarka of the South', drawing thousands of pilgrims every day.
Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple lies about 26 km northwest of Thrissur. It is dedicated to Krishna in his childhood form and is considered one of the most sacred Vaishnava pilgrimage sites in South India. The doors open at 3 a.m. each day, and crowds of devotees queue from dawn. On auspicious days, more than a hundred weddings can take place in one day. The temple keeps a large number of temple elephants, which take part in festival processions. Non-Hindus may not enter, but you can soak up the atmosphere of worship from outside the eastern gate. Men entering must wear a mundu and go bare-chested, and women should wear a sari or traditional dress. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside. It can be combined with the Punnathur Kotta elephant camp, 3 km away.
Opening hours
approx. 03:00–13:30, 16:30–21:15
Nearby sights
- Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary
- Vilangan Kunnu
- Snehatheeram Beach
- Thiruvambady Sri Krishna Temple
- Sakthan Thampuran Palace
- Vadakkunnathan Temple
- Thrissur Pooram & Thekkinkadu Maidan
- Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple