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{{Short description|Temple town in Kerala}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Guruvayur
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Corporations, municipalities and taluks of Kerala|Municipality]]
| image_skyline = File:Guruvayoor temple.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Guruvayur temple entrance
| nickname = Dvaraka of the South
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|10|35|41|N|76|02|25|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Thrissur District|Thrissur]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = Guruvayur Municipality
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 29.66
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 11.00
| population_total = 67,006
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guruvayoormunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in/ml/general-information|title=പൊതു വിവരങ്ങള്‍ | Guruvayoor Municipality|website=Guruvayoormunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 680101
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 91 (0)487
| registration_plate = KL-46
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Am/Aw]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| blank2_name_sec2 = Avg. summer temperature
| blank2_info_sec2 = {{convert|35|°C|°F}}
| blank3_name_sec2 = Avg. winter temperature
| blank3_info_sec2 = {{convert|20|°C|°F}}
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Grurvayur AKG Memmorial gate.JPG|thumbnail|AKG Gate in Guruvayur]]
[[File:Guruvayur Govt UP School.JPG|thumbnail|Government School]]
[[File:Guruvayur Govt guest house.JPG|thumbnail|Government Guest House (Currently demolished to make space for new structure)]]
[[File:Guruvayur Library and reading room.JPG|thumbnail|Guruvayur Library]]
[[File:Guruvayur Railway station.JPG|thumbnail|Guruvayur Railway Station]]

'''Guruvayur''' ({{Lang-ml|ഗുരുവായൂർ}}, {{IPA-ml|guɾuʋɐːjuːr|IPA}}) is a municipal temple town in [[Thrissur District]], of [[Kerala]] State in [[India]]. It is a suburban town of [[Thrissur]] city, located {{convert|27|km}} from Thrissur towards the north-west. It houses the [[Guruvayur Temple|Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple]]. It is located at a distance of {{cvt|292|km}} from the state capital [[Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum]] towards the north-west, {{cvt|80|km}} from [[Kochi]] towards the north, {{cvt|90|km}} from [[Calicut]] towards south.

==Etymology==
According to Hindu legend, the deity [[Krishna]] is said to have asked a deity and a sage to take the [[Murti|idol]] from his temple in [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]] before it was destroyed by a flood, and establish it in Kerala. Accordingly, the idol of Krishna is believed to have been brought by the wind deity [[Vayu]] and Sage [[Brihaspati]] and was placed in Guruvayur. The name Guruvayur is a portmanteau of their names: ''Guru'' referring to the title of Brihaspati, ''Vayu'' referring to the deity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Knapp |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djI5mL2qeocC&dq=guruvayur+brihaspati+vayu&pg=PT426 |title=Spiritual India Handbook |date=2009-01-01 |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8495-024-3 |pages=426 |language=en}}</ref> ''Ur'' is a Malayalam suffix that means city or settlement.

==Demographics==
In 2010, the Municipality was upgraded to Grade 1 by merging nearby Pookode and Thaikkad panchayats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Seven-panchayats-in-Kerala-to-be-upgraded-as-municipalities/article16891430.ece|title=Seven panchayats in Kerala to be upgraded as municipalities|date=11 November 2009|access-date=11 February 2022|website=Thehindu.com}}</ref> The Municipality consists of Perakam (CT) village, Pookode Village, Iringappuram(CT) Village , Thaikkad(CT) Village, Chavakkad Village, and Guruvayur Village part, revenue villages of Chavakkad Taluk. Thus the Municipality total area is 29.66 square kilometers, total number of wards (43), population (67,006) and population density (2,259 per square kilometer) are changed.<ref name="auto"/>

==Government==
Guruvayur Township was formed on 26 January 1962 with four electoral wards with an area of {{convert|6.49|km2}}. Later the wards were increased to 10 and in 1994 to 20 when the township was upgraded to Municipality status with an area of {{cvt|12.41|km2}}. In 2010, the electoral wards were increased to 43. Guruvayur is a Grade-1 Municipality. Guruvayur assembly constituency is part of [[Trichur (Lok Sabha constituency)]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies
|access-date = 2008-10-19
|work = Kerala
|publisher = Election Commission of India
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011026/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf
|archive-date = 2009-03-04
}}</ref>

===Festivals===

====Guruvayur Ekadashi====
[[Ekadashi]], the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is very auspicious to the [[Hindus]]. Of the 24 Ekadashis in a year, the Vrishchika Ekadashi (Sukla paksha) has got special significance in [[Guruvayur temple]]. A memorial honour for Gajarajan Keshavan is conducted in Guruvayur. The Karanavar or head of the elephant family places a wreath at the statue of Keshavan in front of Sreevalsam guest house and all the other elephants stand around and pay obeisance. On Ekadashi day, the Udayasthamana Pooja (dawn to dusk pooja) is conducted by the Devaswom itself . After the morning seeveli, on Ekadashi there is a grand elephant procession to the Parthasarathi temple since it is regarded as Geethopadesam Day also. On Ekadashi after night pooja, the famous Ekadashi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place and provides a fitting finale to the festival.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Chembai Sangeetholsavam===

[[Chembai Sangeetholsavam]] is an annual [[Carnatic music]] festival held in Guruvayur by the [[Guruvayur Devaswom]] as a kind of homage to [[Chembai]] Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, one of the titans of Carnatic Classical Music. Chembai had conducted the festival in the temple town on his own for about 60 years. He used to invite all the great Carnatic Musicians to perform in the temple town and in course of time, the scale of the festival rivalled the Thyagaraja Aradhana at [[Thiruvaiyaru]], which is recognised as one of the most important festivals of homage paid to Saint Thyagaraja.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The [[Guruvayur Devaswom]] decided to take charge after his death in 1974, and renamed it as Chembai Sangeetholsavam in his memory. About 2000-2500 musicians participate in this festival every year, and it is held for about 12–15 days culminating on the [[Guruvayur Ekadasi|Guruvayur Ekadashi]] day, when all the musicians sing 5 favourite songs of Chembai and also the [[Pancharatna Kritis]] of [[Tyagaraja|Thyagaraja]].

==Notable landmarks==

===Guruvayur Temple===
{{Main|Guruvayur Temple}}

The [[Guruvayur Temple]] is a Hindu temple of [[Krishna]]. It is often referred to as Bhuloka [[Vaikuntha|Vaikuntham]],<ref name="guruvayurdevaswom.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/ |title = Offerings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021210130541/http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/ |archive-date=10 December 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> meaning the holy abode of [[Vishnu]] on earth. The [[Murti|idol]] installed here represents a form of the deity Vishnu bearing [[Chaturbhuja|four arms]] carrying the conch [[Panchajanya]], the discus [[Sudarshana Chakra]], the mace [[Kaumodaki]], and the [[Padma (Vishnu)|lotus]]. Adorned with a [[tulasi]] garland, the idol represents [[Vishnu]] as revealed to [[Vasudeva]] and [[Devaki]] at the time of his [[Avatar|incarnation]] of Krishna. The presiding deity in the [[Garbhagriha|sanctum sanctorum]] is [[Mahavishnu|Vishnu]]. It faces east and is 4 feet tall.<ref name="G1">{{cite web |url=http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/minstallation.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429212610/http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/minstallation.shtml |archive-date=29 April 2005 |title=Guruvayur Devaswom}}</ref> There are sub-shrines for [[Ganapathi|Ganesha]], [[Ayyappan]], and [[Lakshmi|Bhagavati]] inside the complex, and also two shrines for Ganesha and [[Nāga|serpent deities]] under the temple outside the complex.

===Other===
* [[Punnathur Kotta]] Elephant sanctuary
* [[Mammiyoor Temple]]
* [[Krishnanattam]]

==Transport==
===Railway===
The main rail transport system in Guruvayur is operated by the [[Southern Railway Zone (India)|Southern Railway]] Zone of [[Indian Railways]]. [[Guruvayur Railway Station]] lies in the [[Thrissur-Guruvayur Section]]. It is the last station in this section. There are two passenger trains operating from [[Guruvayur Railway Station]] to [[Ernakulam Junction]] and another two passenger trains to [[Thrissur railway station]] every day. An overnight express train to [[Chennai Egmore]] via Ernakulam Junction, [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam Junction]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Nagercoil Junction]], [[Madurai]], [[Trichy]] is also running from Guruvayur Railway Station every day. [[Thrissur railway station]] is the major rail head near to Guruvayur from where you can get all South Indian and North Indian trains.<ref name="Accessing Guruvayoor">{{cite web
|url=http://www.dtpcthrissur.com/info.html
|title=Accessing Guruvayoor
|publisher=DTPC Thrissur
|access-date=2010-11-26}}</ref><ref name="Guruvayoor">{{cite web
|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=177
|title=Guruvayoor
|publisher=Kerala Tourism
|access-date=2010-11-26}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Cochin International Airport]] is the nearest airport, which is {{cvt|72|km}} from Guruvayur. All international, domestic and chartered flights are available here. [[Calicut International Airport]] at [[Karipur]] is about {{cvt|100|km}} away.

==Climate==
{{Weather box/concise_C
| location=Guruvayur, Kerala
| source=Climate-Data.org<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/kerala/guruvayur-767043/|title=Guruvayur climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Guruvayur water temperature|website=En.climate-data.org|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
| 31.3|32.5|34.8|35.1|33.9|29.2|28.3|28.6|29.5|30.4|31.2|31.8
| 20.6|22.3|24.7|25.7|25.3|23.7|23.0|23.5|23.6|23.7|23.5|21.2
| 2|13|21|98|291|711|743|411|250|275|142|26
}}

==Education==
* [[Sree Krishna College, Guruvayur]]
* [[Little Flower College]]
* Sree Krishna Higher Secondary School
* Guruvayoor Dewasom English Medium School
* Aryabhatta College, Guruvayoor

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://www.guruvayoormunicipality.lsgkerala.gov.in/ Guruvayoor Municipality ]
*[http://www.guruvayuronline.com/ guruvayuronline.com - Divine Gateway]
*[http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/home.shtml guruvayurdevaswom.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205095512/http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/home.shtml |date=5 December 2008 }}
*[http://harivaramyuga.com/explore.php Read the details about Sri Guruvayoor Temple]

{{Hindu holy cities}}
{{Kerala}}
{{Municipalities of Kerala}}
{{Thrissur district}}
{{South Malabar}}
{{Malabar}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Guruvayur| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Kathakali]]

Guruvayur - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 00:41, 22 July 2023