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GURUVAYOOR
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The glory of Guruvayoor,the
Dwaraka of South India, draws lakhs of devotees to this temple
town all year round and provides spiritual sustenance to the
millions of ordinary mortals who come seeking ‘ayur- arogya-
saukhyam' (longevity, health and happiness) here and final moksha
thereafter. The shrine is also known as ‘Bhooloka vaikunta' for it
reveals on earth, the Majesty of the lord as in His Celestial
Abode. Legend has it that ,when the time came for the Lord's
ascent to heaven, He asked his disciple to retrieve His idol from
the submerging Dwaraka and install it in a suitable place.
The job was entrusted to Guru,
the preceptor of Gods and to Vayu, the God of Winds. They located
a spot near a lake and the place (ur) derived its name from Guru
and Vayu who installed the idol
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there. Thus the Lord of Guruvayoor
came to be the living deity, who has been answering the prayers of
millions, yearning for him. Guruvayoor is unquestionably the
eternal spiritual centre for the innumerable devotees visiting the
temple town with unending thirst. |
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Destination Guruvayoor
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Guruvayoor Temple |
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All roads lead to Guruvayoor. Today, the city of
Guruvayoor does not sleep !
Once upon a time, it was a quiet and serene pilgrim centre.
Increasing fame of the shrine, growth in population, escalating
tensions of life and many other factors have made Guruvayoor a
much -sought -after destination. The increasing queues of pilgrims
floating in and out of the city has resulted in a virtual scramble
for accommodation, particularly on auspicious days. Finding
quality accommodation in Guruvayoor is therefore problematic
particularly when you visit with your loved –ones, the children or
the elderly.
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The problem is only likely to compound further
with each passing day. The availability of time to spend with
family is decreasing, as the other complexities demand greater
share of time. That, then, is a great reason to spend quality time
with family to enjoy and celebrate togetherness.
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Punathoorkotta |
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Just 2 km away from Guruvayoor town is
the Punathoorkotta which is the largest elephant park in the world
with over 60 elephants.
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Chavakad Beach |
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The Chavakad beach is about 4 kms from
Guruvayoor and is a favourite weekend haunt for families and couples |
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Prime spots in and near Thrissur. |
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Thrissur the cultural capital of Kerala is located about 28 kms from Guruvayoor. There are many major and popular places to see here. |
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Vadakkumnathan Temple |
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Located in the heart of Thrissur town, this is
probably one of the most famous temples in Kerala. Believed to
have been founded by Parasurama, this temple is the center of
activity of the world renowned Thrissur Pooram. |
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The Thrissur Zoo |
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Just 2 km from the Thrissur town centre is
this 13.5 acres zoo which houses a variety of animals, birds and
reptiles.
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The Sakthan Thampuran Palace |
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Near the North Bus stand in
Thrissur, was of great importance to the rulers of the erstwhile Kochin state. It is now an Archeological museum. |
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Peechi Dam |
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located about 20 kms east of Thrissur, this
irrigation project is also a major tourist attraction.
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Kerala Kalamandalam |
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32 kms north of Thrissur, at Cheruthuruthy,
is the seat of the Kerala Kalamandalam.
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Athirapally Waterfalls |
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These enchanting
waterfalls are located about 63kms from Thrissur. |
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Vazhachal Waterfalls |
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Vazhachal 68 kms from Thrissur |
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