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About Guruvayoor  The temple history goes back to legends. When the Guru and Vayu installed the idol Lord Viswakarma (the Godly Sculptor of Hindu Mythology) was the master architect of the temple. Historical mentionings about the temple can be seen in the books written in Sixteenth Century.
The temple gained much popularity during the reign of Zamorin of Calicut (Kings of Malabar) During the 17th and 18th century the Temple was in all its glory. It is said that in the early 18th century during a war with Samoodiri Raja the Dutch made certain damages to the temple. But it was only a temporary phenomenon. During the invasion of Hyder Ali, they retained the temple untouched. The temple gained prosperity during the period of Ulanattu Panikker a village ruler. During the independence struggle there were agitational programmes against untouchability and the resultant Temple Entry Announcement by the then Travancore Rajas (King of Travancore) was a commendable one in the history of the temple and after that the temple developed substantially, and gained its glory at the highest. Presently, the administration of the temple is controlled by the Committee (Guruvayoor Devaswom Committee) nominated by the Government of Kerala. The day to day functions are administered by the Guruvayoor Devaswom Administrator appointed by Government of Kerala. Darshan (Seeing the Deity Directly)
 Temple opens at 3.00 am daily in the morning and closes at 9.30 p.m. In the mid day it will remain closed during 12.30 to 4.30. There will be some variations in timings in special pooja (adoration) days - Udayasthamaya Pooja, the pooja from dawn to dusk. It is a belief that the darshan of Lord Guruvayoorappan at various times gives various results and immense pleasure to devotees according to their will and wish.  The Lord is so generous that He will bestow blessings on devotees in material and spiritual form according to the wish of the devotee. Those who wish mortal material wealth can get their share from the Lord. The seekers of spiritual wealth will also get it abundantly according to their devotion. The darshan at 3.00 a.m. in the morning is called "Nirmalyam", by which Lord can be seen with decorations of previous night and this darshan is believed to be a wonderful and marvellous experience.It is also believed that by this darshan itself ones all sins will be wiped of.
Temple Festivals 
Each and every day is a festival day at Guruvayoor Temple. The surrounding divinity of Lord Krishna is difficult to elaborate. Millions and millions of people are visiting the temple daily. Even then some of the important festivals are given below. As the temple festivals are controlled by the Malayalam Calendar, it is difficult to give its exact date in English Calendar terms because dates are subject to change.
Ashtamirohini (Birthday of Lord Sree Krishna) in the month of Chingam (August-September) Guruvayoor Ekadasi in the month of Vrichikam (December-January) -It is believed on this day the idol was installed. It is also on this day Lord Krishna preached the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra at Mahabharatha Yudha (Mahabharatha War). Arattu (Bathing of the Lord) Annual festival of the temple followed by the bathing of the idol at the Temple Pond (Rudra Theertha).(February March) Mandala Pooja (Mandalam is a 41 days long season of devotion in Kerala associated with "Sastha" the son of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Siva) Vrischikam-(November-December) Vishu (Malayalam New Year Day) April Vaisakham (A special divine season of devotion)April-May
 Guruvayur became divine on account of the "tapas" performed by Lord Siva and later by the Prechethas (the ten sons of Pracheenabarhis and Suvarna are together called Prechethas) in the Rudratheertham - the sacred tank on the northern side of the present temple - where Lord Guruvayurappan has His Arattu (holy bath on the last day of Annual Utsavam). Siva worshipped Mahavishnu for years under the waters of the Rudratheertham ( hence the name Rudratheertham due to the presence of Rudra, Siva). Prechethas came to this place to do tapas to attain "prajapathithwam" ( king of all kings) from Lord Mahavishnu. Sensing the motive of Prechethas, Lord Siva emerged out of the Rudratheertham and revealed to them the "Rudrageetham", a hymn in praise of Mahavishnu. Siva suggested them to chant it with all their heart to get their wishes fulfilled. The Princes won the favour of Mahavishnu after rigorous tapas for 10,000 years under the waters of Rudratheertham chanting Rudrageetham
According to the legends, in ancient days Rudratheertham ( present Arattukulam) extended up to Mammiyur and Thamarayur (about 3.00 kms) and was known for its lotus flowers. Melpathur's Narayaneeyam refers to it as the lovely lake of lotus.
 From Mahavishnu the sacred idol has passed through the hands of Brahma, Suthapas, Kasyapa, Vasudeva, Sree Krishna and finally at the time of Krishna's ascension to Vaikunta, he instructed Udhava to entrust Brahaspathi (the Guru of Devas) with the task of taking the idol to a suitable place where people could worship it, so as to get salvation in Kaliyuga. A deluge had closed in on Dwaraka, but Guru salvaged the idol with the help of his prime disciple, Vayu. Guru and Vayu went around the world in search of an ideal place. They met Parasurama who lead them to a lush green spot with a beautiful lotus tank where they felt the presence of Lord Siva. Lord Siva along with Parvathy welcomed them and said , "This is the same spot you are looking for, here it was, I imparted the Rudrageetham to the Prechethas" .The idol was installed there. Siva with Parvathy left to the opposite bank, at Mammiyur. Siva permitted Guru and Vayu to perform the consecration rites and blessed them that henceforth this place would be known as GURUVAYUR (since the installation was done by Guru and Vayu)
Vishwakarma, the divine architect was requested to built a Temple , which he made in such a way that on the day of Vishu (Summer equinox), the sun himself makes his obeisance . His first rays on that day fall straight on the Lord's feet. The idol was installed in the solar month of Kumbha. (February - March). The ceremony was begun on the seventh asterism of Pooyam (Puozhya) and completed on the day of Anizham (Anuradha) As the idol was once worshiped by the Lord Mahavishnu himself in Vaikunta, Guruvayur is considered to be " Bhooloka Vaikunta " - the heaven on earth.
Guruvayur, the adobe of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan, is located 29 kms north west to the cultural capital of the 'God's own country', Kerala. This narrow coastline strip of land on the south western edge of Indian subcontinent is one of the 10 paradises in the world. The geographical and bio diversity of Kerala with the coastline beaches and stretches of backwaters lined with the swaying coconut palms on one side and evergreen forests of the western ghats with very rich wildlife on the other side makes it a real paradise to the alien traveler.
By road : Guruvayur is well connected with the other parts of the country by road and rail. The National highway is passing through Kunnamkulam which is just 8 kms away from Guruvayur. The private bus stand is towards the east of the temple, near Manjulal (the banyan tree). It is half an hour drive by car from Thrissur and busses ply every 5 minutes from Thrissur to Guruvayur. Chavakkad [Mini Gulf of kerala] is only 2 Kms away from Guruvayoor.
By rail : Guruvayur has got a railway station towards the east of the temple which is connected to the Madras-Mangalore main line at Thrissur. It has got computerised ticket booking facility and tickets can be booked to any locations from here. One from the Mangalore side can get down at the Kuttippram station. Regular buss services are available from there to Guruvayur. Those from the Madras/Trivandrum side can get down at Thrissur.
By Air : Kochi international airport (Nedumbassery) is 80 kms from Guruvayur and the Calicut airport is 100 kms away. All major international flight services are operated from these airports.
 It was one of the majestic elephant which served the Lord in all its sincerity and uniqueness. Valiya Raja of Nilambur once prayed to the Lord to save his family and property from the enemies attack. He promised to offer one of his many elephants if his wish is fulfilled. His wish was fulfilled and he offered an elephant which later became the famous Guruvayur Kesavan.
On his arrival, Kesavan was 10 years old and elephant Padmanabhan was the undisputed king. Young Kesavan acquired all the kingly gestures and nobleness of Padmanabhan and even excelled him. He would bend his front-legs only before those who holds Lord's Thidambu to enable them to climb upon him, all others were to climb by his behind-legs. He never caused any bodily harm to anyone. He sometimes was called "Lunatic Kesavan", but never spoiled any sanctity. Even if he became wild outside Guruvayur, he would straightaway come to Guruvayur, go round the temple and stood where he used to be chained. In 1973, first time in history, the Golden Jubilee of the services of an elephant to the temple was celebrated. Kesavan was conferred upon the honour of "GAJARAJAN" (king of elephants ). However, on famous Ekadasi day, 2nd December 1976, Kesavan fell ill while Thidambu was placed on his head. He couldn't hold on his legs. The Thidambu was soon transferred to another elephant and Kesavan was brought to the Kovilakam compound. He died in front of the Lord with his trunk stretched in front. He was 72, 3.2metres tall, and participated in every ceremony at the temple.Kerala's biggest and grandest elephant, Gajarajan Kesavan, served the Lord and people for the long 54 years. Who have seen him will never forget Kesavan. To commemorate him, a 12 feet high statue has been erected in front of Sreevalsam rest house. Cities of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram | Kollam | Alappuzha | Kottayam | Idukki | Thekkady (Periyar) | Ernakulam | Thrissur | Palakkad | Malappuram | Kozhikode | Wayanad | Kannur | Kasaragod | Munnar | Guruvayoor |
Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs bus services from all major locations of the state and few inter-state services. The bus stand is 500 meters to the west of the temple. Both KSRTC and private busses offer interstate services to all major South Indian cities like Madras, Madurai, Palani, Salem, Coimbatore, Thiruchandoor, Mysore, Mangalore, Uduppi, Mookambika etc.
