[NPV]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Thanks NPV! Thats the plan now, start early. We are planning to reach Guruvayur directly and stay there for 2 nights and visit Thrissur temples, since the distance between Guruvayur and Thrissur is less.

I guess you are already aware, but just in case - Kerala temples are quite strict when it comes to dress code, so be prepared with dhotis and sarees.

[sairamboko]

Originally Posted by NPV

I guess you are already aware, but just in case - Kerala temples are quite strict when it comes to dress code, so be prepared with dhotis and sarees.

Oh yes my parents used to stay in Malappuram and Kannur for 3 years. We came to know about the rules then. Thank you again

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Thanks NPV! Thats the plan now, start early. We are planning to reach Guruvayur directly and stay there for 2 nights and visit Thrissur temples, since the distance between Guruvayur and Thrissur is less.

Ideal circuit would be :

Guruvayur-Mammiyoor-Chowallur (all in 3kms radius of GVR Sri Krishna Temple) https://goo.gl/maps/YDVGxKdKeAB2

Check out from Guruvayur-Triprayar Sree Rama-Kodungallur Bhagavathy-Irinjalakuda (Koodalmanikyam)-Thrissur (Parmekaav-Thiruvambady-Vadakkumnathan).Stay the night in Thrissur (Hotel Garuda is highly reccomended),no point going back to Guruvayur and then driving back all the way to CBE the next day https://goo.gl/maps/PaEfgvS5h2y.You could even drive back to CBE the same day if you are upto it.Thrissur-CBE is just a 3hour drive.Thrissur-Vadakkencheri section is bad on NH47,after that it is all good till Coimbatore.

Pls bear in mind all these temples close by 1030am and open in the evenings by 430-5pm.So plan your travel accordingly.

[sairamboko]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Ideal circuit would be :

Guruvayur-Mammiyoor-Chowallur (all in 3kms radius of GVR Sri Krishna Temple) https://goo.gl/maps/YDVGxKdKeAB2

Check out from Guruvayur-Triprayar Sree Rama-Kodungallur Bhagavathy-Irinjalakuda (Koodalmanikyam)-Thrissur (Parmekaav-Thiruvambady-Vadakkumnathan).Stay the night in Thrissur (Hotel Garuda is highly reccomended),no point going back to Guruvayur and then driving back all the way to CBE the next day https://goo.gl/maps/PaEfgvS5h2y.You could even drive back to CBE the same day if you are upto it.Thrissur-CBE is just a 3hour drive.Thrissur-Vadakkencheri section is bad on NH47,after that it is all good till Coimbatore.

Pls bear in mind all these temples close by 1030am and open in the evenings by 430-5pm.So plan your travel accordingly.

Ranjit - thanks a lot for this information!! This helps me a lot ! So 1st night I will stay in Guruvayur and on the 2nd day early morning, we will finish Guruvayur temple. If time permits we will visit the other temples. Or else we will start in the evening and go over your map which has the 5 stops and halt at Thrissur. 3rd day we move back to Bangalore. How does this sound? Should I make any adjustments? My mom's main wish list is Guruvayur temple , mamiyur temple, Vadakkumnathan temple and Paramerkavu . She would be glad to visit other temples also. Also any idea about the rush or crowd during the week of 18th August? We are planning to do this on 18th to 20th this month.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Ranjit - thanks a lot for this information!! This helps me a lot ! So 1st night I will stay in Guruvayur and on the 2nd day early morning, we will finish Guruvayur temple. If time permits we will visit the other temples. Or else we will start in the evening and go over your map which has the 5 stops and halt at Thrissur. 3rd day we move back to Bangalore. How does this sound? Should I make any adjustments? My mom's main wish list is Guruvayur temple , mamiyur temple, Vadakkumnathan temple and Paramerkavu . She would be glad to visit other temples also. Also any idea about the rush or crowd during the week of 18th August? We are planning to do this on 18th to 20th this month.

Your plans sounds good.If its just thrissur temples then,you could leave Guruvayur around 3-4pm so as to reach TCR by 5pm and you should be able to finish darshan at all the three temples by 8-9pm-Vadakkumnathan would take the longest time considering the vast area that one needs to walk.Garuda is just off the Thrissur Round on Kuruppam Road.http://www.thegarudahotels.com/ (dont go by the star tag-nowhere near it).The other only decent place that I would reccomend is Pooram International,but that has run down now.

Next day if you leave after breakfast around 8am,you should be in ECity by 4-5pm with breaks enroute.

Guruvayur is perennially crowded-you cant escape that.Since you are staying there,the best time to go would be around 8pm(just before the temple closes)

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

My mom's main wish list is Guruvayur temple , mamiyur temple, Vadakkumnathan temple and Paramerkavu . She would be glad to visit other temples also. Also any idea about the rush or crowd during the week of 18th August? We are planning to do this on 18th to 20th this month.

There is also a senior citizens queue at Guruvayoor. The timings are morning 7.30-8.30 am and evening 4.30-5.30. This is for 60+ folks. If in case your mom is in that category, you can plan accordingly. ( Note: not sure if this has changed in anyway recently. Been a year since I visited). There is also a ladies queue. As a gentleman you have to bear the brunt of the main, longest queue.

Would be advisable to target Guruvayoor on 18th itself ( I think that's a Friday). Probably will be slightly less crowded as compared to Saturday.

[sairamboko]

Thanks a lot Ranjit/ Rajeev and NPV!! The trip is all set. I have booked Hotel Vishnu Inn for Guruvayur - 1 night and Hotel Pooram International for Thrissur. Both are near the main temples which we wanted to cover. Also I checked that most of the temples close by 11:30-12:00 noon and reopen by 4-4:30pm. Also Guruvayur temple opens early morning 3am! So I believe we have better chances of covering most of the temples you have mentioned

[VMC]

i have planned to go to Guruvayur on 11 from Bangalore. I have also booked Vishnu Inn through GoIbibo. I will update the road status post my visit. I plan to leave early morning by 5am and reach Guruvayur by 2pm or 3pm max.
Return is planned on 13th Aug morning.
Note:- Dress code has been relaxed. Women can now wear Salwar Kameez also. Yes there is a Senior Citizen queue and separate queue for men and women.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by VMC

Note:- Dress code has been relaxed. Women can now wear Salwar Kameez also.

Yes, Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple has been allowing Salwar for some time now. But the Mammiyur Shiva temple still does not allow Salwar (Unless something has changed very recently).

[VMC]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Yes, Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple has been allowing Salwar for some time now. But the Mammiyur Shiva temple still does not allow Salwar (Unless something has changed very recently).

This I did not know. Thanks for the info. Will check this also.

[kiyer_2000]

Dear all,
I travelled from Bangalore to Guruvayoor last weekend. Thanks for the useful tips from NPV and RanjitP1, I took the route of Electronic city --> Salem --> Coimbatore --> Palakkad --> Alathur --> Kavasseri --> Pazhayannur --> Chelakkara --> Guruvayoor.

This route was much better than the Palakkad --> Ottapalam --> Shoranur --Wadakkanchery --> Guruvayoor that I had taken last year.


You have to exit from the highway at Alathur. It is a sharp right. Guruvayoor is roughly 68 KMs from this junction. The 4 lane road becomes a single road with lots of curves and ups and downs. The roads do not have pot holes, but the traffic is something you need to keep in mind. The on coming bus traffic have to be dealt with extreme care. The drive is extremely beautiful with lush green surroundings thanks to the monsoon season.

We started at 5:30 am and reached my hotel in guruvayoor at 2:30 pm. We stopped for breakfast at Salem A2B, and lunch at Sridevi restaurant near Pazhayannur (On the way, left hand side). It is a simple vegetarian hotel which served basic rice plate. Alathur to Guruvayoor is 2 hours drive. With narrow winding roads, this can be considered as a decent time to cover.

The return journey was in the exactly opposite direction.

Regards,
Karthik Iyer

[johannskaria]

Originally Posted by kiyer_2000

This route was much better than the Palakkad --> Ottapalam --> Shoranur --Wadakkanchery --> Guruvayoor that I had taken last year.

Drove last month in my 16 year old 800 on this route as I was coming from Bombay to home via coimbatore on a solo drive. The road, Palakkad - Ottapalam-Pattambi-Kunnamkulam-Guruvayoor is in excellent condition and a good drive too. But as like the above mentioned route please watch out for Buses.

[VMC]

I drove the BLR- Guruvayur road last weekend.
Route taken:- BLR- ECity- Salem- Avinashi- Walayar- Wadankacherry- Guruvayur. Once you enter Kerala the average speed will decrease. Post walayay there are no Tolls. Left BLR at 445AM and reached Guruvayur at 2.30 with breaks for breakfast and lunch and three stops for tea. Good road condition all throughout.
I had to stop multiple times since I had a two year old son and also to stretch my legs.
Try Sridevi restaurant on Pazhayannur town (opp to temple). They serve good food. Had lunch on the way to guruvayur here and breakfast on the way back to BLR. Its on the main road.

Stayed in Vishnu Inn where the rooms were neat and clean. Service and Food quality was average. I paid 5k for 2nights 2 rooms with breakfast included here which was a good deal. Close to the temple. Try out the different restaurants on the temple street for food. The Ghee Roast Dosa is quite tasty.

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Yes, Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple has been allowing Salwar for some time now. But the Mammiyur Shiva temple still does not allow Salwar (Unless something has changed very recently).

Originally Posted by VMC

This I did not know. Thanks for the info. Will check this also.

Yes your are right. In Mamiyur temple they provide women with a cloth ( free) to cover till their legs incase they are not wearing a saree. you can return it back at the temple exit.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by VMC

I drove the BLR- Guruvayur road last weekend.
Route taken:- BLR- ECity- Salem- Avinashi- Walayar- Wadankacherry- Guruvayur. Once you enter Kerala the average speed will decrease. Post walayay there are no Tolls. Left BLR at 445AM and reached Guruvayur at 2.30 with breaks for breakfast and lunch and three stops for tea. Good road condition all throughout.

Your timing seems to be good. How is the road conditions between Walayar till Thrissur ? Is the road widening work still going on?

-Ravi

[johannskaria]

Originally Posted by ravib

Your timing seems to be good. How is the road conditions between Walayar till Thrissur ? Is the road widening work still going on?

-Ravi

Please do not take that road until and unless its absolute necessary.
The road widening is still on and the rains have made the roads even more terrible.