Interesting places near Guruvayur/Thrissur

Hi, we are visiting Guruvayur for a wedding and would like to spend two days after the wedding in Kerala. However since we have just a weekend at our disposal, we would like to know the best places to visit in and around Thrissur/Guruvayur. We will be travelling mid November in and out of Cochin airport and have at the most a friday evening to sunday evening at our leisure...your thoughts are most welcome !

Thanks in advance !

Anne

Anne,

You could explore "Athirapally Waterfalls" . As it's seasonal, check out once you are in Cochin / Thrissur about the waterlevel and then you may decide !

Add "Punathur Kota" [ Elephant Enclosure with 55 elephants which is 5 kms from Guruvayur temple] and Guruvayur Beach also !

Add Thrissur Vadakunnamnatha Temple [ Very very old temple which is under Archeological survey of india]

You may Explore Cochin itself with a late evening Walk in the "Marine Drive" [ It will be stinging there but still the view of the Cochin Port, MAny a ships etc will be nice ]

Get 3 Rs ticket nearer to this Marine drive and board Local Boat [Just like a Town bus . This is operated by "Kerala Waterways Department with Local people and this ride will be good and different ]which will take you to "Fort Cochin" or Bolgatty Island Or Mattancherry !

You may select among the list in which you are more interested !

Velu

Hey thanks Velu !...would love to definitely include as much as possible in our itinerary without exhausting ourselves :-)... jus curious...there is no way for a boat/backwater ride in these areas is it?

Alleppey & Kumarakom are just around 2 Hours Journey from Cochin and both the Places are meant for Houseboats in Backwaters [ Alleppey] and Houseboats in Lake [Kumarakom] ..Those 2 places are best for Boat rides Anne !

Velu

Awesome ! We'll try and work around it...Thanks a ton Velu ! Any other ideas also , people keep posting...Kerala seems to be a place i can keep going back to ! :-)

Other than the famous Guruvaruppan Temple, You have Mammiyoor Temple and also Elephant pound in Guruvayur.

Auto Rickshaw's will cost you around 30rs for a drop to both locations. (Price may vary as I travelled around 2.5 years back)

Thrissur has the world famous Vadakkunathan Temple and few other temples too

Just visited trissur last week.
Athirapally Waterfalls is a must see, its one of the best waterfalls i have seen in India.

In Kochi we did the day tour with the KTDC http://www.ktdc.com/tours.php

It is a very good way to explore the backwaters around Kochi.

Thanq Prasad...Dalip...vonkla ! these places r definitely on r list !

KTDC runs half day and full day backwater trips from Cochin at a very reasonable price.
http://ktdc.com/tours.php

I just saw that Vonkla has also recommended this.

If you can take the public ferry as PM Velu suggested, take the one to Vypeen as well. There are usually dolphins following the ferry boats on this stretch.

Hi All,
I am planning to visit Kerala temples (especially guruvayur and trissure in and around) for 5 days. Can anyone in this forum help me with the detailed plan for the same?

I would be travelling from Mysore with the self driven car.

Thanks in advance
Bharathi

1. Punnathur Kotta, Guruvayur- 3KMS
(Can see 65 Elephant's of Guruvayoor Krishna Temple)

2. Chavakkad Beach-6KMS (See the Sunset in the eveneing)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavakkad.

The Chavakkad Azhimukham ( Estuary ), where the Chettuva River meets the sea, is a lovely spot to watch. http://www.idjks02.org/54-the-chavakkad-estuary.html

3. Chettuva Lake , Island, Boating, Rajah Island, 7 Kms.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/35259349

4.St. Thomas Church (Palayur) 5 Kms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Church_(Palayur)

5. Vilangankunnu 20 Kms

others
Munimada & Kudakkallu

The links of the civilisation of this area to the megalithic period have been unravelled through the monuments such as the `Kudakkallu' or `Thoppikkallu' (mushroom stones or umbrella stones) and `Munimada' (saint's abode) recovered from there. Another reference in Ariyannur dates back to early 15th century in the poem `Chandrotsavam.'

Museum
There is a museum in the office Annex building at East nada. Many rare offerings by devotees to the Lord are exhibited here. The museum is kept open from 8.00 am to 8.00pm on all days except Tuesdays and other holidays

If you are interested in traditional Kerala art forms like Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, etc, you have the Kalamandalam in Cheruturuthy, very near to Trichur (I think there's a train station). Check with them in advance (they have a website), they organize day visits.