The pilgrimage experience (Thrissur + Guruvayoor)

We travelled from Yeshwanthpur (Bengaluru) to Thrissur by the Yeshwanthpur–Thiruvananthapuram Express. The train departs from Yeshwanthpur at around 3:20 PM and reaches Thrissur at about 1:00 AM the next day. Since our itinerary included both Guruvayoor and Kalady, Thrissur turned out to be the most convenient railway station, as there are no direct trains connecting both destinations.

Another good option is the Kanyakumari Express, which departs from KSR Bengaluru (Majestic) at around 8:10 PM and reaches Thrissur at approximately 6:00 AM. If you prefer arriving in the morning instead of the middle of the night, this is a better choice.

For this trip, we booked a 1AC Coupe. It is almost like having a private room on the train, offering more privacy, comfort, and space. Whenever we travel with our child, we always try to book First AC. If that isn't available, our next preference is Second AC (2AC). The extra space and quieter environment make long train journeys much more comfortable, especially when travelling as a family.

Exploring the Temples of Thrissur

Before our trip, we had booked our stay at Casino Hotel, Thrissur, which is conveniently located just about a 3-minute drive (or a 10-minute walk) from Thrissur Railway Station.

One thing to note is that the hotel does not offer 24-hour check-in. The standard check-in time is 2:30 PM, and check-out is at 11:30 AM. Since our train reached Thrissur at around 1:00 AM, we had to book the room from the previous day as well. Although it meant paying for an extra night, it was worth it after a long train journey. We checked in, got some much-needed rest, and woke up refreshed around 7:00 AM.

Our first day's plan was to visit some of the famous temples within Thrissur city. Most temples close by around 10:30 AM, so we wanted to start as early as possible. After getting ready, we hired an auto-rickshaw and began our temple tour.

Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple

Our first stop was the magnificent Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple, one of the oldest and most revered Shiva temples in Kerala. Believed to have been established by Lord Parasurama, the temple is a masterpiece of traditional Kerala architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage tentative list site.

The temple premises are vast—almost like a small town enclosed within massive stone walls. There are several shrines dedicated to different deities, ancient banyan trees and a peaceful atmosphere that instantly brings a sense of calm.

Sree Seetharamaswamy Temple

From there, we proceeded to Sree Seetharamaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. The temple is known for its beautiful sanctum and peaceful surroundings. One of its striking attractions is the beautifully decorated golden interiors around the sanctum, which add to the temple's grandeur.

We were fortunate to receive the temple prasadam—a delicious serving of tomato bath. It was simple, fresh, and tasted wonderful after the morning darshan.

Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple

Our next destination was the famous Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple, one of the most important Bhagavathi temples in Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi and is widely known for its significant role in the world-famous Thrissur Pooram festival.

After completing our darshan, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for a traditional Kerala breakfast before continuing our journey.

If you have more time in Thrissur, you can also visit Thiruvambady Sree Krishna Temple, another major participant in the Thrissur Pooram festival, and Punkunnam Sree Shiva Temple, a serene temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located just a short distance from the city centre.

Visiting these temples early in the morning turned out to be one of the best parts of our trip.

Journey to Guruvayoor

Our next destination was Guruvayoor, one of the most revered pilgrimage centres dedicated to Lord Krishna.

From near our hotel, we boarded a private bus to Guruvayoor. The ticket cost was just ₹35 per person, making it a very economical option. The journey took around 1 to 1¼ hours because the bus stopped at several places along the way. If you're looking for a slightly faster journey, you can also take a KSRTC bus, which usually has fewer stops. There are only a handful of trains between Thrissur and Guruvayoor, so buses are generally the most convenient mode of transport.

The temple closes at around 2:30 PM and reopens at 3:30 PM. We left Thrissur around noon and reached Guruvayoor at approximately 1:15 PM. The bus stand is just a short walk from the temple, making it very convenient.

We assumed that the afternoon would be less crowded, but to our surprise, there was already a huge queue. Guruvayoor is one of those temples where devotees visit throughout the day, and waiting several hours for darshan is quite common.

Since we were travelling with our child and had limited time, we opted for the Sheeghra Darshan (VIP Darshan). The ticket costs ₹1,000 per person, but it enabled us to have darshan within just five minutes.

One of our neighbours had once told us that reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama inside the temple, in the presence of Guruvayurappan, is believed by many devotees to bring immense spiritual merit.

After our darshan, we planned to have the temple's famous Anna Prasadam, but the queue was extremely long. Instead, we walked to Saravana Bhavan, which is located close to the temple. We enjoyed a delicious Kerala-style vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf.

Before leaving, we spent some time shopping around the temple streets. After shopping, we hired an auto-rickshaw to visit a few nearby temples and the famous elephant sanctuary, which was our next stop.

Temples Around Guruvayoor

After visiting the Guruvayoor Temple, we hired an auto-rickshaw to explore some of the nearby temples. Since we had only a few hours, we couldn't cover everything, but we managed to visit a few important ones.

Our first stop was Mammiyur Sri Mahadeva Temple, an ancient Shiva temple closely associated with Guruvayoor Temple. According to local tradition, a pilgrimage to Guruvayoor is considered complete only after offering prayers here. The temple has a peaceful atmosphere and is much less crowded than Guruvayoor.

We then visited Sree Parthasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna in his form as Arjuna's charioteer from the Mahabharata. Next was the beautiful Sree Chamundeswari Temple, followed by Thiruvenkitachalapathi Temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.

There are several other temples worth visiting around Guruvayoor, but with limited time, we couldn't. We had also planned to visit Chavakkad Beach and the nearby aquarium, but unfortunately, we couldn't fit them into our schedule.

Back to Thrissur

In the evening, we boarded the passenger train from Guruvayoor to Thrissur. The train departed at around 6:10 PM and reached Thrissur in just about 30 minutes. The ticket cost was only ₹10 per person, making it one of the most economical and convenient ways to travel between the two towns.

After reaching Thrissur, we had dinner at Bharat Veg Restaurant. The restaurant was packed with people, and when we asked our auto driver why it was so crowded, he smiled and said, "There are only a few good vegetarian restaurants around here." After tasting the food, we understood exactly why! The meal was simple and absolutely delicious.

With that, our first day in Kerala came to an end. It had been a long but fulfilling day—filled with ancient temples, memorable darshan, delicious food, and countless experiences that made the journey truly special.