Guruvayur Devaswom
Statutory board · Guruvayur, Thrissur
The Guruvayur Devaswom is the statutory body that runs the Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur, one of Kerala's busiest pilgrim centres. It replaced the old hereditary trusteeship of the Zamorin and the Mallisseri family under the Guruvayoor Devaswom Act of 1978. Besides the main temple it manages a group of smaller keezhedam temples around Guruvayur and beyond. Its other institutions include the Punnathur Kotta elephant camp, where devotees' offered elephants are kept, a medical centre and Ayurvedic hospital, Sree Krishna College, a library, a museum and a Krishnanattam troupe. The Mammiyoor Shiva temple next door is not run by it: Mammiyoor is a Malabar Devaswom Board temple.
How it is run
A Managing Committee under the 1978 Act. Its permanent members are the Zamorin Raja of Calicut's representative, the karanavan of Mallisseri Illom and the temple Thantri, joined by a chairman and members nominated by the State Government. A government-appointed Administrator is secretary and chief executive. Before 1978 the Zamorin and the Mallisseri karanavan were hereditary trustees.
Tips for pilgrims
- Only Hindus may enter the temple. Men wear a mundu and enter without shirt or vest. Lungis, pyjamas and chequered clothes are not allowed, and phones and cameras must stay outside.
- From August 2026 the Devaswom ran an online virtual queue on Tuesdays and Thursdays (eight slots of 300 a day), booked on guruvayurdevaswom.in. Arrive at your allotted time, and check the site for current days.
- Book receipts for offerings only at the official counters near the oottupura. The Devaswom warns about touts.
- Visit Punnathur Kotta, about 3 km away, to see the temple elephants. It is a separate stop from the temple.
Temples it runs
- Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple – Guruvayur, Thrissur
- Anjur Ayyappankavu – Mundur, Thrissur (on the Guruvayur-Thrissur road)
- Kaveed Bhagavathy Temple – Kaveed, near Punnathur Kotta, Guruvayur
- Manganchira Vishnu Temple – Peruvallur, Thrissur
- Narayanamkulangara Bhagavathy Temple – Mammiyur, Guruvayur
- Nenmini Balarama Temple – Nenmini, about 4 km east of Guruvayur
- Poonthanam Vishnu Temple – Poonthanam Illam, Keezhattur, Malappuram
- Punnathur Siva and Bhagavathy Temples – Punnathur Kotta (Anakkotta), Guruvayur
- Thalakkottukara Siva Temple – Kunnamkulam, Thrissur
- Thamarayur Ayyappa and Sreekandapuram Vishnu Temples – Thamarayur, Guruvayur
- Vermanur Siva Temple – Parakkulam, near Kunissery, Palakkad