Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple stands about 200 metres north-west of the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, so most pilgrims pair the two. The main deity is Lord Shiva as Uma Maheswara, with Goddess Parvati on his left, and Lord Vishnu has a sanctum of his own nearby. Kerala Tourism notes the temple for its mural paintings that show episodes from Hindu mythology.
Quick facts
| Darshan timings | 4:45 am to 10:00 am and 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm, currently regulated because of renovation of the Chuttambalam (temple website) |
| Entry | Hindus only (temple customs) |
| Location | About 200 metres north-west of the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple (Thrissur district) |
The temple’s website shows a notice that darshan is regulated to 4:45 am to 10:00 am and 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm during the renovation works, and asks visitors to contact the Devaswom office before they come. The Thrissur district website lists wider hours (4:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm), so confirm with the temple office before you plan your day around it.
Daily pooja schedule
| Time | Ritual |
|---|---|
| 4:00 am | Blowing of the conch |
| 4:45 am | Temple opens: Nirmalyam, Vakacharthu, oil abhishekam, Malarnivedyam |
| 5:00 am | Ganapathy Homam |
| 6:45 am to 7:45 am | Rigveda Dhara to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu |
| 8:00 am | Ushapooja, Nivedyam |
| 10:00 am to 11:00 am | Homams and special poojas |
| 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | Noon poojas |
| 4:45 pm | Temple opens for evening poojas |
| 6:00 pm | Deeparadhana, Arathi |
| 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm | Uma Maheswara Pooja, Bhagavathy Seva, Dambathy Pooja |
| 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | Athazha Pooja (night pooja) |
| 8:30 pm | Temple closes |
Source: the temple’s pooja timings page. Online pooja booking is also available on the temple website.
Temple customs and dress rules
The temple’s customs page lists these rules:
- Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple.
- Do not enter the Nalambalam wearing a shirt, banyan, pyjama, lungi, chequered cloth or chappals. There are facilities to keep footwear outside.
- Do not take a video camera, mobile phone or radio inside the temple, and no camera inside the Nalambalam.
- The temple pond on the northern side is called Rudhratheertham. Devotees can purify themselves by bathing there and enter the temple preferably in wet clothes.
- Do not touch the big altar stone (Balikallu) with your foot, and do not spit in the temple premises.
The legend
According to the temple, the story is tied to the founding of the Guruvayur temple. When Devaguru Brihaspati and Vayu arrived on the banks of the Rudratheertha lake to install the idol given to them by Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva was already doing penance there. He suggested they consecrate the idol on that spot and moved to a nearby location on the other side of the lake. That is where Mammiyoor stands today. Read the full account on the temple’s history page.
How to reach
Mammiyoor is in Guruvayur, in Thrissur district, within walking distance of the Sri Krishna Temple. Most visitors reach Guruvayur by road from Thrissur, or by train to Guruvayur railway station, and walk or take an auto from there. Bookings for the Krishna temple, such as darshan, vazhipadu and accommodation, are on the Guruvayur Devaswom website.
Where to stay
Search hotels in Guruvayur below, or see our Hotels & Stays page.
Timings can change while the renovation continues. Call the Devaswom office or check the temple website before you set out. For help planning a Guruvayur trip, call +91 91105 83839.
About the Author
Vikram Reddy
Vikram Reddy contributed travel content to Xploreall in 2025. That engagement has ended, and content on this site is now researched, written, and verified directly by the Xploreall team — see our Editorial Policy for how we source and fact-check our articles.
