Guruvayur, according to the legends maybe 5,000 years old as the Guruvayur temple idol is. There are no historical records to establish it. In the 14th century, Tamil literature 'Kokasandesam', references a place called Kuruvayur is made.
Guruvayur Temple is one of the most famous temples of Lord Guruvayoorappan, one of the enchanting incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Located in the cultural capital of Trissur District, Guruvayur is a humming religious center in Kerala that draws pilgrims from all over the world all around the year. Guruvayur temple, dedicated to Balagopalan, the child form of Lord Krishna is many centuries old. Legends say that the Guru who found a Krishna Statue floating in a river at the start of Kaliyuga installed this idol with the help of Vayu at this spot, which derived its name Guru (Brihaspathi), Vayu (Wind God), and Oor (Land).
Guruvayur or Guruvayoor, popularly called the Dwarka of the South, is one of the most important pilgrimage centers for Hindus in India as this idol is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma himself. Only Hindus are allowed in this temple, which is well known for its unique customs and temple art forms that are well preserved even today.
As early as the 16th century, many references are seen about Kuruvayur. In ancient Dravidic, Kuruvai means sea, hence the village on the coast may be called Kuruvayur. According to eminent historian Professor K. V. Krishna Iyer, the Brahmins had begun to come and settle at Kodungallur during the period of Chandra Gupta Maurya