Trip to Thirupathi

It was very long since we wanted to visit Thirupathi and at last it happened last weekend. It was planned by Sankar's brother(Ganesh).

Trip to Chennai

Our plan is to start from bangalore to channai on thursday (Oct 1st night) and reach by Friday morning. We reached chennai around 6 A.M. For the first time i had been to Sankar's brother's house. It was an independent house rented in Perungudi. Waited for Sankar's parents to come. They did reach home in a while and we decided to go to T.Nagar for shopping by 1. Booked two cabs for it. Meanwhile everyone got freshened up and prepared lunch. Had a small nap and finished lunch. Started to T.Nagar. It was after so long travelling in chennai roads. After seeing the Bangalore narrow roads, felt as if Chennai roads were so broad. Reached T.Nagar after 45 mins of travel.

T.Nagar Visit

T.Nagar was very crowded by the time we reached there. I ahd never seen it to be this much crowded. We thought twice before entering the shops. As Kutti ma was with us we were scared to take her in crowd. Entered Pothy's at last. There was no place even to move around. Sankar's decision was to go to Nalli as it was comparitively less crowded. My choice was to go for a designer saree for Diwali. But ended in a cotton silk as usual. Got a saree for Amma and Athai. Divya, appa, athai and maama was waiting outside the shop in a staircase. Atlast finished the shopping and turned abck to place were we are supposed to board bus to Thirupathi

Divya's Condition

Divya couldnt tolerate the chennai climate and humidity. It was so hot that she was crying continuously. Was not having food at all. She was completely dehydrated and looked so tired. Was so worried to see her so. Her face was very dull. It is for this only reason we dont take her outside. As she was not used to the crowd and humidity she was not able to withstand that.

Travel to Thirupathi

As it was puratasi 3rd saturday and it was a full moon day. The day was very auspecious. As we booked as the package tour we thought we wouldt be into much trouble. We reached Thirupathi by 11. We were given a room and was asked to be ready by 2.30. We were so tired but somehow managed to get ready by 2.30 A.M. Started to mel thirupathi from keezh thirupathi. On the way Sankar and Rathi's (Co-Sister) brother got down for mottai. Sankar gave poo mudi and Vishu (Rathi's brother) shaved his head.


Dharshan in Thirupathi

It was much crowded even at that time. We expected that we would be bypassing the crowd and reach early as it was booked in a package. But things were not as expected. It was supposed to be 10 Lakh peoples visited temple on that day so they couldnt set peoples to go in a special queue. All were allowed in the same queue and its a terrible experience. We started to be in queue by 5 A.M.

It is really worried that the most richest and the wealthiest temple in India lacks properly planned and organised route for the divotees to traverse to see the god. There was no proper queue as such and no proper path too. It was like a room after room. People as we all know wanna rush towards the entrance and those who are in the way were getting smashed. It was so pityful to see small baby's screaming in the crowd. I even doubted whether they are to temple for Darshan or on any race.

We were not able to manage the crowd and with the baby it was a worse experience. Here and there many quarrels for not in the queue and things. Divya was totally tired as shecouldnt have proper food and no proper sleep. Somehow managed to reach inside the temple.

It is more than 10 years after which i am visiting Thirupathi. It was full of positive energy when we entered the temple. We could hear the chant "Govinda" everywhere. It was so nice to have Perumal Darshan on that auspecious day. Perumal was so beautiful and we feel like looking all the time. We were pushed out in seconds. The most surprising thing in Thirupathi is we will forget the face of god as soon as we come out. It is said that only then we will try to come again so it happens so.

We all gathered again and started back to Alamelu Mangapuram

Alamelu Mangapuram Visit

By the time we started to Alamelu Mangapuram everyone was so tired and week. We were taken back to the place were we stayed last night for Breakfast. It was too late (11 A.M) when we reached there and nothing was there to eat. Managed to eat something and started to temple.
We boarded the bus by which we came from chennai and started. We reached temple in about 10 minutes and it doesnt take much time for darshan. we were taken in a short route by the guide and somehow we managed to reach back early after a good darshan.

Kaalahasthi Visit

The next temple is Kaalahasthi. It was around 40 KM from Alamelu Mangapuram and everyone slept in bus meantime. The temple was very much crowded. We took a special darshan ticket and had a good darshan on all the gods in the temple. I had been to this place recently before marriage. The Siva Lingam here is very different. It shows the Arthanaareshwarar. It is a very good darshan. we were so tired and hungry.

Return trip to Chennai

Around 3 P.M we were dropped in a hotel. Finished our lunch and started back to chennai. Everyone was fully dehydrated and was feeling thirsty all the time. It was said that we will be reaching Chennai by 7 P.M. Sankar was supposed to attend his friends marriage in Thirupathi and turn back from there to bangalore on Sunday. In the last minute he dropped his plan and started with us to chennai. But the thing is we booked ticket only for myself, mom and dad. we were not sure of getting one more ticket to Bangalore. The return journey went in having a nice nap in bus. By the time we reached Chennai we were in a dilemma whether to go back to brother's home or to start to Bus stand directly. At last decided to go to bus stand as we need to enquire on the one more ticket.

Back to Bangalore

Finished our dinner in a hotel in koyambedu and reached KPN bus stand. We did enquire before itself on the availability of ticket to bangalore and the bus in which we booked ticket was cancelled and we will be shifted to some other bus. When enquired in the bus junction we all were shifted to an AC bus (Thank god!!). It was a tiredsome travel. Somehow managed to get the front seats and took rest. I carried Divya for the whole night. We both were damn tired and reached Bangalore safely that morning. Everyone was rushing to bed after reaching home and had a nice sleep till late morning.

It was a nice trip after a long gap. Though it was very painful. Had a good darshan in all the temples.

Expecting the next trip to Karur for Deepavali.