Walk from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala

Walk from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala
Puneet Rajhans

Come rain or shine, the numbers hardly dwindle when it comes to taking a walk to the Lord of Seven Hills from Alipiri Gate. It is a steep climb for the first hour, turning to a plateaued pathway and before the last lap sets in again a steep job to be kept with. From a teenybopper to a 60 plus devotee, the climb is a way to break the monotony. The monotonous set up we are glued to; the slackening of hope that accompanies us at each movement; and the oft-travelled path of aspirations and more aspirations. Here the three hour trek takes away all the illusionary ideas that we are bedevilled with and brings bang on the simple and affable truth: in the date with the Lord of Seven Hills there lies essentially meaning to life.
As one begins the ascent the first picture of refreshing clarity is the increasing number of those going up the hills. The second doesn't dislocate the fact that we are all geared to have a date with the Lord. The third being no amount of upheavals/consternations would dip our deep-seated longing for Lord Venkateswara; in fact it gets an added strength with each new outing.
The pathway leading to the hills runs through thick foliage, perhaps a ringing testament to the green defined gusto the area brims with. There are moments when you go past the people lining on either side of the pathway your body language is under watch; essentially to read the fatigue quotient. Seeing you do long laps without breaks propels them to do the same. And this exercise is carried right through the three hour devotion.
There are two essential halts on the way. First the imposing Lord Hanuman's idol, all in white, coming to you when you have been through most of the climbing part. Second again Lord Hanuman making his presence in a structure at the right side, coming some 20 minutes after the first one. That apart right at the entrance there is Lord Govinda's temple situated inside further from the pathway.
All through the trek, there are songs with Govindraju and Krishna being played on public address system. Chants of "Venkatwada Venkatramana Govinda Govinda" rent the air at regular intervals.
This exercise continues the entire day, with people joining the quest to have a date with the Lord as early as 4a.m. The weather is another big factor to add up to the momentum.
The token that you get on the way wins you handsome dividends. Having reached Tirumala, with a token you are ushered in from a different direction and your date with the Lord is over in just under an hour. After this the free meals treat is the next big thing.