Reaching Prashanti Nilayam
It was early morning when i reached Prashanti Nilayam station to proceed towards Puttaparthi. In the station there are no buses around four or little after that in the morning . So one has to stay put at the station platform for a while. Came across a gentleman who introduced himself as software engineer roaming the platforms at that odd hour probably waiting for a train that would take him to bangalore; coaches to be definitely pulled by at least one engine. Took a shared auto whose other occupants had to visit a medical centre. The auto was not meant for Puttaparthi, and the place where i alighted i had to look for a bus that would take me to Puttaparthi. After a while secured a bus ride lasting over 20 minutes (the road is neat and well laid) and reaching the bus stand of the temple town at a time when fewer were willing to show up.Perhaps the information filtering out suggested that accommodation could be tried in the Prashanti Nilayam Temple complex. There were parents filling forms for their wards as entrance test was in the offing.
A large number of students from Darjeeling enrol for courses in college run by SAthya Sai Trust, with teaching methodology and course fee looking to be quite rewarding. In fact one student suggested that tuition fees are almost negligible. Officials were willing to give dormitory and as for single rooms they had a different set of criteria. Perhaps the identity card should be enough to get a room, something authorities should explore at. As a result, i stepped out of complex and started looking for a lodge. The search for an accommodation took me to S K Lodge, with Mukunda the host looking forward to reward me with a room, the rent somewhere around 400rs, letting the word out that rooms with attached bath can be availed if one does search by himself/herself. THe lodge is inside a lane, with a surety that no amount of nuisance would be forthcoming as residents in and around looked to be disciplined and simple. It was past seven when i left the lodge to gain the first morning tea cup coming against the backdrop of those serving the same hailing from Rajasthan and having joined this enterprise a few days earlier.
Visiting Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir
After nine or so visited the Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir, the morning prayer session coming amidst a gathering that looked limited with a hope to swell in the coming days. After paying respects at Samadhi Mandir, one can go inside a hall which too is used for prayer session. Here those not hailing from Prashati Nilayam Trust can just have a look and come out. The Ganesh Temple Fort at the back of the Prayer Assembly Session looks as resplendent as ever and a round on days when you are there would be handy.
Visiting North Indian Canteen
North Indian canteen had some of the best meals on offer during afternoon, with a special mention of butter milk and curd. Vegetables on offer were good, with a little alertness to be shown that spice adding has to be little less. Overall the meals whether during afternoon or early evening hours were exciting and good to the stomach. On the second day visited the western indian canteen, with those serving you from across counter need to be residents of india. Here among other offerings orange juice was in a class of its own. Butter toast and fruits too came handy. Overall North INdian Canteen could be tried for as many days as one wishes to stay if meals with rich fibre and nutritional nudge is what one is looking for. Opposite the North Indian CAnteen is a shop dishing out cool drinks . Here they need to stock with curd, butter milk as well. A bull driven cart brings the cartons everyday; those running the large shop should be equally careful about the labour the bull undertakes and instead of concentrating all on their earnings should spare a little effort to keep the bull and the man riding it in good template. Adjacent to this large shop is a small shop that offers tea and coffee with little sensitisation on dealing with small demands. At least in the Prashanti Nilayam complex, the human hint should be all pervasive and money mint should be at least controlled. From top officers to lower staff, they need to evolve towards a larger goal, a majority may have endured that sentiment to hone their skills for less profitability, others need to follow suit. One can believe there won't be dearth of resources if commercial colour of the outside world is not allowed to get inside. Still the Prashanti Nilayam Complex has a lot going for it with the need to get a statue or a bust of the Lord right next to the samadhi platform.
Providing a shade
As one enters the complex from the main gate, the distance that one has to traverse brings one with no shade for a good length and perhaps from where the Ram Sita Lakshman and Hanuman statue is up to the point where there is a std booth (some metres after the token counter for south indian canteen), a shade could be raised.
Came across Sridhar Andre from Rajmundhry, belting out the story that from Rajmundhry to Vijaywada it takes three to four hours and from Vijaywada to Prashanti Nilayam it takes over 16 hours by train. The stay in Prashanti Nilayam was smooth except for one incident where visiting a restaurant for tea, some three to four persons ( one can understand who they were) tried to create a ruckus because i was all alone during that time. This restaurant is inside and has an appealing picture of sai. Except for this incident, on other occasions, the tea-taking exercise was wonderful with probably SAi Surya restaurant whose middle aged staff member was wonderful. The second day when i visited, this staff member, lean and middle height, presented a picture of perfection observing that on that day he was somehow late to leave the bed as always he gets on time.On most of the occasions trust members used to be inside the restaurant sharing exciting tales about the place. Mr Mukunda of S K Lodge was helpful and so was Dada Khalandar of tours and travels who arranged a train ticket to Bangalore for a train heading towards Coimbatore.
The Puttaparthi bus stand has enough benches, adding to its attraction are a series of new shops. The water cooler needs to be rejiged to get the best and cold water.The railway reservation counter works for limited hours as there is not enough crowd. Overall the place was good and the cool template that surrounds it soon after three in the afternoon is a surprise of sorts.
As for Yajur Mandir, it could be opened up for general public one to two times in a week or all seven hours between eight and nine in the morning. Let Yajur Mandir be accessible to all.
There is a need for more std/isd booths across the temple town; the tirumala tirupati devasthanam office near water tank showing no tickets for days i wished to visit.Bring buses for morning ride from station to puttaparthi bus stand. Similarly in Tiruapati airport there is a lone bus service towards Tirumala at 2 in the afternoon. No buses before or after that. And look at the airport how far it is from the city.And here TTD air conditioned cars were ferrying passengers. Why waste money in running airconditioned cars/suvs from Tirumala to Airport. Invest the money in wise projects, in removing faulty wiring or old wiring on which acs run in sanctum sanctorum. Sanctum sanctorum has to have best cooling facility with acs with the best wiring and running template. Free meals counter in Tirumala is great. The new iron pillars being put there or digging taking place where Lord Krishna is in a sitting posture near the steps do we need such new iron pillars or digging. Invest wisely. As for the fares they quoted at the tirupati airport ticket counter it was beyond the levels one could have imagined.
Before writing about Puttaparthi railway station, a word or two on the proposed plan to raise new structure in Nizamuddin station. You don't need a tall structure housing food court, enquiry counter, railway reservation counter, waiting hall. Don't waste money, tall structures in public space aren't good. With limited budget try to bring all these in the existing complex. You already have a restaurant which is exceedingly expensive. Commuters in trains are simple, give them simple thoughts. If DRMs are not falling in line or board members visiting abroad without any purpose try to make them see reason. Railways has backlog of projects. Safety is important, these projects can be set aside. Tendering process with all visibility would do a world of good to railways.
Took a bus from Puttaparthi bus stand to the railway station. One S Reddy who happenned to be electrician took a seat next to me. Puttaparthi had a good collection of banana sellers and so were bananas in plenty in railway station. The railway station has two platforms, with the enquiry on seeking status of train ticket on first floor. Bathrooms in waiting rooms/halls have a stench which needs to be doused.Otherwise the station is in perfect shape with mountains in the backdrop. The book shop has a good collection.
Some sightings in Prashanti Nilayam
On Gopuram gate main road
- Girnar tea ice, tea coffee & more
- indian optics
- Meena crafts
- Sai saundarya
- abs tours & travels sai lakshmi silks
- Restaurant Sai's Agaman
- HDFC Bank Puttaparthi branch
- Help ever net cafe
- Yaseen & Co dealers in Jewellery, handicrafts
- Sai Narayana Guest House
- Neem Tree restaurant
- Hotel Sai Paradise
- Sai towers
- Public telephone STD & ISD
- Sairam Photo Centre
- Hari Om Cafe & Restaurant
- Shanti Cafe
- Sai Surya Restaurant
It was early morning when i reached Prashanti Nilayam station to proceed towards Puttaparthi. In the station there are no buses around four or little after that in the morning . So one has to stay put at the station platform for a while. Came across a gentleman who introduced himself as software engineer roaming the platforms at that odd hour probably waiting for a train that would take him to bangalore; coaches to be definitely pulled by at least one engine. Took a shared auto whose other occupants had to visit a medical centre. The auto was not meant for Puttaparthi, and the place where i alighted i had to look for a bus that would take me to Puttaparthi. After a while secured a bus ride lasting over 20 minutes (the road is neat and well laid) and reaching the bus stand of the temple town at a time when fewer were willing to show up.Perhaps the information filtering out suggested that accommodation could be tried in the Prashanti Nilayam Temple complex. There were parents filling forms for their wards as entrance test was in the offing.
A large number of students from Darjeeling enrol for courses in college run by SAthya Sai Trust, with teaching methodology and course fee looking to be quite rewarding. In fact one student suggested that tuition fees are almost negligible. Officials were willing to give dormitory and as for single rooms they had a different set of criteria. Perhaps the identity card should be enough to get a room, something authorities should explore at. As a result, i stepped out of complex and started looking for a lodge. The search for an accommodation took me to S K Lodge, with Mukunda the host looking forward to reward me with a room, the rent somewhere around 400rs, letting the word out that rooms with attached bath can be availed if one does search by himself/herself. THe lodge is inside a lane, with a surety that no amount of nuisance would be forthcoming as residents in and around looked to be disciplined and simple. It was past seven when i left the lodge to gain the first morning tea cup coming against the backdrop of those serving the same hailing from Rajasthan and having joined this enterprise a few days earlier.
Visiting Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir
After nine or so visited the Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir, the morning prayer session coming amidst a gathering that looked limited with a hope to swell in the coming days. After paying respects at Samadhi Mandir, one can go inside a hall which too is used for prayer session. Here those not hailing from Prashati Nilayam Trust can just have a look and come out. The Ganesh Temple Fort at the back of the Prayer Assembly Session looks as resplendent as ever and a round on days when you are there would be handy.
Visiting North Indian Canteen
North Indian canteen had some of the best meals on offer during afternoon, with a special mention of butter milk and curd. Vegetables on offer were good, with a little alertness to be shown that spice adding has to be little less. Overall the meals whether during afternoon or early evening hours were exciting and good to the stomach. On the second day visited the western indian canteen, with those serving you from across counter need to be residents of india. Here among other offerings orange juice was in a class of its own. Butter toast and fruits too came handy. Overall North INdian Canteen could be tried for as many days as one wishes to stay if meals with rich fibre and nutritional nudge is what one is looking for. Opposite the North Indian CAnteen is a shop dishing out cool drinks . Here they need to stock with curd, butter milk as well. A bull driven cart brings the cartons everyday; those running the large shop should be equally careful about the labour the bull undertakes and instead of concentrating all on their earnings should spare a little effort to keep the bull and the man riding it in good template. Adjacent to this large shop is a small shop that offers tea and coffee with little sensitisation on dealing with small demands. At least in the Prashanti Nilayam complex, the human hint should be all pervasive and money mint should be at least controlled. From top officers to lower staff, they need to evolve towards a larger goal, a majority may have endured that sentiment to hone their skills for less profitability, others need to follow suit. One can believe there won't be dearth of resources if commercial colour of the outside world is not allowed to get inside. Still the Prashanti Nilayam Complex has a lot going for it with the need to get a statue or a bust of the Lord right next to the samadhi platform.
Providing a shade
As one enters the complex from the main gate, the distance that one has to traverse brings one with no shade for a good length and perhaps from where the Ram Sita Lakshman and Hanuman statue is up to the point where there is a std booth (some metres after the token counter for south indian canteen), a shade could be raised.
Came across Sridhar Andre from Rajmundhry, belting out the story that from Rajmundhry to Vijaywada it takes three to four hours and from Vijaywada to Prashanti Nilayam it takes over 16 hours by train. The stay in Prashanti Nilayam was smooth except for one incident where visiting a restaurant for tea, some three to four persons ( one can understand who they were) tried to create a ruckus because i was all alone during that time. This restaurant is inside and has an appealing picture of sai. Except for this incident, on other occasions, the tea-taking exercise was wonderful with probably SAi Surya restaurant whose middle aged staff member was wonderful. The second day when i visited, this staff member, lean and middle height, presented a picture of perfection observing that on that day he was somehow late to leave the bed as always he gets on time.On most of the occasions trust members used to be inside the restaurant sharing exciting tales about the place. Mr Mukunda of S K Lodge was helpful and so was Dada Khalandar of tours and travels who arranged a train ticket to Bangalore for a train heading towards Coimbatore.
The Puttaparthi bus stand has enough benches, adding to its attraction are a series of new shops. The water cooler needs to be rejiged to get the best and cold water.The railway reservation counter works for limited hours as there is not enough crowd. Overall the place was good and the cool template that surrounds it soon after three in the afternoon is a surprise of sorts.
As for Yajur Mandir, it could be opened up for general public one to two times in a week or all seven hours between eight and nine in the morning. Let Yajur Mandir be accessible to all.
There is a need for more std/isd booths across the temple town; the tirumala tirupati devasthanam office near water tank showing no tickets for days i wished to visit.Bring buses for morning ride from station to puttaparthi bus stand. Similarly in Tiruapati airport there is a lone bus service towards Tirumala at 2 in the afternoon. No buses before or after that. And look at the airport how far it is from the city.And here TTD air conditioned cars were ferrying passengers. Why waste money in running airconditioned cars/suvs from Tirumala to Airport. Invest the money in wise projects, in removing faulty wiring or old wiring on which acs run in sanctum sanctorum. Sanctum sanctorum has to have best cooling facility with acs with the best wiring and running template. Free meals counter in Tirumala is great. The new iron pillars being put there or digging taking place where Lord Krishna is in a sitting posture near the steps do we need such new iron pillars or digging. Invest wisely. As for the fares they quoted at the tirupati airport ticket counter it was beyond the levels one could have imagined.
Before writing about Puttaparthi railway station, a word or two on the proposed plan to raise new structure in Nizamuddin station. You don't need a tall structure housing food court, enquiry counter, railway reservation counter, waiting hall. Don't waste money, tall structures in public space aren't good. With limited budget try to bring all these in the existing complex. You already have a restaurant which is exceedingly expensive. Commuters in trains are simple, give them simple thoughts. If DRMs are not falling in line or board members visiting abroad without any purpose try to make them see reason. Railways has backlog of projects. Safety is important, these projects can be set aside. Tendering process with all visibility would do a world of good to railways.
Took a bus from Puttaparthi bus stand to the railway station. One S Reddy who happenned to be electrician took a seat next to me. Puttaparthi had a good collection of banana sellers and so were bananas in plenty in railway station. The railway station has two platforms, with the enquiry on seeking status of train ticket on first floor. Bathrooms in waiting rooms/halls have a stench which needs to be doused.Otherwise the station is in perfect shape with mountains in the backdrop. The book shop has a good collection.
Some sightings in Prashanti Nilayam
On Gopuram gate main road
- Girnar tea ice, tea coffee & more
- indian optics
- Meena crafts
- Sai saundarya
- abs tours & travels sai lakshmi silks
- Restaurant Sai's Agaman
- HDFC Bank Puttaparthi branch
- Help ever net cafe
- Yaseen & Co dealers in Jewellery, handicrafts
- Sai Narayana Guest House
- Neem Tree restaurant
- Hotel Sai Paradise
- Sai towers
- Public telephone STD & ISD
- Sairam Photo Centre
- Hari Om Cafe & Restaurant
- Shanti Cafe
- Sai Surya Restaurant
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