Leaving for Chennai to reach Tirumala
Holding on to a thought whether to proceed to Tirumala or leave it for another day i budged from my intransigent stance and decided to take a flight to Chennai. Left home at 7 in the morning with not to be missed was a noting GMR proud to be associated with Delhi airport for 12 years as made clear as i stepped inside the airport. I met a woman from Spain who was on her way to Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. She had been to Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai way back in 1982 and found the present arrangement where there were restrictions probably for those hailing from other countries on movements inside the temple more appropriately near the sanctum sanctorum. Met two guys who were on their way to Tuticorin and taking the same flight. Met an auditor from HCL based in Chennai who had to travel back and forth across India and continents every other day. In the National Capital he stayed in Noida and was lucky enough to have a cook who could get him South Indian delicacies. Met Mr Harshit Narayan Jha near Airtel phone booth.
The Jet Airways flight 9W 0759 took off a little after 9.30 and reached Chennai a little after 12 pm. I got a helpful upgrade with window seat secured against odds with the cabin crew members in a more conciliatory and receptive mood. There was Mr Thomas Mathew from Indian Oil who was on his way to Chennai for a software package roll out for LPG Distributors. There was Mr M Kumar another passenger near the conveyor belt who conveyed that one could take a metro from airport to Chennai's Koyambedu bus stand. I profusely thanked him for giving me option to access Chennai Mofussil bus stand. Under 40 minutes i was in Chennai bus stand.
I decided to take meals from Adyar Anandha Bhawan in the vicinity of bus stand. The staff was very helpful.There was Mr George the ever alert security guard at entrance of Koyambedu bus stand. I set out for Tirupati at 2.30, the bus winding its way through different populated areas and finally reaching Tirupati at 7.30. The driver and bus conductor were quite alert to the proceedings. A five hour journey that included traffic hiccups along the way and a smooth passage almost after 5 pm looked to be little unsettling. Conventional wisdom would have us believe that securing accommodation in Tirumala won't be trouble of sorts. In pursuit of a room Tirupati fared much better as rooms are not allotted to single person in Tirumala. Before taking a room visited Srinivasam Complex. Took a room in Triveni Residency as suggested by Mr Suresh Babu and here Mr Eshwar was more than delighted to have me as his guest. Took black tea from Friends Tea Stall with BMR tours and travels outlet in the vicinity. Exceed your thoughts and you are in for some wonderful time in Tirumala. Barring accommodation everything looks so elegant and moving you desire to stay in Seven Hills with all thoughts geared towards the Lord. Bunch of devotees file in with a breathtaking vow to have a fleeting glimpse of the Lord. Chants of Govinda reach a crescendo as one nears Bangaru Vakili which essentially is the sanctum sanctorum.
Following a well secured sleep and after taking black tea and getting ready i set out for Alipiri Gate from where i was supposed to walk to Tirumala. After making noting in a Prayer Diary i started from Alipiri Gate at 9.07 reaching Goli Gopuram at 10.08. There were no tokens being issued probably to do with heavy rush or something like that. A little before 11 i reached Lord Hanuman statue and little after 11.10 it began to rain, the heavy downpour lasting over 30 minutes. As rains subsided i began my onward journey reaching Tirumala at 1.07 pm. Had it not been for rains i would have completed my walk in little over three hours. In the past i used to complete the entire journey in three hours flat. As i essay my thoughts i am watching Srivaari Naivedya Ghantaanaadam from Tirumala coming on SVBC Channel. I watch SVBC Channel almost every day.
After ascending more than 3000 steps i went to the counter from where tokens (Sarva Darshan) are issued and my darshan timing was 10 am the next day. A little after 3 pm or 5 pm i visited Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Centre and took food. It is the best Anna Prasadam Centre across country. I returned to Tirupati with a firm determination to visit Tirumala the next day for a fleeting glimpse of Lord Govinda. Point to be noted Wednesday and Saturday are special days for Lord Govinda. In fact the entire year is special for Lord Govinda.
Holding on to a thought whether to proceed to Tirumala or leave it for another day i budged from my intransigent stance and decided to take a flight to Chennai. Left home at 7 in the morning with not to be missed was a noting GMR proud to be associated with Delhi airport for 12 years as made clear as i stepped inside the airport. I met a woman from Spain who was on her way to Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. She had been to Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai way back in 1982 and found the present arrangement where there were restrictions probably for those hailing from other countries on movements inside the temple more appropriately near the sanctum sanctorum. Met two guys who were on their way to Tuticorin and taking the same flight. Met an auditor from HCL based in Chennai who had to travel back and forth across India and continents every other day. In the National Capital he stayed in Noida and was lucky enough to have a cook who could get him South Indian delicacies. Met Mr Harshit Narayan Jha near Airtel phone booth.
The Jet Airways flight 9W 0759 took off a little after 9.30 and reached Chennai a little after 12 pm. I got a helpful upgrade with window seat secured against odds with the cabin crew members in a more conciliatory and receptive mood. There was Mr Thomas Mathew from Indian Oil who was on his way to Chennai for a software package roll out for LPG Distributors. There was Mr M Kumar another passenger near the conveyor belt who conveyed that one could take a metro from airport to Chennai's Koyambedu bus stand. I profusely thanked him for giving me option to access Chennai Mofussil bus stand. Under 40 minutes i was in Chennai bus stand.
I decided to take meals from Adyar Anandha Bhawan in the vicinity of bus stand. The staff was very helpful.There was Mr George the ever alert security guard at entrance of Koyambedu bus stand. I set out for Tirupati at 2.30, the bus winding its way through different populated areas and finally reaching Tirupati at 7.30. The driver and bus conductor were quite alert to the proceedings. A five hour journey that included traffic hiccups along the way and a smooth passage almost after 5 pm looked to be little unsettling. Conventional wisdom would have us believe that securing accommodation in Tirumala won't be trouble of sorts. In pursuit of a room Tirupati fared much better as rooms are not allotted to single person in Tirumala. Before taking a room visited Srinivasam Complex. Took a room in Triveni Residency as suggested by Mr Suresh Babu and here Mr Eshwar was more than delighted to have me as his guest. Took black tea from Friends Tea Stall with BMR tours and travels outlet in the vicinity. Exceed your thoughts and you are in for some wonderful time in Tirumala. Barring accommodation everything looks so elegant and moving you desire to stay in Seven Hills with all thoughts geared towards the Lord. Bunch of devotees file in with a breathtaking vow to have a fleeting glimpse of the Lord. Chants of Govinda reach a crescendo as one nears Bangaru Vakili which essentially is the sanctum sanctorum.
Following a well secured sleep and after taking black tea and getting ready i set out for Alipiri Gate from where i was supposed to walk to Tirumala. After making noting in a Prayer Diary i started from Alipiri Gate at 9.07 reaching Goli Gopuram at 10.08. There were no tokens being issued probably to do with heavy rush or something like that. A little before 11 i reached Lord Hanuman statue and little after 11.10 it began to rain, the heavy downpour lasting over 30 minutes. As rains subsided i began my onward journey reaching Tirumala at 1.07 pm. Had it not been for rains i would have completed my walk in little over three hours. In the past i used to complete the entire journey in three hours flat. As i essay my thoughts i am watching Srivaari Naivedya Ghantaanaadam from Tirumala coming on SVBC Channel. I watch SVBC Channel almost every day.
After ascending more than 3000 steps i went to the counter from where tokens (Sarva Darshan) are issued and my darshan timing was 10 am the next day. A little after 3 pm or 5 pm i visited Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Anna Prasadam Centre and took food. It is the best Anna Prasadam Centre across country. I returned to Tirupati with a firm determination to visit Tirumala the next day for a fleeting glimpse of Lord Govinda. Point to be noted Wednesday and Saturday are special days for Lord Govinda. In fact the entire year is special for Lord Govinda.
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