Leaving Deogarh (Jasidih) for Kolkata

Leaving Jasidih for Kolkata

It was on a Monday i decided to leave for Kolkata. The morning visit to temple was from rear side as the rush from the front door was beyond imagination. With a rush as heavy and that too a little before 6.50am the conclusion that one could draw was people had been lining up since four or perhaps earlier than that. On monday as i entered the Baidyanath dham temple, one occasion vis-a-vis three different occasions on Sunday, the attempt to reach near the jyotirlingam came with little effort with whoever who wishes to put an offering should duly put it in the box.

Govinda Govinda renting the air
As i handed picture of Lord Venkateshwara to some sitting near the jyotirlingam, chants of "Govinda Govinda" rented the air. It was one among these two days that while entering the temple i came across a gentleman hailing from Mahesana in Gujarat which has been known to dish out one of the finest teas from a railway station when there was no concrete structure. Though the station has become pucca the tea of tranqiuility can least be discovered. After coming out of temple as i wished to take the luggage from the reception desk, the man who had let me in the previous day had a different take on the time i checked out in the morning and the time he had recorded on a watch which was more than having a share of turning. The previous day when he opened the gates  to the lodge it seemed he hadn't had good sleep mirrored by his disposition that 24 hours is the check out time, one hour can be given as grace shine. Differences on when i checked out and when he recorded my check out from his cot led to an exchange and return of no change. Mind you in these circumstances one is advised to forego as you are in a different world with people willing to have surprises unfurl. For all little inconvenience of that morning the lodge was fairly good and the room had rejuvenating root. For the minor lapse of the manager who had never served in the rank of a major, his semi sleepy state stated he made efforts to gain sleep, if sleep did not come the entire night he had ways to showcase his right. Hope in future whoever comes to him, he would through his conduct win.

Leaving Deogarh
Leave Deogarh at 7.35 reach jasidih  at 8.10. On the way come across “by the way “, international food theatre. The road under which river flows has had repair of sorts. On the way there are billboards like "6 mahine mein sarkari naukari paye". Phone booth near the entrance  to the Jasidih station has personnel sonu. This phone booth is quite handy as people from far away places come to Deogarh. At the right side of the entrance there are a series of ticket windows with just one for computerised railway reservation.  Atm guard at jasidih railway station is B Das.

In Jasidih railway station the refreshment room on Platform One opens after 8.15. On pf 1 , waiting hall for first class (a boy on a laptop can be seen), waiting hall for sleeper class. The rush on PF 1 and PF 2 is huge. Before Danapur/Patna Howrah Jan Shatabdi comes, there is another train heading towards Howrah that comes and leaves. From PF 1 i have a series of tea glasses, some prepared and some prepared with a request to not put sugar. I come across one gentleman , who has to board a train to Howrah, the connecting train would take him to cuttack.

Leave Jasidih at 9.18am, Jamtara coming at 10.15, chittaranjan 10.30, salanpur, 10.40, asansol 11, Durgapur 11.35 and barddhaman (this is how it is spelled in station board) 12.20pm . With a seat number 94, i am between two men, one is heading to Durgapur pursuing B Tech from Engineering College and another a sort of trader with a trail of thoughts. Hailing from Patna, the boy studying in Engineering College in Durgapur gives a break up of education, mess and hostel fees. If i can recall correctly for each year it would work out to be Rs 1.25 lakh and for four years put together it would be 5 lakh rs and add another one lakh the entire outgo for four year course would be Rs 6 lakh. In the college campus they give tea in the morning but no milk is served the entire day and for all seven days. The non veg preparations are handed out at least five days a week.  During the conversation what he seem to suggest was his parents had taken no loan and as far as placement record is concerned it is more than promising.
One needs to hail such institutions for keeping the yearly fees low with a thought that if they could provide milk to the students enrolled there.

Jaugram station comes at 12.50, just  at 12.47 going past station with an engine with a number 27602, reach dakuni 1.30, bally halt 1.35, a little before 2 we are at Majestic Howrah. Mind you the Wheeler staff at Durgapur cooperative is helpful (best wishes to him), the wheeler staff at howrah indifferent, don’t stock all newspapers. The ride from Jasidih to Howrah was an experience of a different nature with vendors of different colours selling their stuff to keep themselves going. Jhalmudi seem to be the most popular lot with an equal bunch of those dishing out toast with veg cutlet. Here one needs to watch out for the amount of dust that gets settled on the face and arms and one should constantly wash their face. Keeping it partially covered could also be an option. The Jasidih-Howrah ride was enriching to the point that though clouds had come, the rains had rarely begun to come and run. The green cover that we talked about while approaching Kolkata Airport by flight could in a way be discovered and some transhipments/locations with blue coating could be revered. A ride that has less risks and more rewards.

Reaching Deogarh (Jasidih); stay for over 24 hours

Reaching Deogarh (Jasidih); stay for over 24 hours


Reach Jasidih at 3.40 am on a Sunday. Before i leave the train i tell the attendant that i can't trace the hand towel so i would pay the sum for the towel not sighted at that moment. That had to do with too much of movement in and around the seat i was in during night. As i deboard the coach, i take one final look at the list that still hangs next to the exit door so that on an another occasion with another set of guests who could be in dozen i could be extempore. The TTE with the name Surat who deboarded few stations before was exceptionally humble and has a fair share of friends who broach the subject of trains and reservations  at 2.40 at a halt that is about 30 to 40 kms before Jasidih. Here another TTE has had some arguments with some passengers probably an hour or two before and this TTE is weighing the pros and cons of future course. Perhaps a better understanding and that too in the middle of night could keep things on a smooth plane.

Baidyanath dham station
Take a local and reach baidyanath dham station at 4.25. Stay put in the waiting hall a little after five as it would give me the advantage of checking into a hotel that goes by 24 hour check out time. After a search lasting and not liberating, i settle for Data ashram, the room fairly clean with attached bath. Morning hours has rush in and around the temple with those willing to get inside and those willing to get out not to be dismissed as a game of bout. After morning rush and temple outing keeping most fresh, i try to search for a cyber cafe that would hand me a ticket for Kolkata or Puri. Reach meghna puri lane, about 1 km from lodge, for rail ticket.

Challenges come in the way of a power cut as all preparations have to be in place for ensuring 24 X 7 supply for the upcoming festival. In the cyber café before one begins to rant, there is a reasonable reading of the ensuing rent primarily photostat  rs1.50, voter card rs3, bijli na rehne par, photostat  rs2 voter card rs4. I am told that the rail ticket can be duly collected once power comes notwithstanding who has a series of generators or a series of gems. Following this assurance, i settle for food from tower chowk.  In bara bazaar, nimarish bhojanalaya sindh hotel plain dosa comes for 35 rs followed by soft drink small bottle coming for rs12. Hotel relax has magnolia rest’t  with one of the best teas in town. Two cups for 40rs i hope the tea from roadside carts and other caravans too could be little helpful in not taking recourse to dripping in sugar as across country the tea that is exceedingly sweet can never be recorded as a feat.

And in late evening, meals from Mamata outlet in tower chowk is equally satisfying. I can spot among others those in uniform trying soft drinks with vehicle and pedestrian movement as soft as ever. There is something in tower chowk and nearby that suggests those with soft skills and soft voice would be equally heard in a place where each and every entity has an equal fort.

Jharkhand tourism welcomes you is a board that hangs outside the baidyanath dham station detailing the places and distance that calls for perseverance.
Vasukinath – 27km
Masanjar dam – 136km
Shiv pahar mandir 85 km
Ranchi – 275km

From Bara bazar clock tower if one has to proceed towards Mandir Gate, it comes the following way:
Bara bazaar clock tower
New meena bazaar
Jalsar road
Vip road (mandir gali)
Mind you there are four gates to temple each recording a flow depending on the hour one wants to get inside.

Near clock tower some sightings in stores and nearby came as follows
- Yahan kate phate  note badle jate hai
- in a book store ssc English, ssc advance maths, railway bharti board pariksha, T. C/C.C./J.C., IBPS All India Grameen Bank, SSC Tier II (main)

At Baidyanath Dham Rlwy Station reaching pravesh dwar at 19.04 as i step inside there is information on rooms in Asansol and Durgapur. As for asansol:
Ac retiring room rs 300; Non ac retiring room 150
As for Durgapur:
 Ac retiring room rs 300; Non ac retiring room rs 150
Other sightings in Baidyanath Dham Rlwy Station
- Booking centre
- Computerized reservation centre
- Fare table baidyanath dham
- Second class waiting hall , toilet for men, women, there is chai, coffee, tea stall shoodh doodh . Amidst these observations i Spot 63166U bdme jasidih local.

Before reaching  Baidyanath Dham Rlwy Station in the evening i had collected rail ticket from cyber cafe who had to get the print out from a machine at a fair distance away.

The stay in Deogarh was free of hiccups with movements in and around town with no hassles. In the mornings, people running stores and lodges could be seen running their pump to get the requisite water; in some instances water overflowing and in others taking its time to fill the tank. Streets leading to temple and nearby locations are not wide enough and perhaps the two wheeler movement should be restricted during peak hours; something in operation in certain stretches.

A few of tea vendors who could get the tea of tranquility could be positioned in and around different streets. The search for a cap as i am supposed to take a Jan Shatabdi originating from Danapur/Patna and going all the way to Howarah was a necessity as 2S was the class with D2/ 94 the coach and the seat. The cap coming for a reasonable 50rs can be procured from a shop near Tower Chowk. Then there is one sweet shop with the name bhog and here the staff/owner have to develop accommodative spirit. Having huge sales with huge turnout of customers is ok but you have to look beyond that. The cyber cafe near Mamata eating joint was one which i could not try due to paucity of time and perhaps doing stories from this cyber cafe could be interesting.

On VIP road in Deogarh is a small post office which i come across on a Sunday while taking tea opposite the post office. As for bara bazaar road among other sightings, sale rs 85 fixed price shirts looks to be quite tempting and not to miss the  lakhan baba ka dil bahar lassi outlet and billboards  to the same at different points of the town. 

Writing from vicinity of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee road

Reaching Kolkata; visiting Dakshineswar

Writing from vicinity of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee road, the seat i am in and sense i can make gives enough opportunity to spew a tale on 30f and those willing to have veg puff. In all i could read 180 seats on flight 2E 203, with the one seated on 30d not averse to speak and search. All he could raise a tale was on a number and all one could say with certainty was he never tried hands to gain expertise of a plumber. Request came to him to switch off the cell he was trying to get in as the aircraft had a will to get out of the city. The first officer, 6ft tall, checks the wings and makes a wish.

Surface on which it runs has to be in the best frame of functioning
Sporting a catering vehicle which has branches in mumbai, delhi, chennai and Aurangabad, hope this catering concern has a smooth run with cautious entry/exit from terminal area. There are 21 gates in the domestic terminal of indira Gandhi international airport area. Corrosion on iron sheets above gates can be seen. Plane goes past apron, IAF tech area, the 40-sec run before taking off (3.35pm) turned thoughts on the surface and the weight it has to bear to make a smooth case. The surface on which landing and take off happens has to be in the best frame of functioning. After 75 sec i spot Qutub Minar and at 3.45 the expressway that runs from the outskirts of national capital region to Agra.

Green cover 9 to 7 mts before landing is truly moving  
A window seat with a winsome fare all i have to look at are the clouds and  innumerable agricultural fields down below that retains the authenticity of glow. Menu of flight  has veggie delights, meaty delights and beverages One Punjab de paranthe coming for 190 rs with very few passengers showing the tendency to sneeze.  Meeting turbulent weather on and off, the inhouse magazine has a story on apurva,  movement from cabin to cockpit coming in the past few years. The airline magazine has ads on different indulgences, with a wish stories could be on how they attempt to connect with commoners who have a wish to fly. Perhaps a draw of lot every month for 10 seats won't be asking for more. These 10 seats coming for no charge would be handed to those whose name appear in the draw of lots and would include those on the margins or dispossessed.  At 5 pm the announcement comes Kolkata 250 km away and would take half an hour to reach. Most interesting part the amount of green cover about seven minutes before landing in Kolkata can’t be seen in any other metro of the country. The green cover is truly moving. Reach Kolkata at 5.32.

As for the flight, most people use lavatory, the objective being to leave it with not enough battery. The one on 30d gets away from his seat quite often and what i can assume he moves to try loo kit.  As one goes past the aerobridge at Kolkata airport, the distance from aerobridge to collection of baggage is fairly long and this is under heavy airconditioning. This can be kept mild for checking costs. Similarly in aircrafts, less fuel would be burnt if ac is kept mild.

Going to Dakshineswar
Book a taxi inside and take another queue to get the taxi number. This can be sorted out by getting the taxi receipt and the number at the same place inside the airport counter. A list of readily available 50 taxis every half an hour/ one hour could be brought to the airport counter so that the passengers desiring to take taxi don't have to stand in queue on two different occasions. I, for one, jumped the second queue apologising to those ahead and behind as i had to leave for Dakshineswar followed by a train to Jasidih. Take taxi for 210rs Dakshineswar on a Saturday evening had a huge rush and i was lucky to gain a glimpse. Even if one does not get to get into the queue, the rear sighting of the Goddess is helpful. Chandra at Dakshineswar temple very helpful. He sits near the shiva temple which is on the right side of the road leading to Dakshineswar .


Shared auto to Bally Halt
From Dakshineswar take shared auto to Bally Halt. A 25 to 30 mts ride to Howrah station which is witness to a fight between two in the coach i am in. Some intervene to pacify them, but none are listening as they had their dose of rum.  Howrah station is fairly congested; foodplaza is alarmingly rented. Have veg fried b/w 55 and 60 rs. Come across one bimal das,  vendor selling soap strips. In Howrah station there are enough going to Muzaffarpur and other destinations in Bihar.

Boarding Jasidih train
As i board the Jasidih train, the train goes all the way to Kathgodam, the sighting of passengers and their sizeable purse makes one wonder whether they made enough savings to board the train with a constant ring to their cell. Here i spot two baraindias, they had seats numbers 49 and 50. But they found it fit to sit opposite me where they could not  get witty. Besides the one seated on left was headed towards Muzaffarpur. He had two to three rings on his fingers and looked to be reserved. Baraindias too were headed to M'pur.  There was another from CBI, who had come to divest one of his relations pursuing a four-year marine course in Pune. The marine boy was simple armed with two cells, probably going to Siwan. As i was making a mental note of passengers with their share of patience, i was in train a little after three, hoping against hope i won't be short of glee. As the train reaches Jasidih, gems are all across hoping they won't be in shadow of their temperamental boss.

Smart phones se kya sikha

Smart phones se kya sikha

According to reports appearing in a section of press, the mobile population(subscription) is expected to reach world population of 7.1 bn this coming September. The report which appeared in page 13 of july 8 2013, showed the prowess of the man to possess mobile and missile. What the figure the mobile subscription tends to reach is seen as a September breach, when the weather in most parts of the world would be by no means docile.

Revelation that is truly revealing
THe revelation that 80 per cent of the handsets would be smart phones by 2015, probably explains these instruments with no sense of innocence would be tried in plenty in places like canteen. That shows majority of handsets would be in hands of those who would wake up to the challenge to get smart failing which in homes and zoos they would exceedingly blurt. With smart phones in hand there would be smart application of mind and muscle, not shying away to lend their support to acts of tussle. Sighting of smart phones would make others declare them as smart entities,  once they step out of home they would display their phones and the inventory. Not one two or three, the smart phones they would possess, it could be in double digit with no remorse on the outgo as cess. They would dispense some of these smart-turning-to-snore phones to their friends-turning-to-foe-and-continuning-to-grow with an understanding that these cells are meant for distribution including to those who ever gave them tension tuition.

What they do and divulge
Knowing fully well that they have been indentified as smart, this tribe would see to it that all they do and divulge is no less than smart. Starting from the smart tea they would take in the morning, they would ensure the bath they take and the bread they break has all smart components, stepping out of homes to their offices and places where they roam they come across smart women and gents. So smart would be their application of mind to acts which are not kind, they would see the battery they recharge is done amidst people with clothes dipped in smart starch. Not only they would be smartly dressed including their vests and briefs which would get a fair degree of attention from their bosses and peers who have their own set of home fears. Smart would be their outlook and gaining ascendancy in affairs of extra maritial would be their own and distant cooks serving in offices and oceans.

Getting smart
Getting smart the launchpad for success, they would see to it the keys to their car and caravan is smart enough to initiate a series of jam. These smart creators would use fuel as long as they find it funny, once they are short of money they would turn to other available honey. As per their wishlist, they would seek smart weather and calendar, not spotting either of the two they would for reasons not known to mankind stop speaking to their vendors. As for travel apart from cars and crawl, in trains and planes, they would seek a seat next to an entity who does not radiate heat. During travels they would elaborate on their feats and furnishings, in the midst of this exercise they would hand out the other party some surprise. As smart phones would be handy enough to operate in different time zones, time would not be a limiting factor for those possessing them and temparament won't be in short supply for those in pursuit of new gems. As we have come to an age where smart phones have become the reigning rage, hail the phones, hail the tunes, we may not have enough resources to meet our basic needs still we pursue to have smart phones and the emanating heat. 

The ride from Delhi to Kolkata

The ride from Delhi

With a seat number 30F in a flight that is supposed to go to Kolkata, the procurement of ticket and preservation of the same had been done with clinical precision. The ticket had been procured from Airline counter with a suggestion coming from a boy manning the desk that getting online tickets are considerably much cheaper than what one gets to gain from the airline counter. The explanation appeared to be somewhat less convincing and as i stepped out of the ticketing lounge and headed towards the bus stand, the thoughts were on the true nature of observation and those mired in oscillation. Again i headed to the airline counter and the lady who had replaced the boy who had been dishing out ticket heavy, spoke in clarity about Kolkata flights and those headed to the city with a degree of creativity. Managed to procure the ticket between 4500 and 4800 rs, the ticket-pricing seem to be in order and more at ease it could be had it been secured a little over 15 days when there was enough breeze.

With the ticket taken and temperature of those willing to take and spread their tale recorded, thoughts went on two gentlemen, one hailing from northeast and another flying after a two day interval to the south to participate in a feast. Both were taking snacks when i broached the scale of admiration i have for these places and the people appearing striking fit with striking shoe laces. As i stepped out after paying the exact amount, not a rupee more, not a rupee less, i was more concerned about bus connectivity and its configuration. One of the DTC personnel gave directions on time the bus would come and the amount of time it would run. With Dhaula Kuan reached, it was time to ponder whether this spell of rain would bring fore the drainage leak. Soon after i took auto for S J Enclave, hoping against hope the next day travel would have something to unravel. The next day a little after 1.20 pm i set out for airport sighting none on the way who flashed their visiting card attached to their coat. The last day experience on Delhi's ring road had been painful to say the least so this time round i settled for outer ring road, perhaps they call it that way to see less of a traffic, with the temperatures of those caught in the snarl going up and down, making the entire exercise by no means therapeutic.
When i reached it was a little after 2pm breach, breathtaking was the sight of those who had come padded up with rose. As i made an attempt to step inside, the guard told me to show the real identity card, showing xerox is as if you have not taken your bath. Days when people may be short of identity card and carrying xerox which has a durable clarity, are we to expect they would be dismissed and debarred. As i showed the indentity with a guarantee, the gesture suggested i could step inside even if i never desired to be a company rep.

After the window seat was given, i knew the sole baggage had to be checked in as it carried savlon and no other gin. Soon i serached for landline and there were some who had been kind enough to keep the lines open for all these years and had been receiving the much-deired cheers. Post security i stepped in a lounge that had travellers split among those who had willed their wealth and those taking precautions to keep handy health. As for water for which you don't need to whisper, i tried from a tap placed probably near the loo and the way you could take it was somewhat difficult. I left the idea and came across two men , one hailing from Solan in Himachal and another from Ballia in UP who had dealing in handing out food stuff that came for a sizeable rupee. After meeting them and memorising others who could be potential gems, i took a seat and considering the air conditioning could be kept mild - it was mild by a degree- so that people and perspiration are seen two sides of the life file.

Announcements were being made for flights to Bangalore and Srinagar, some happy to note that they were under a roof with a sizeable cover. The thick attendance in the airport premises that was not to be seen had shown the economy had begun to lose sheen, howsoever hard you may try to get fdi there would be more intuitive tents coming from departments like hawa hawai. fdi aaj hai kal nahin, fdi ke bal par kaun si sena jawa rahi.  Some were talking about gas pricing and how farce it looked the entire exercise of getting into global racing.  As announcement came to board amidst no sighting of breeze, the airline bus had kept ac effectively high for long adding to the cost and taking away the crown. With 30f the seat and the entry from backside, i could see some cabin crew talking about chennai, a city with a four set of clue. Lucky enough to have a spare seat  next to me, gave an opportunity to speak to myself but i desisted as it was not a home turf.  Indian oil tanker getting the tank filled, one wonders when would barter system would emerge, we would give grains and in exchange take oil range. It was a Saturday with terminal One looking robust with a little less appeal, probably it would be to do with crawl zeal. As the flight took off, in 75 seconds i spot Qutub Minar and hope its retains ita aura and ascend.

Visiting Qutub Minar

Visiting Qutub Minar

If you have been living in Delhi for fairly long and wish to visit a monument with neat surroundings, Qutub Minar is the ideal choice. On a Monday a little after 9 in the morning i set out for Qutub Minar. A walk of nearly one and a half kms to the metro station brought the much-needed momentum to Qutub Minar discovery. Amidst morning office crowd the coaches had plenty of space to move and murmur. It would have taken 15 to 20 minutes to reach Qutub Minar station. As you step out of station, there are autos that take you to the monument. I decide to take a bus which one can access from the other side of the road. Before boarding perhaps 715 i was in a conversation with one Arvind Kumar where both agreed on the oil that we import and the number of vehicles that were going past us on either side of the road looked to be a picture of no justification. The bus stand where we were standing perhaps never existed in the late 70s when we used to go to Chhatarpur. The road of that period and the road of today looking a shade better had a similar ring of limited width. In the late 70s the traffic was next to nil and there was no mention of breathing space the road needed to be handed out.

There was another young lad at the stop who veered to the view that perhaps 715 goes to Qutub Minar. The bus taken and the crowd looking even, it took barely five minutes to reach Qutub Minar. Alighting from the bus i come across one or two vendors dealing with maps. The ticket counter is on the other side of the road, namely three counters, one for indians, other for foreigners and in middle of this a tourist guide counter. The entry ticket came for rs 10 and from the ticket counter the entry gate is barely 50 metres. As you enter the first sight is of a manicured garden on the left and on right is a book corner; the display boards have books on Qutub Minar and other monuments. From here you have to turn left, go straight and turn right. Once you come face to face with Qutub Minar, you look at the height and the aura that encircles it. Taking a round of the monument, the gate that led to stairs has been closed for the past 30 years. I can faintly remember an unfortunate incident happening in 1982, last year the papers were full with that story and the lapses. What i have been told is that the gate is opened and stairs cleaned right up to the top once in three four days.

In 1982 and before when one had the advantage to go to the top, one could see swathes of Delhi and sentiments of significance. I made two rounds of the monument and noticing among bricks one etched with 1.6.68 date. As you go further and turn right beyond noticeable chambers is a courtyard laden with two well spread trees. The grass in the entire space, one can sit and summon thoughts on how magnificent is Qutub Minar and how every effort should be made to keep it strong and soaring. There are other chambers that houses mausoleum. You look for a pillar where people used to meet both of their hands with a wish on their lips. That act has been debarred as railings have been put but the pillar looks to be little dilapidated.
In the entire area what looks mesmerising is not only Qutub Minar but a score of gardens maintained to perfection. Before departing i take one more look at the Minar and whatever good you could say about it is said with best confidence. Before stepping out i take a seat on a bench which is near Mughal Garden. A word or two with assembled people, i leave the place. I take a return ride to Qutub Minar station in an auto; the fare coming for 10rs.

According to a board noting, Qutab Minar is 14.32 m diameter at base, 22.75 is its diameter at top. Ht 72.5 m , 379 steps 238 ft ht is of Qutub Minar,  5ft taller is Taj Mahal at 243 ft. Lalkot was first among 7 legendary cities of Delhi. .
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The walk from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala

The walk from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala

On a Monday from Alipiri Gate i start at 10.25 and reach the temple complex at 10.35 from where i write the prayers. After having written the prayers, effectively i start from Alipiri Gate and its roundabout at 10.58. Past 300 steps at 11.04, 600 steps at 11.10, reach Golu Gopuram (little over 2000 steps) at 11.42. Mind you the first 2000 steps are too steep and whoever intends to do it should wish for a robust health.  After a brief halt including taking the Golu Gopuram ticket, which would enable me free darshan, as i proceed for the next 10 minutes it is a little steep. On the way i come across a large number of vendors, one young lady selling her wares whom i give a picture of the Lord. The expression on the face conveys probably she was waiting for me to hand her the picture of the Lord. Then there were a series of those with weighing machines with whom i exchange hopes and endurance.

Reach Hanuman statue at 12.30. There are a series of stalls having photographers and the one whom i access is a new one and here i find it difficult to stand for long in the Sun. Start from here at 12.48 and going past another Hanuman temple. Just before they put a stamp on your Golu Gopuram ticket, prasadam is being distributed. Skipping prasadam is a better option as i have a wish to complete the trek in three or little under three hours. As we near steps to descend and reach a winding road, there is another temple besides the road. About 500 to 700 metres from here you have more steps to ascend, as steep as the steps in the first hour. Past steps on the back of enduring strength i am in vicinity of gardens, the entry and exit point of Tirumala. Here a TTD water tanker can be seen parked. The place which i consider the final point of trek is opposite the Balaji bus stand and i am here at 1.58. Effectively three hours, with a noting i was in the best of health as i have been in 2010 and 2011 when i walked from Alipiri Gate to Tirumala on innumerable occasions. Skipping prasadam on offer as i have to watch out for time that i have at my disposal. Near the balaji bus stand i take a series of tea glasses; some effectively strong, some bordering on mild canvas.