Again to Srisailam

This time, I went to Srisailam with my parents. Started for the 1pm bus on 24 Dec 2011 and reached there by 6.30pm. It was again a successful trip though not thoroughly planned!! Thanks to Amarnath for helping in all the arrangements including the accomodation, puja, sight seeing and return journey.

We got accomodation in Gouri Sadan. (Non-AC room - Rs.400 a day - two day advance paid) The rooms are neatly maintained and the rent is moderate. We had our initial darshan ( Dhooldarshanam ) once we got freshed up in the room. After finishing the darshan, we had our dinner at Apoorva Hotel. Then back to room for rest. I went to Amarnath's quarter and played caroms with his roommate Prashant for one hour and lost all games except the first one :).

Next morning got up and went for mangalahaarathi darshanam(Rs200 per head) at 5am. After that, performed abhishekam at Mallikarjuna Swami temple (Rs.1000 per couple) then Kunkumaarchana at Bhramarama temple. Then lit "laksha vattula deepam" there.

Thanks to Amarnath again, we were out by 7.30am after performing those pujas in the temple. After that, we had breakfast - delicious Pesarattupma then started for Akka mahadevi guhalu. Went to ropeway counter and through that we reached paataalaganga - place where the boats will start to akka mahadevi temple. From there, we started off in a boat. It was a 1hour journey - 16Km one way. (Fare- Rs230 (180+50) per head including to & fro ropeway fare.)

We spent about an hour there and returned again. Once we are back, we had our lunch at Ganga Restaurant (Meals @ Rs50 per head). Then we booked an auto for four of us(me, my parents and amarnath) for Rs 250 - to take to Sikharam, Sakshi Ganapathi, Hatakeswaram, Phaaladhaara & Panchadhaara. After completing this, we reached our room by 6.30pm on Dec 25, 2011. Me and Amarnath went for getting our return ticket. The local boy Srinu helped in getting that through his uncle. All was well and good. Checked out the room at 8pm and had our dinner at Apoorva hotel again. We started to Srisailam bus stand and bus started at 10pm. The next day morning, we reached home by 4am.

All in all, its a smooth and pleasant journey I had with my parents with no problem in anything.

Expenses:

Onward Fare: 206*3=624

Return Fare: 200*3=600

Abhishekam: 1000

Kunkumaarchana: 350

MangalaHaarati darshanam: 200*3=600

Room rent: 400

Rope Way Fare: (one way) 40*4=160

Boat to Akkamahadevi temple: 180*4=720

Local Auto - sight seeing: 250

Food expenses: 1000

One day Trip To Srisailam

Srisailam Temple Entrance

Start Date: 01-Jul-2011, 11.45PM

Return Date: 02-Jul-2011, 10.00PM

A journey which I thought would be of the college times outing types has started on a nervous note. Bus was expected to depart at 11.45PM and I started to home from office only at 8.30PM on my dad's old bike of mid 90s. I managed really well in reaching home by 9.30PM and started to Bus station by 10.45PM.

All this while, I was thinking of what all things to be done. Basically I was planning about the next day though I know the fact that plans always stay as plans and something else will be implemented(inspired by IT SDLC). Fortunately for us, none of our group of 12 have given any shocks like last minute dropout or being late. And shockingly, the bus started ten minutes before scheduled time (all passengers have arrived before time in HYD and reported at MGBS is definitely a wonder - Importantly, bus also arrived at right time!!!!!)
The plan was to reach Srisailam by morning (as early/late as the bus takes us there!!) and have early Darshan. As soon as this is done, then to go to all places around and for boating..

The journey went this way...
Myself: Was busying typing messages, sending my journey status to dad and letting him know of the whereabouts of the bus and just before I go to sleep switching off mobile. Besides the status updates :), was taking some photographs here and there. At the checkpost near Nallamala forest (70Km from Srisailam), I had a beautiful experience when I slept (only for thirty minutes though) under a neem tree while other friends have returned to bus. That is something we cannot explain in words.. Slept hardly for two hours when the bus was taking us
from Hyd to this checkpost.

A status Call was in progress !!! :) we were about to reach Srisailam

At the checkpost, I had a nice ginger Tea at 4.00AM reminded me of the days when I used to drink the morning Tea with my grandfather at 4 or so in the mornings. The temperature was as low as 10 degrees with a very cold breeze taking away from us the dead dusts of our city life and soothing us as if we were taken into the laps of THE MOTHER - Nature!!..


Besides the regular darshan along with friends, I was lucky to have a special darshan, thanks to Amarnath, and have managed to touch the Lingam. It was my second visit to Srisailam and in both the occasions I was lucky to have a similar experience both the times.


Pulin: He was spl throughout the journey. As soon as the bus started, we (all except Pulin) started to talk in the bus and He feel asleep as soon as he got into the bus. Everyone else got down at checkpost but he stayed back in bus and slept. In the morning, when we were supposed to take darshan, he disappeared like a flash of light and he went to the dam for taking the bath...

Bus didn't even start and he was into deeeeeeeeep sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Srikant: The one who is going to lose the title of bachelor soon - what do you expect him to be doing :) other than to be spotted on mobile!! But, he enjoyed, I believe, the entire journey and the trip.

Jai Jai Ganesha.. Jai kodata ganesha...
Subbu, Srikant, Me

KP: He would have done really well if he has Sai with him. :) Probably was thinking about SLAs and client meeting, he took a nice formal pant and shirt to wear for darshan :). After all, Shiva (Mallikarjuna Swami) is the BigBOSS of all. First time , we didn't hear something like " Sare Sai" OR "Sare Sir" from him for a full day!!!! May be practicing for future!! :P

I miss you Sai... I really miss you ^_^

VP: Best of the Twelve in the company - in terms of enjoying the trip. Made most of the time in the travel by enjoying the beauty of nature and He is one of the best to be with!!!! No doubt about that - a girl like Her :P have run behind u. :):)

Nenu.... Naa mokka...

Digvijay, Rohit & Rajendra: You three were in my view like Triplets. But Rohit enjoyed my telugu while I enjoyed his hindi :P:P. Rajendra and Digvijay - you were as quiet as I expected :). And in my absence, I believe they have come out the quiet shell.. But, there were few hindi words I couldnt listen for a long time, was able to hear thanks to Rohit :P

Not even one of them know Telugu ^_^..
(Rohit, Digvijay, Rajendra & my Fav Pulin)

Himanshu, Subbu, Mahesh, Surya - Vizag Gang: typical Vizag gang!! :) No matter where we are, we need fun and we need double meaning dialogues. :) Srisailam is no spare for us!!!

(Srikant, Digvijay, Surya, Mahesh, Himanshu, VP, Subbu)

The best parts of the journey were (Bullet Points)

• When Surya was taking his bath, and bus started from checkpost!!!


• Waiting for Pulin to reach out for Darshan..


• Going to Patala ganga by walk -- 700+ steps ... an experience which will make us shiver even after years!! :P But would have been much better if all twelve have come by steps to patala ganga (four of them came by Ropeway)


• Begging near Phaladhaara and Panchadhaara.


• Taste of Nelavemu plant leaves


• The Darshan


• Sleeping under the Neem tree


• Walking in the Vanamalika at 3.15AM


• Twelve of us going for boat ride with 11 tickets!! :)


• The way we relaxed in park after returning from Patala Ganga


• "Oil Joke" of Subbu ^_^..


• Same bus for to and fro and same bus driver


• Sunnipenta, domala penta and eegalapenta - names of the villages (Penta means ANGADI in chenchu tribes language).


• It was second day after hiking the Laddu price from 5Rupees to 10 (80gr to 100gr weight).


• And a golden gaja sthambham was being constructed!!!

Places visited:

• Mallikarjuna Swami Temple and Bhramaramba Temple


• Vriddha Mallikarjuna lingam


• Hatakeswaram:


• Phaladhara & Panchadhara


• Patalaganga Dam and boat journey


• Sakshi Ganapati


• Sikharam


• Achchampet check post

To be visited next time:

1. Ista Kameswari


2. Akkammadevi guhalu by boat (16KM - starts at 10AM and returns only by 3PM, Rs 230 per head)


3. Water falls

Near Sakshi Ganapati

Near Phaladhara Panchadhara

Near Nandi..

A joyful trip to PapiKondalu

Dec 24,2010 : a meeting between SRK, HCR, VVS about the trip to Papikondalu. We never knew that it is going to be one of the most adventureous trips. The plan is straightforward.

• 
  
  We would be starting from Hyd to Rajahmundry by bus on 24th - evening at 4.30PM.
  


• 
  
  We will reach Rajamundry latest by 4.30AM the next morning.
  


• 
  
  Fresh-up and get to the boat - then enjoy the boat ride till papikondalu.
  


• 
  
  From there, on the same boat to Bhadrachalam by end of that day, i.e. 25th Dec 2010.
  


• 
  
  Have Darshan at Bhadrachalam on 26th and leave to Khammam by 5PM to catch the Hyd bus in Khammam scheduled to leave at 11.30PM

If everything goes fine, this trip is nothing but a five bulletted points as mentioned above. But, there we have so many twists and turns coupled with adventures....

We got signals from GOD well before starting our journey that its not going to be a plain pleasure trip. To get into the actuals ---

TIME:4.30PM, Dec 24-2010

I got a call from HCR - as usual in a hurrying tone - asking me about where I was. By the time he along with SRK, was in SR Nagar bus stop where they were supposed to board the bus. I was at home and was supposed to board the bus once it comes to Lakdikapul at 5.15PM. Few minutes later, I got a call from HCR again - in a hurryesting (superlative for hurrying :P) tone - asking where I was. Answer was same. Response from him was different this time :) Twist #01: the bus got cancelled, we have to go to MGBS to take alternative bus. So, they came in auto and we three went to MGBS. By 5.15PM we were at MGBS only to find some more passengers waiting for the same alternative bus and one guy fighting hard with the RTC staff.

The minimum journey time to reach Rajahmundry from Hyderabad BY RTC BUS :) will be 11 Hours. And we waited that day in MGBS for an alternative bus till 8.20PM asking the station master about the status. We were supposed to report at Rajahmundry at 7.30AM for on-boarding boat. Otherwise, the reservation gets cancelled and there will be no refund of ticket cost. Though smiling, joking SRK and me were also in line with HCR - nervous about the journey status. Finally, we came to know at 8.20PM that a bus in entering into MGBS. Some happiness flew in hearts that finally we would be getting into bus at least (by that time, we were not sure whether we can catch the boat.). Bus came to platform at 8.45PM and we boarded it immediately. And to increase our tension - the driver was waiting for someone to board. We went to driver and told him that if late, we will miss the boat. So, we requested him to ensure we will reach Rajahmundry by 6.30AM or before that. And the driver was very confident that its not going to happen :):). We finally started off from MGBS at 9.05PM and we had a short dinner break at 11.00PM. The driver really took care of our request and tried his best to such an extent that by 5.30AM we observed that we were just one hour away from Rajahmundry. But we are able to observe it because, TWIST#02 the brokedown near a milestone(near Kappalagutta village) which suggested that Rajamundry was 60KM away. This was not a Highway route, so no alternative bus was seen. Then came a lorry and we three got into it with the help and co-operation of fellow-passengers :). THEN the real tension started :P what if the alternative bus comes and picks the rest of passengers and leaves - the most painful part will be when that bus overtakes our lorry (we were going like a jet plane which was in rest). Fortunately, we reached a near by town - Nallajerla and from there we got into another bus to Rajahmundry. We finally reached our destination by 7.30AM sharp.

From there it took one more hour of bus journey to reach to the boat. In this bus, along with three of us, there was also a small family of 23 member :P:P. We also joined them and the journey was all good where we sung songs and some parody songs by RK really made us feel it a pleasant part of journey.

One day visit to Shirdi

Date: 4Feb,2011
Time: 5.10PM
Place: Secunderabad Railway Station
17002(/17701 return) train number - Secunderabad to Manmad

Unlike our previous journey, me and my brother - we have planned much earlier. In general, we succeed only in unplanned trips and travels. But this time, its one month before we planned that we will go to Shirdi and booked tickets as well.

Journey started with no surprises (we both had a handful of surprising/shocking incidents during our earlier trips). Probably its the signals from BABA that the journey is going to be pleasant and calm. And very nice entertainment started for us when two small kids entered the train.

Since it was a journey that started as soon as i was back from office, I preferred to sleep early and could play with those kids only for three hours. We took ticket till Sai Nagar Shirdi (recently developed railway station for Shirdi) but we got down at Nagarsol(it takes 1hour by road from this place to Shirdi where as by train - its three hours). And got into an auto to Shirdi. We were in Shirdi by 8AM Feb 5, 2011. We took a room and got freshed up by 9 to have early darshan - since it was a weekend, it will be too crowded. Another reason being that the hot water will be available only till 9AM :) . We got into the darshan queue by 9.05Am and were done with the darshan by 9.45AM (if we come by train from Nagarsol, we would still have been in train).

Normally, I think of asking for wishes to God but will drop out from asking sometimes and will forget sometimes. First time ever in my life, I didn't forget to ask my wish to God.

As soon as the darshan was over, we came out and offered prayers to the Neem tree which Baba used to say that it was his Guru. From there, we started back to room and by this time -- the most important part in our daily routine - you guessed it right :) :) - the Food :). It was time to have breakfast and here I should say something about our dinner in train, the previous day. ***We have to struggle a lot to believe that "what was served in train can be called as food" :):). *** So, Mom kept Pulihora for dinner. But then, the mishap happend. The Pulihora - to our bad luck - was prepared of "broken rice" which is difficult to eat.

######## start of "For telugus only" ##########

"amma... adakkunda pulihora pettav, kaani endukamma nookato chesi pettav -- aina nuvvu maaku nachaav.. " -- Famous telugu comedy dialogue. ani anukuni, nenu annayya navvukuni - edo koncham koncham tini, migilinadi - - memu food waste cheyaledu - paareyaledu, arey nijamgaane!!!

######## End of "For telugus only" ##########

Pls excuse me - I'm habituated with these coding standards and rules :):)

After that mishap, we must have a nice breakfast and we had. I tried the local food (aloo parota - my fav too) and my brother had Puri. Here - I did a small role play - Swami GOODFOODananda maharaj with my brother being the only audience, critic and everything except Swamiji.

//ROLE PLAY BEGINS
Swamiji says (swamiji never uses I :P) when we go to a new place, we should take only their food and shouldn't ask for our native food items. Its equal to killing our appetite. Ask for their food - you can know their culture, quality can be expected and can sometimes be delicious to you. If you ask for your food, which they may not know to cook - may spoil it and may spoil your stomach also.
//ROLE PLAY IS OVER.

As soon as we are done with our breakfast, we went out for some shopping in the most busiest street in Shirdi :) - its quite adjacent to the temple premises.


During our few min shopping, a procession was observed. I asked one of those guys - with the limited hindi vocabulary I had, which MAY mean "what is this for?". And that boy replied very politely with a big smile: "(@#$%$#*@$ Baba*@$#($" (probably pure marathi, i cannot make out even a single word except baba)



Some flashy items in the market... TRUST me - 80% of the items in shops are for girls and women. Out of the 20%, 5% is sweets and the remaining is items to be bought by men for their ladies :)... Indian market depends a lot on women.
No women, No Shopping, No business, No Growth in Economy!!! A universal fact I re-invented.

I am single and free - and all I have in my hands was camera. But see here, my brother - married, only once - but :(:(

Very nice and beautiful flowers - I like them with plants only. Don't like to pluck them off, but like to click the camera....

And here -- one of the best things I observed - Birds of Same Feather :):) The Charity Group.
Girija Cancer Care Foundation volunteers - with so much of patience and dedication were seen there standing for about two hours.

And this is most commonly seen picture in all our cities and towns - children on streets. He is Vicky, he sells Saibaba Idols (you can see in his hand). A chocolate and a snap brought big smile on his face.

As soon as completed our shopping, we wanted to roam and see the town. There we had "Oiltail (cousin to cocktail) sugarcane juice". (sugar cane juice mixed with Kerosene Oil)

Five drops of juice and one drop of Kerosene. :) We fortunately got Oil free (we assumed so..) juice.

And from there to room and then to railway station.

$#$#$# THE LUNCH EPISODE $#$#$#

And we didn't forget to have our lunch. Before we started to railway station, at 3.30PM we had lunch at the same hotel where we had our breakfast. And initialization by server is done (food was served initially). Then, Swami GOODFOODananda Maharaj requested to update the instantiation with new values since previous value was consumed by process ( asked for extra onions). Waiter brought onion pieces in good quantity in a nice glass plate. After few minutes, Swamiji requested for another release to instantiate the same variable(some more onions). The server is exhausted but still managed to bring few onion pieces with a small steel cup. Few moments later, Swamiji asked for instantiating plateRice variable. (requested extra rice) Looked like he lost patience as brought a plateful of rice and poured into Swamiji's plate in a careless way. But SWAMIJI didn't react. Swamiji received it as affection and ate all that is served.

$#$#$# END OF LUNCH EPISODE $#$#$#

And one funny incident to be shared - During our return journey - a fellow passenger asked my elder brother whether I am older to him? and I have strong defending proof for the point she made - below pic says it all.

And normally, when we (me and my brother) go to a new place, we don't leave the place unless we make someone happy for cheating on us. :) :) we help people that way. And just before we get into train in Shirdi - we bought Onions at Rs.180 (they said that bag is of12KG, we doubt) (bought them at Hyderbad rate in Shirdi is what we believe it to be).

A journey - with no shocks or surprises but with loads of fun. Few of them are shared here...

Some Useful Info:

• Onions, Grape, Sugar Cane Products are highly available there. Price not assured to be low though supply is more.
• Lonawala and Jelly chocolates are produced in nearby places.
• When you go by train, prefer to get down at Nagarsol and take share auto or bus to Shirdi. Auto charge Rs.50 per head and it takes exactly one hour(45KM). This will save at least two hours. (applicable for only hyd-shirdi route, not sure about other routes) However if time is not a constraint, going by train is not a problem.
• Shani Shingnapur is a nearby place to visit and it take one and half hours to reach. To and Fro plus one hour to be spent there which makes it a four hour schedule. Jeeps, Wingers are there and they charge Rs.100 per head for To and Fro.
  
• ATMs: SBI ATM inside mandir premises, Andhrabank ATM, Union Bank ATM were there market.
  

A day in Hyderabad

Though I am in Hyderabad for last five years, have been to Charminar only once or twice. And when I met my old friends Suresh and Abhishek, we decided to roam around in Hyderabad. And this was a decision taken in a flash. So, we started from Lakdikapul in the morning by 9AM.

Plan was to cover as many places as we can IN ONE DAY. :) :)

So, we started off to the nearest place to visit - The Birla Mandir. And we are free by 11.30AM.

The Big smiles on faces - Abhishek and Me - we carried the same energies till the EOD.

From there, we had a brisk walk till Legislative Assembly and on the way - I forgot to mention that I was the guide there since I was the senior in Hyderabad amongst three of us - I have shown them the Ravindra Bharati and then Assembly..

Good at giving poses. Don't pretend that you are good!!! :P

From there, we have been to CHARMINAR - The Pride Of Bhagyanagaram. There we had a great fun with some beautiful snaps, beautiful location and some innovative idiotic works!!! :P

I was crowned with Charminar :):)...

There we also bought the ReyBen Glasses - you read it right - its not Ray Ban, its Rey Ben - brother of RayBan :P:P -- these goggles are World Famous in Hyderabad :):)

From there, we have been to Choumahalla Palace. It is a historic proof of the Nijam's taste and the richness of the old times architecture. Here are few snaps with which we tried to capture some of the beauty there..

My HeartThrob - Niloufer. Beauty in black and white pic..

Abhi With Armour

One Of the Beautiful Halls in the Palace.

One of the views in the Palace

And by the way - we played hide and seek :P in this rich palace :)

The Doves near Mecca masjid, Near Charminar.

With loads of fun and energy we continued our way to Falaknuma Palace only to find that it is not open for visitors. But, with these memories and fun (some pictures i cannot share here :P) we returned to my home and had our lunch at 5PM :) and the fun still continued. Coz, it was the first time Abhi having rice. His difficulty to use spoon when having rice was like a Mr. Bean show for me, my parents - who are guiding him on how to eat and my other friend Suresh.