Abboor

Time: March 28 2009
Place: Abboor, Kanva reservoir
Company: Relatives
Highlights: A family function at one of the most strictest Mutts! Abboor is located about 70 kms from Bangalore. Deviation has to be taken at Chennapatna on the road which goes between 2 playground fields; Right turn if you are heading from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore road.

The Mutt hosts Brahmanya Theertha Swamiji's Brindavan. Brahmanya Theertha Seer is the guru of Vysaraja Swami. The Mutt is extremely orthodox. Allowed inside only if men wear dhoti and if women wear saree. Even girl childs are asked to wear bangles and bindi in the true Indian style. The Mutt also is in a dilapidated condition and as can be expected, there is no lavatory facilities although food is well prepared and is very tasty.

One of my cousin had hosted a surprise 60th year celebration of her mother and it was a family get together. There is a also a cave nearby (4-5 kms of walk) with a great view but we couldnt go as the road was dug at many places and it seemed risky to drive the car on it and it was too hot to walk/climb. I have only heard about it but havent had the chance to see it myself.

From there, we went to Kengel Hanumantha Temple which is on the way back to Bangalore on Mysore-Bangalore road . Beside this temple, is the 8-km horrible road to Kanva reservoir. The reservoir is beautiful, with a panaromic view of the water and a cool zephyr. A construction is going on at Kanva reservoir which is why this route had to be taken. Else, there is a separate road to Kanva from Abboor. Spent some nice time there and headed back home.

My second time at Abboor and Kanva. Last time I had been there was almost 20 years ago.

Pancharathna

Time: January 2007
Place: Thiruvarur (aka Thiruvayyaru), Thanjavur
Company: Parents
Highlights:

Had planned the trip so as to be at Thiruvayyaru on Saint Thyagaraja's Memorial Day (which usually comes in January). On this day, his popular Pancharathna Kritis will be mass-sung by renowned Carnatic professionals. Wanted to be here since a very long time and at last, dream was fulfilled!

Came from Bangalore in the overnight train to Thanjavur. Refreshed at a hotel, and took a bus to Thiruvarur. Thence, had to walk quite some distance to arrive at the place where the actual singing happens. It was jam-packed by 9 am, and considering that there is no accomodation at Thiruvarur, almost everyone had come from Thanjavur.

Once the Pancharathna Kritis were sung, there was a sudden rush towards the Thyagaraja Temple. Visited the temple and the house in which the great musician had stayed.

Returned back to Thanjavur and visited the massive Brihadeeshwara temple. It is a superb temple with beautiful carvings and huge structures all around. Recently saw a documentary on Nat Geo which informed how Rajaraja constructed this beautiful temple without any modern technology. It was mind blowing.

Then went to a small hamlet where Saint Sri Raghavendra Swamy of Manthralayam had gained the Sainthood by his Guru. It is a beautiful Mutt in the middle of lush greenery, and a very sacred place.

I returned back to Bangalore whereas parents continued on to Kumbakonam.

Manthralayam

Time: Mar 7 2009
Place: Manthralayam, Venisompur
Company: Parents & wife
Highlights:

Day 0:

Left to Manthralayam Road from Bangalore in Hampi Express at 10:30 pm.

Day 1:

Reached Manthralayam Road Railway Station at 8 am. Took the bus to Manthralayam. Checked in at a hotel. Went to Tungabhadra river for bath. Hardly any water. Then went to Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. Easy darshan, especially because it was Ekadasi.

Then went to Venisompur, which is 35 kms away, in Scorpio, given to us temporarily by a relative in Manthralayam. Had last been to this tiny village some 24 years ago. Remembered traveling in a bullock cart then, and now, was sitting in an AC SUV!

Venisompur is a small hamlet consisting of very few houses (one of them being our relative’s) and a nice temple. Temple consists of Vyasathathwagna Swami’s Brindavan, Santhaana Gopalakrishna idol (placed by former) and Shodashabahu (16 hands) Narasimha idol ripping apart Hiranya Kashipu. Interesting to note that Vyasathathwagna seer was only 6 generations above the current folks (our relatives) staying at Venisompur.

Back to Manthralayam. Rest. One more visit to the Mutt.

Left at 8.30 pm back to Manthralayam Road Railway Station. Just missed the 8.30 pm bus and so, had to take the auto. Lots of flies and mosquitos at the station. Finally, Udyan Express rolled onto the station at 10.40 pm, 40 minutes late.

Day 2:

Reached Bangalore on time at 8.50 am.

616

Time: Feb 27 - Mar 1 2009

Place: Mulbagal, Kanipakam, Srinivasa Mangapuram, Tirumala, Sri Vari Padagalu, Shila Thoranam, Horsley Hills, Kaivara

Company: Parents & wife

Highlights:

Day 1:

Left Bangalore at 9 am in own Alto.
Since it was Friday, a working day, got stuck in the traffic.
Reached Woody’s near Kolar at about 11 am (as we always do). Light breakfast.
Next stopped at Mulbagal Sripadaraja Mutt (as we always do) for a quick visit. Went to Kanipakam. My first visit. Amazing thing about the idol is that it is growing! Nice story to go with it.
Had light snacks on roadside beside a tree. Very pleasant. Had made a vow to have meals only after darshan.
Then went to Srinivasa Mangapuram. Again, my first visit. Very beautiful idol of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. A ditto of Lord Tirumala but with less crowd and no one to jostle the pilgrims.
Then, climbed the Tirumala hill in car.
Got ourselves a room at Uttaradi Mutt.
Got into the Rs 50 queue at 5.30 pm. (we had booked the tickets couple of weeks ago).
A new management at Tirumala now makes pilgrims sit at the entrance of the queue itself instead of within the semi-circular stack of rooms where at least basic toilet facilities exist. After 2 hours of this ordeal, we were then asked to sit inside the semi-circular stack of rooms. Light lunch was wearing out on us and we were feeling hungry but there were no vendors inside (as earlier). Thankfully, after 2 more hours of wait, we were ushered into the bottleneck of sanctum sanctorum. After much pushing and jostling, when mind can least think pleasantly about the Lord, we were out before we even realised it, at about 11 pm. Managed to get to a hotel where we could get a decent dinner.

Day 2:

Up at 7 am. Bath at Pushkarni which is bleached and is now a very nice place to have bath. Varaha Temple. Breakfast. For the first time, went to Sri Vari Padagalu, which is almost atop the Tirumala peak. It is about 5-7 kms from the temple of Tirumala. A wonderful view of the Tirumala town. For our luck, we glimpsed the actual pooja of the Lord’s feet.
On our way down, we visited Shila Thorana (again, my first time) which is in the Rock garden. It is nothing but a geological wonder resembling rock garland. A rare scene. Also, upon climbing down steps and climbing up some steps, we get to see the Shiva idol. A nice place, this too, in the thick jungle and in the midst of rocks.
Checked out of the room, left Tirumala and reached Tirupati. Had to visit a relative in Tirupati.
Had plans of going to Narayanavana and Padmavathi Patnam but realized that we had to be at the Sunset View point in Horsley Hills at sunset and it was already 2.30 pm. That left about 4 hours with 130 odd kms on an unknown road.
As it turned out, it became a race against time. With me pumping real hard on the accelerator wherever the road was good, we went to Horsley Hills via Pileru and Madanapalli. Although road is good, it sometimes is annoying as there a lot of dug-outs.
Finally reached Horsley Hills (my second time)(considered as Andhra Pradesh's Ooty) and also the sunset point just as the sun set. We had a glimpse of the setting sun for about 5 minutes and it was a sight to cherish! Four hours of fast drive, missing lunch and missing the evening coffee was all really worth it!
Got ourselves a room and had a relaxed time at the small-time resort.

Day 3:

Up by 7 am for a walk in the morning mountain air! Breakfast was an expensive buffet, so skipped it and had our assortment of snacks. Visited the zoological garden at Horsley Hills and left to Bangalore.
There is a short but bad road via Chintamani road which is 165 kms and there is a long but good road via Palamaner and the usual NH4 road back to Bangalore which is 265 kms. We chose the 165 kms. All of them took turns driving.
On our way, we found Kaivara (my first time) and visited Kaivara temple. An amazing idol here too, resembling Karighatta and Kalhalli.
Since we did not find any good hotels, we skipped lunch for the third day in succession and reached home at 5 pm.

Overall, traveled 616 kms, and thereby also completed this year's Tirumala trip quota! Feb 27th, by the way, was my parents’ 34th wedding anniversary and my dad’s 64th birthday!