Bhadrachalam visit Sept. 3-4-2016. (Gowri Festival Day)

Having taken a bus pass went around koti and place and purchased pants at
Departure from hyderabad on 3rd or take as 4th at 12.30am

Reached Bhadrachalam on 4th morning. From the RTC bus stand one has to walk through the archway for around 1km to reach the temple. Since the lodges are costly, i went direct to Godavari river and finished bathing and then from there went to a neatby Narasimha temple which is found on way to the Sri Sita Rama temple. I went up there and did sandhyavandane. From here went to the main temple and took a ticket for Antaralaya Darshan and went inside direct and peacefully had a very good darshan of lord sri rama and his parivar.
It was quite fulfilling at last to have had this darshan after postponing this trip for quite sometime. Also hadAnna prasadam (the token. Here also it starts around 10am like in kanakadurga temple).

From here went to Annadana chatram for prasadam and had a hearty meal. Next was to take a second trip to the godavari river for a relaxation session. From godavari river hired a sharing auto (up-down Rs. 100/-) for visiting Parnashala - Dandakaranya - Vanavasa days.

Nice place with a temple. Its around 45km (one way) from the Main temple. Anyways as usual Matha arranged for my ride sharing my ride with a couple soon to be married, a bangalore native working here in telangana, amd his assistant (total 5 including me plus the auto driver). The drive to parnashala took us to a place first where it was said Sita devi was staying during the monthly event of ladies and here we can find it is claimed saree marking and vastram(uttariyam) of Sri rama (as a dark black line) and small depression in the rock saying where they played a popular game in kannada known as aluguli mane along with a Sri ramas footprint markings. From here went to the parnashala which is right in front of godavari river. They have developed it very nicely and also it has shiva temple along with the Sri rama temple inside one compound. Had a good time and from there came back to Bhadrachalam RTC bus stand. By this time ut had started raining very heavily and i asked the auto drive to drop me directly to the bus stand.

After waiting till 7.45pm got into hyderabad bus. (actually there were 2 buses to hyderabad but didn't go because bith if would have reached hyderabad in midnight.

The journey time in total was 7 and half hours. So it was better to reach early in morning and so choose this time bus.

Points to be noted -

1)Papikondlu is almost one day trip for which tickets are availbale but one has to reach the bhadrachalam temple area by early morning 7 or 7.30am

2) lodges are costly. The central reception and the free chatram is very dirty. Have to try the Haritha lodge (telangana government sponsored).

3)Nitya kalayanotsava in Bhadrachalam very prominent event.

4) Nitya annadana ticket given in main temple itself. For the annadana place one has to come out and walk to the place which is around 3 mins.

5) There is a goshala

6) Motor Boating available - Godavari river.

7) For buses main points

BHADRACHALAM - 7.45pm
KOTTAGUDAM-8.45pm KAMMAM- 11pm
Hyderabad - 3.40am - 5th sept

So a journey started on 4th sept midnight at 12.30am at mgbs successfully completed on 5th Sept early morning 3.40am.

Bhadrachalam - hyderabad = almost 8hours of journey.

KRISHNA PUSHKARA 2016 and JOGULAMBA TEMPLE VISIT

Krishna pushkara is an event that takes place once in 12 years or so when Jupiter enters virgo.

Left hyderabad at 10.30pm having dinner and there got direct bus koti.

From there walked to Mgbs bus stand and there got approached an information booth setup specially for this event and asked them how to visit the jogulamba. I was told to go to kurnool and from there to Alampur to go to Jogulamba which is a shakthipeetam.

Boarded alagadda (ahobhilam) bus and reached kurnool. Started at 12.15am and reached kurnool at 4.30 am.

Here too special bus arrangements are made for people visiting pushkara event.

I got into a bus going to beechupally and will need to go to this place and take PUSHKARA bath here.

It takes 45mins to reach beechupally from kurnool bus stand. On way you get gadwal railway station.

After reaching, had pushkara snanam and also told the pushkara mantra and procedure of throwing sand collected from the bank of the river. Did sandhyvandanam and had darshan of Famous beechupally hamuman temple and also rama and lakshmi hayagreeva along with Matha (saraswarthi) temple and had puliyogre.

Reached bus stand to go to jogulamba temple. From beechupally came to alampur chowrasta (alampur x road) and then got an auto to jogulamba temple. The jogulamba ghat is called gondimalla ghat and this is where krishna river is...

Near the jogulamba temple the tungabhadra river flows which then joins krishna at this the above said gondimalla ghat. From Alampur x road it is around 35 mins journey.

Had wonderful Darshan of Matha jogulamba, sri bala brahmeshwara, and the remaining of nava brahma temples. At around 1.10pm left for kurnool to get a bus back to hyderabad

Homa at Devipuram

Friends , if you have visit to visit Devipuram on occasion like amavasya, full moon day, friday, tuesday etc - please do so, it is sacred to visit devi temples on these occasions.

Also they perform some homa and pooja which might be previously fixed here.

They conduct courses and the like and give deeksha - for more info contact devipuram via their website - http://www.devipuram.com/


Come either to ANAKAPALLE or VIZAG and catch a bus to sabbavaram - on route - get down at Devipuram arch point.

Autos do the needful for transportation for say 200rs

Anyways - do walk around to feel the forest around you.

Its amazing experience - watchout every step while you walk on the road as there are creepy crawlers down.... :)

jai veda matha

SIMHACHALAM and DEVIPURAM VISIT _ VIZAG - JULY2016

One more on the list of my unforgettable experiences is this visit where I visited SIMHACHALAM and DEVIPURAM on the SAME DAY (FRIDAY - JULY 1st) days before my birthday.

Left hyderabad via Navin travels (navinbus.com) and booked a ticket and went to LR nagar via pickup van from the designated pickup point - Old rtc bus stand where i got my monthly bus pass which is opposite to MGBS bus stand.

On way - a person who could not control his urge to pee gave us a little bit of comedy in the journey.

From LR nagar - left for VIZAG - departure ( around ~ 8:15 pm)

Reached VIZAG ( my first ever visit ) early morning at 6:30 - 7 am.

Vizag is beautiful - all around you can see only mountains and stuff and lot of greenary with building lined up downhill.

There some auto wala guided me to the bus stop where i got bus ( god willing) to go directly to the Simhachalam temple on the hill.

After reaching here - took bath at Gangadhara Falls which is source of water falls - went and did sandhyavandam in the tripurantaka swamy ( lord shiva) temple.  which is just nearby to that falls.

Then keeping my luggage in the luggage counter and in dhoti and shawl ( nothing else) went and stood in the free darshan queue.

Once inside had peaceful darshan and the there is special queue ticket here as well.

Rs.200/- for entry into the Garbha gudi -- As i could not have proper darshan - Lord varaha lakshmi narasimha swamy is in the form of Linga covered up with Sri devi and Bhoo devi on the either side, and the nija roopa darshanam happening only on akshya tritiya day , and after giving it a lot of thought and deciding having darshanam is important than money - paid rs.200/- and went inside garbha gudi for darshanam. Had a very good darshanam of the lord varaha narasimha swamy, and then went came out and went for Annaprasadam -

They have unique fingerprint - record - counter - for purpose of counting how many peoplemhad food there. Also there is goshala nearby.

After that - i went to the "GAYATRI PEETHAM" and had darshan of Matha - Veda Matha - who is looking as if made from White shila.

Then via bus came down and went straight to the RTC DWARAKA bus complex ( bus stand) and from there took a bus to Sabbavaram

Sabbavaram is another 1 hour or so journey from the Vizag rtc bus stand and upon reaching there a young college girl helped me by telling me how to reach devipuram from there.

Devipuram entrance is around 20 mins from Sabbavaram bus stop and from the entrance one has to walk in the forest like area to reach the temple.

I took a sharing auto from Sabbavaram to devipuram arch entrance point - paid 10rs

From there walked to the devipuram temple and there had a good darshanam of the devi.

Here there is an entrance fee of 20rs.


First god directed to visit Kamakhya peetham where i could in reality - YONI Shaped lingam temple and it was amazing.  We can touch and pray - there - amazing experience.

From there visit was to Karya Siddhi Ganapati Temple and then MERU SRI CHAKRA TEMPLE which houses all the shakti devis of the srichakaram in their idol form- A unique temple indeed.

I was glad to visit this place - i think god mother made me visit this place - that too on friday - first visit - amazing


Then it was almost 6pm - at 6:30pm  - there is aarathi and then i had nice talk with people running the temple and got some detail about the temple

From there i was invited to have food - annaprasadam - and then i was dropped at the entrance point of the arch  - where i got the bus to ANAKAPALLE bus stand another major point like Eluru.


Here from the bus stand - at a walkable distance -there is a bypass where all the major buses pass via to major other destinations - like hyderabad etc.

Because of this - there are some travel agencies here which operate and book tickets.

I got my ticket booked here (Government services are very costly.) on a private bus and came to hyderabad on the morning of July 2nd and got down at SR nagar bus stop and there went to canara bank and did my pending bank work and came to room around afternoon.


Points to remember

1 - Vizag bus RTC is very far from Simhachalam but there are many many buses to the temple -

2- Onway to bus stand you will find the railway station where the buses stop - at the entrance

3- From simchalam hill base - an arch is there - from there directly catch a bus to Sabbavaram

4- From sabbavaram get a sharing auto - 20mins journey to devipuram arch entrance.

5- To go back to hyderabad or any other place - just come ANAKAPALLE from devipuram arch point i.e. entrance point and go to the bypass and book tickets at the travel agency counter which is cheaper than the government AC service.

Jai veda matha

SHAKTIPEETHAM SRI KANAKA DURGA TEMPLE - VIJAYAWADA - and LORD VENKATESHWARA TEMPLE -DWARAKA TIRUMALA TEMPLE

Jai Veda Matha -

I am writing this post to to give first hand account about my visit to this famous temple. I came across this temple on many website and collected details about it. Also came to know that there is beautiful temple called SRI DWARAKA TIRUMALA TEMPLE which is close to VIJAYAWADA.

I decided to visit both these temples the same day and made proper arrangements and left for Vijayawada. Got bus from MGBS bus stand, Hyderabad. I reached Vijayawada main bus stand at around morning 6 AM and then waited at the outgoing terminal at a platform for Dwaraka Tirumala bus. My plan was to visit Dwaraka tirumala first and then visit Kanaka durga temple later and leave for Hyderabad. But i think god had other plans. I got into the Dwaraka Tirumala bus and by the time it left bus stand and was travelling towards its destination i.e. 5 mins into travel, i got down immediately and went back to the Vijayawada bus stand and then  to the  local bus stand on the other side. To my luck, god sent a bus that is painted yellow and red came in front of me and i got into immediately seeing the board "Sri Durga malleshwara temple" on it. Fantastic - Its a paid service and it takes you to the temple straight. When i reached there, i got into a dilemma and was searching for a place to get ready, like a room. But it seems due to upcoming Krishna Pushkaram, there was demolition and renovation going on. Anyways there is, near the entrance of the pathway where you can see the Golden Shikaram of the Temple, a staircase leading downstairs into free toilets and bathrooms. It was public toilet and bathroom. Anyways, as i was used to getting cold water baths in the hostel already, I decided to take bath (finding no alternate solution and also to save money), and got freshen up and went for Darshan. There was this system, where you have 3 queues :-

1 - Free Darshan - You can view from far away.

2- 20rs Darshan - You can view from the step of the entrance of the shukanasi-garbhagudi

3- 100rs Darshan - You can view from very close.

Ufff............

Anyways  - i stood in free darshan queue and went on and had darshan of Sri Kanaka Durga Mother - It is said that she is none other than the "Sri Chamundeshwari" who to fulfill the wish of here ardent devotee came here and made this hill as her home and because of this Lord Shiva - Malleshwara - also came and settled there with his consort.

The insides are very beautiful with paintings of goddess in all her glory. The deity herself is covered in turmeric i think. She was shining like a golden sun. I had god darshan and then from there moved on to the Lord malleshwara temple which is little downhill and you have to pass by the entrance staircase leading to Annaprasadam centre. I had go dashan of the Lord Shiva here and also other temples in the same complex, and came back to Annaprasadam entrance where there was a quite a long queue.

Blessing was -  i felt mother had started the anna prasadam process very early, i mean as early as - 9:50 am - i waited for my turn in the batch entrance - had prasadam - had darshanam for the second time also - NO RUSH , less people - thats the advantage you see when going on non-peak days and then went on to get my luggage from the luggage counter where i had kept my bag before going inside the temple.

Then went to the bus stop, but it seems i got into a bus that only shuttles between the place down hill where there is facility for tonsure and bath and the top of the hill where the temple is...

Then i went back to top of the hill - bus stand parking - for the second time - then came back down the steps -small hill - about 100 steps or so - visited the temple at the foot of the hills - then took a sharing auto to the bus stand - but to my surprise - the bus stand is very close - by this time it was 1 pm or so... then went to the platform 2 of the outgoing terminal of the bus stand and got into the Dwaraka tirumala bus.

Passing through Eluru, it reaches Bhimadole bus stop after 1 hour or so and from there it is another 20mins journey to the Dwaraka Tirumala temple.

By the time i reached the temple, it was already 4 pm and there was free shuttle bus that was waiting to take us up the hill to the temple.

Went in it and it reaches the backside entrance where you have the shower and tonsure facility. I got down here, there is also a luggage counter here along with the Mobile phone deposit counter which is actually in front of the Cow shed -goshala

Now here i deposited my mobile and the luggage and then went inside and had darshan.

It was a beautiful and peaceful darshan i had. I requested them for some tulsi but they could not give me then. Here also there are 2 queue system

1st queue - Free Darshan - far away - but can have a good sight of god.

2 nd queue - 100rs - nearer  inside the shukanasi  - closer darshan.

Well - i came out - went around the temple - saw the paduka which is at the main entrance of the temple and now it was time to do sandhyavandam - so got my luggage inside the temple - from the main entrance "other side" which is not normally allowed and then changed into the dhoti and did sandhyavadanam on the platform of one of the alwar temple which is beside the counter selling tickets for deeparadanam not the other one where there are selling bronze coins and stuff.

It was fantastic. I went back in dhoti this time for darshan and got some tulsi also. Now that was fulfilled. I readied for my journey back and got into a bus and reached bhimadole junction and from there went to Eluru but couldn't find any reservations for my Hyderabad journey and so deciding to put an end to all confusion, went straight back to Vijayawada and got into a bus without reservation to Hyderabad and reached the morning day after early morning.


Points to remember : -

1-  Next time better go to Dwaraka Tirumala first - dont know if they have Annaprasadam - think they have and then come back to Vijayawada.

2- From Vijayawada bus stand it is near to the hill base of the Sri Kanaka Durga temple.

3 - Always take direct buses instead of cut short journeys to save money.

Jai veda Matha......   :)

Visit to AHOBHILAM - Fantastic Experience

May 2016  - To fulfill my long standing desire to visit this divine place, I made some time for myself and after doing some research on bus timings, routes, places to visit etc - started on my journey.

Divinity guided me to right place and at right time and I had the pleasure of visiting of major places but unfortunately missed one temple out of nine and also the main stay of the legend of Ahobhilam


Heres what you need to do if you plan to visit this place,

1) From whereever you are staying - take a bus - to ALLAGADDA -  this is the nearest point to ahobhilam and this is the bus stop or place from where you get the government bus at regular intervals to the temple straight.

2) I started from MGBS bus stand from Hyderabad - 389/- Ultra Deluxe bus direct to ALLAGADDA

It will pass through Kurnool and Nandyal ( Mahanandi temple is near here ) and reach ALLAGADDA around 6 am or 7 am in the morning.

3) There take some break and by that time, bus going direct to AHOBHILAM temple will come. It will cost you 16/- one way journey. Autos are very costly and go upto 300 to 500/- for the same trip.

4) It will be 45 min journey from ALLAGADDA to AHOBHILAM

5) On reaching ahobhilam - either book a room below - or go straight to EGUVA or UPPER AHOBHILAM and there is "Brahmana nitya Annadana Chatram" which will provide room for nominal cost and also nearby is the falls - just walk a little further and can take bath there itself but waters in summer will be less and people will be more. So think about it.

There will be shared autos and charge you around 20/-30/- per head one way trip

6) If planning to stay in the brahmana nitya annadana chatram - tell them in advance if you plan to have lunch there. They will prepare and serve freshly prepared meals for the number of people indicated by you before the start of your trek to temples.

7) Hire a guide if you are new or else there will be people to guide you. Mostly it is forest area trek but at places there are steps and bridges.

8) Upper Ahobhilam -

a) Ugra Narasimha
b)Varaha Krodha  Narasimha
c)Jwala Narasimha - MAIN - Hiranya kashyapu was slayed by this avatar.

Near this temple which is at the Highest point - you will find the "Rakta Kundam" and the "Ugra Stambham(Lord came out of this pillar - legend says)"

d) Malola Narasimha

Rakta kundam - is just near the entrance of Jwala Narasimha Swamy temple and also ugra stambham. 

To climb to Ugra Stambham - you need energy - the day i started my journey - it rained veryheavily and hence my guide told me not to go there in this visit as rocks will be slippery. There is said to be paduka of lord who just came out the pillar to save prahalada.

To finish this trek of these four temples - it will need 2-3 hours depending on your ability , age and experience

-----------

We have to come back via the  said brahmana nitya annadana chatram route only again. The trek is like a pradakshina and begins and ends at ugra narasimha temple

Having meals at the chatram is satisfying and good Andhra type meals is provided and also they speak kannada very well in many temples and places.

Now from this point leave for lower ahobhilam that is the place where you got down from the bus - bus stop of ahobhilam

On way you will find the Karanja Naramsimha swamy temple


So totally - you have completed 5 temples.


Once you are back at the bus stop - talk with the auto guys to take you the remaining temples - bargain hard - maybe within 200/- or 150/- is good.

Lower Ahobhilam

1) Yogananda Narasimha
2)Chatravata Narasimha

These 2 temples are very close by.

3) Bhargava Narasimha - Reaching this temple need patience - because there is no road and only auto or jeep goes there. the road starts from bus stand and goes inside the forest.

This temple is also on a small hillock having 50 steps. But totally worth it. There is bhargava tirtham right in front of the temple.

4) Pavana Naramsimha temple - This is most diffcult. From upper ahobhilam - if willing to walk it will take you to climb around 800-900 steps - through the forest.

OR from lower ahobhilam - you can take the jeep and visit there. But mind it  - visit before 3:30pm - as the last jeep leaves around 3:30pm and afterwards NO trips are made.

This is also the place where they give animal sacrifice - Mother Lakshmi devi - as Chenchu Lakshmi - tribal lady - is fond of it - legend says. it usually said to happen in morning on SAT,SUN,TUE and there will huge rush these days, especially on SWATI Nakshatram days.

So the whole NAVA NAARASIMHA TOUR is done and IMPORTANTLY - after this visit the PRAHALADA VARADA TEMPLE  down below near the bus stop to COMPLETE your spiritual journey.

Buses back to ALLAGADDA is there till 7 or 8pm - last bus

Make sure you leave around 5 or 6 pm. and Hyderabad bus to MGBS is around 8pm.

It will cost you again around 370/- super luxury and will proceed to Hyderabad from kurnool.

All the prices are from May 2016 journey of mine.

SRISAILA MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE

May 2016 - My first visit and darshan of a Jyothirlingam - Srisaila Mallikarjuna

What a wonderful experience!!!

I will share with you my journey friends.

On May 22nd Sunday, I decided half-heartedly to leave for Srisailam and went to bus stand but i could not get a bus to MGBS bus stand hyderabad. At the Nth moment decided to go to Jubilee Bus stand in secunderabad and wait for the bus there. But to my dismay there was no bus until 3:30 am next morning and it was still 12:30 am - so after many years slept at the JBS bus stand and decided to wait for the bus.

Around 3:35 am woke up but still there was no bus. Hence was in a dilemma. I waited till 5:45am and just then a bus going to Srisailam came. Now i got into the bus and went from JBS to MGBS bus stand but there finally the conductor told all the seats are reserved and he could not arrange me a seat on the bus. So finally decided to come back and rest at room.

Again, this time determined, left for srisailam and got my ticket reserved at the TSRTC counter at MGBS bus stand and left for Srisailam and reached there around morning 8:40 am the next day and after getting refreshed doing my daily pooja at the Sringeri Shankar Mutt temple near the Main Temple entrance, went insided and had a wonderful darshan of the Shiva as Mallikarjuna and Mother as Bramarambha. Then immediately went to FREE annadana chatram and had food. Here too they have ticket system but fortunately they allowed many like me without ticket. But this wait in the queue is little fight ridden and people will jump lines just to come to the front and there is a need to come quickly here.

And then booked a sharing auto and went to the following places :-

Paladhara and Panchadara
Hatakeshwara
Lalita peetham
Sakshi Ganapathi
Shikareshwara

And while coming back - Pathala Ganga - Rope way and boating also. FANTASTIC experience.

Important steps to followed by me :-

1) reserve tickets dont forget especially when visiting on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday

2) Book  a room - I took a dormitory at Mallikarjuna Sadan - Gives a lock and key compartment to keep luggage - and there is a clean common bathroom cum toilet and also AC rooms with beds.
Charge for 12 hours is 200/- May 2016 prices

3) From there have darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna and Mother Bramarambha  - Keep all luggages at the room itself -  or else leave it at the counter - 10rs per bag at the counter - separate charge for mobiles

Dont risk it  -as no luggages are allowed inside the temple

4) Immediately run and join the queue if you want FREE annaprasadam  - tickets are limited and rush is huge. or else have in hotel at your pace and peace

5) There will autos who will take you on a guided tour to the above mentioned places. Always go for sharing.  Cost per head for whole trip is 50/- or 60/- rupees only

6)Carry a bottle to take water from phaladara and panchadara - place where sri adi shankaracharya is said to have performed penance. there is small temple which also has Mother Saraswathi

7) Visit to Pathala ganga - Dam - is also a must see. There are 2 ways :-

1) Going by steps - 150 + steps down the hills

2) Going by the rope way  - 30/- per head for Up-Down trip round trip - and also there is combo ticket for boating which is 100/-

8) If going separate then boat ride will charge you per head 50-60/ rs per head - 15 - 20 mins of ride - complete near to the dam head and back - worth it.

9)Rush back to bus stand and make reservation - vacate room - and if you have time visit the temple - make sure you have a good 3 hours before bus leaves


Happy Journey - Jai veda Matha

BASARA _ SRI GNANA SARASWATHI TEMPLE

Hello friends,

I am writing this to let you know about a famous temple that is situated in Basara on the banks of Godavari river.

Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple is the name of the temple and this is one of those RARE temples that exists in South India.

I first came across the name and details of this temple when i was reading a facebook page on Tirumala - "Everything About Lord Sri Venkateswara And Holy Tirumala" which is maintained by one of the devotees of lord sri venkateshwara. I was totally in awe of everything that writer writes as it gives such an interesting insights into Tirumala and beyond. 

Here i came across the name Basara Temple and immediately googled it and read all about it. Being dedicated to Goddess of Knowledge - Veda Matha - I wished to visit there once. Staying in Hyderabad, it became relatively easy for me to plan my visit.  

I will write down the details below for public who might be interested like me to visit this place. Here goes:- 

1) From whereever you are in Hyderabad, Just go to MGBS bus stand and in the entrance find out the platform number where the bus to basara will arrive/depart from.

2) There are frequent buses and the ticket price (may 2016 prices) hovers around 280/- or so for one way trip.

3) If you take the 11pm bus (better be there at 10:30pm itself to get good seat) you will reach basara temple around 4:15 am next day morning.

4) Journey is comfortable.

5) Bus will drop you right in front of the temple.

6) The Godavari river is around 1.5 km walk from the temple. and there is a Shiva temple near it.

7) The main basara temple is superb and the main thing is get ready and be inside the temple as soon as possible.

8) Amazingly clean and fresh. Also just behind the garbhagudi wall outside in the prakara there is shiva linga below in pit resembling a homa kundam.

9) From that point there is small exit that leads to upwards to MahaKali temple and from there to Vedavyasa cave

10) at around 6.45 or 7 am or so , Maha Mangala Aarathi is performed to Mother Saraswathi and this is the best part of it.

11) A walk from there to annadana chatram is around 500 meters and you should be by 10.45pm to make sure you get the food ticket.  Anna Prasadam is around 12 or 12:30 pm. FREE of cost.

12) Then you can take the auto - sharing basis- to bus stand or just stand in front of the temple to get the bus back to hyderabad.

There is also railway station here to Basara temple town.

This is said to one of the important Mother Saraswathi temple after one in Kashmir, Sringeri

Happy Journey.