Thirupati Thirumalai - once more

ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தமன் பேர்பாடி
நாங்கள் நம் பாவைக்குச் சாற்றிநீர் ஆடினால்,
தீங்கின்றி நாடெல்லாம் திங்கள்மும் மாரிபெய்து
ஓங்கு பெருஞ்செந்நெ லூடு கயல் உகளப்
பூங்குவளைப் போதில் பொறிவண்டு கண்படுப்ப,
தேங்காதே புக்கிருந்து சீர்த்த முலைபற்றி
வாங்கக் குடம் நிறைக்கும் வள்ளல் பெரும்பசுக்கள்
நீங்காத செல்வம் நிறைந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.
-Andal Thiruppavai

Here is another post on Thirumala as we our second trip to Perumal since the existence of this blog. This time we went around three places near the temple so will see them in detail.

Secured our darshan tickets for a Saturday through https://www.ttdsevaonline.com/. Since it was for 6PM, left from Chennai in the morning at 7AM via Thiruvallore, Thiruthani, Thiruchanoor route.
   

Reached Tirupati by 10 AM after taking a break at Poonamalee for breakfast. On reaching went to Alamel Mangapuram temple to get the Goddess's blessing before going to Tirumalaiyan's darshan

This temple was flocked by devotees. Took Rs.100 darshan ticket to move in faster. It was a 'Jargandi' darshan but worth the visit. Once outside the corridor of the main deity, people thronged towards prasad and laddu. The Ammavari laddu looks and tastes different than Tirumala laddu but equally good. Next was the journey on the hill to Tirumala after the high security checkups of car, luggages and humans - elaborate one.

On reaching Tirumala with half an hour, went to the car parking and parked our vehicle before going in search of food and accommodation. Had sumptuous meals at Balaji Bhavan at Kosthibham before heading for shelter hunting. To our dismay all cottages were running full. Through friendly network got a room in 'Mounasami Madam - Kuttraam' near Gogharbham dam. Had a quick nap and then got ready for the Darshan.

Parked our vehicle in ATC car parking and walked to the e-special darshan entrance.  E-tickets are first verified with our identity cards and then we were let to go in. The first 10 mins walk was fast as it was free. Once we reached cabin no. 8 the flow was slow. By the time we reached cabin no.2, it came to a standstill. After around minutes the queue started moving towards the temple. After another set of scanning we reach the corridor of the main deity.

The vasanta hall was decorated with colorful lightnings and devotees were eagerly waiting to cross last few feet to get the much awaited darshan. On reaching the door of the Perumaal the crowds was pushing with all might and made it difficult to manage. Being a Saturday, the Lord was in his full glory in gold kaappu. Grateful for curd rice prasad we headed towards the laddu counter to collect ours. Had dinner on the way to our accommodation for a chill night sleep.

Next day morning checked out our rooms and enagaged a jeep-wala for a short sight seeing trip to Venugopalswamy temple, Akash ganga and Papavinasanam.

Immediate stop was for fuel - petrol bunk for the jeep and Annamaya for us. The restaurant was a mini India with devotees from across the country. People staying here for few days and going for a darshan every other day and enjoying a spiritual stay.

We first went to the Papavinasanam. It was a dam with a water outlet and a temple. Way to this place was covered on both side by shops flaunting lot of toys, statue, photos, wall hangings and clothes that you dont see on a urban landscape.

Next our jeep-wala drove us to the Akash Ganga. Here again there was aa Amman temple and steps leading down to water stream.

Out last place of visit was the Gopalswamy temple - this is being under construction, Rs.2 was collected as entrance fee. Here again the path side shops over flowed with lot of items.

After this we were dropped near our vehicle. Jeep-walas collected Rs.500 and bid us goodbye. After going through the exit check we reached Tirupati in 25 mins and took the same route back to Chennai. It was worth the journey, with a merciful darshan.
  

Edu kondala govinda, venkatramana govinda, govinda govinda!