Ahobilam Trip

Ahobilam is considered as a must visit place for any vaishnavite. Me being a vaishnavite and also a sishya of Ahobila mutt, it took so many years to visit Ahobilam. But finally it happened last weekend (Jan8 – Jan 9, 2011).

Lots of information about Ahobilam is available in the following link. http://www.ahobilamutt.org/us/information/visitingahobilam.asp

I went to Ahobilam from Bangalore with 4 friends Jithu, Vinodh, Sanjay and Guru. While I knew one person (Jithu) very well, one more (Vinodh) relatively well, I haven’t met other two before. After this trip, even they became nice friends of mine. We went in Maruti Swift.

Day 1: Jan 8, 2011

Bangalore-Ahobilam route map (via Kadappa)

Vinodh, Sanjay and Guru started from BTM at 4:50AM, I joined them in silk board at 5AM and Jithu joined us at 5:45AM in KR Puram. We took Bangalore-Kolar-Madanapalle-Rayachoti-Kadappa-Allagadda-Ahobilam route (approx 400kms). We took a break at 8:30AM in Madanapalli for breakfast (Thanks to Vinodh’s mom for preparing Idli). Regarding road condition, while Bangalore to Kolar road (67 kms) was relatively good, it was foggy and we couldn't go beyond 50KMPH. Road from Kolar to Rayachoti (170 kms) was very bad. Every 100mts we had to handle a heavily damaged portion of road. After Rayachoti, the road was good till Allagadda (135 kms). Allagadda to Ahobilam (31 kms) is a narrow road.

Ahobila Mutt

We reached Ahobilam at 1:30 PM and had a good lunch at Ahobila Mutt (Lower Ahobilam). Though we already informed Mutt about our visit and requested for accommodation, they were not able to provide accommodation immediately after we reached there. Even Mutt administrators were helpless since there was good crowd. Actually Ahobila Mutt has built some new residential places and also in the process of building more. There is a hotel run by APTDC, Hotel Haritha which also provides accomodation. We were told that we can get an accommodation at 6PM.

Ahobilam temples route map

6. Karanja Narasimmar

We hired a guide (Prem Kumar aged 15) and started our dharshan. The plan was to visit 5 narasimmars on Day1 and other 4 on the Day2. The temples can be seen in different groups (for example, Paavana can be grouped with Ahobila or can also been grouped with Chatravada and Yogananda). So unless you are very sure, it is better you just tell the guide about your schedule and leave the route planning part to him. I am numbering the temples the same way they are referred to by archakas, mutt and local people.  

We started at 2:30 PM in our car (actually Vinod

5. Varaha (Krodha) Narasimmar

h’s car :P). First we went to 6. Karanja Narasimmar temple. Then we went near Ahobila Narasimma temple and parked our car. From then onwards, we had to walk for seeing other narasimmars. Since we were told that Ahobila Narasimmar temple will be opened till 7PM and we have to climb down before it gets darker, we bypassed Ahobila Narasimmar and started climbing up the hill.

7. Malola Narasimmar

We reached 5. Varaha (Krodha) narasimmar temple at 3:10 PM, 7. Malola Narasimmar temple at 3:25 PM and 8. Jwala Narasimmar temple at 4:30 PM. The happiness which spreads inside us after reaching Jwala cannot be explained by words. After an hour long walk, we have to cross a small water falls and ever red Raktakundam (well it is actually a color which is close to red wavelength. It is believed that it was the place were Narasimmar washed his hand after tearing apart Hiranya Kasibu) to reach that small and great Jwala Narasimmar temple surrounded by scary and at the same time scenic green hill.

8. Jawala Narasimmar

Though we were eager to see Prahladha Gruha and Ugra sthamba (They are not part of 9 narasimmar temples), it was already getting darker and our small guide wanted us to start getting down before it becomes completely dark though we weren’t in the mood to leave that place. If Prahladha Gruha and Ugra Sthamba (it will be a tough climb) also has to be seen, then one should start in the morning and see them also along with 5 narasimmar temples as they all are almost in the same route.

Raktakundam

I would rate the difficulty of climbing between easy and moderate for a person with an average physique. If some one is scared that we have to walk through sloppy rocks, the happy news is that the complete path has steps.

4. Ahobila Narasimmar

While getting down, guide took us through a different path (calling it as short cut) which was not having steps. It took almost 45 mins to get down but the walk was nice and interesting across the flow of water from hill. We reached 4. Ahobila Narasimmar temple at 6 PM and had dharshan.

After that we went back to Ahobila Mutt, got a room (with 3 beds), refreshed, had delicious Upma served at Mutt and had a good sleep with the satisfaction that we completed seeing 5 Narasimmars as planned. FYI, Ahobila Mutt charges just Rs. 400/- for a 3 bed room (1 day).

Day 2: Jan 9, 2011

Lakshmi Narasimmar

We woke up early and started from room at 5AM itself to see Lakshmi Narasimmar temple. Though this temple is not one among 9 narasimmar temples, it is considered to be the main temple.

Path to Pavana Narasimmar

It was good that we went to temple early in the morning. We had a chance to see Dhanur Maasa Seva with Ghoshti and most importantly we got delicious Pongal as prasadam ;). After having breakfast (in a Iyengar hotel opposite to Mutt), we started our Day 2 Narasimmar temple visit at 7:45 AM in Jeep. Pavana and Bhargava Narasimmar temples can be reached through walk (which would take too much of time) or through jeep/tractor.

9. Pavana Narasimmar

After a tough 16km travel in a path (I don’t like to call it a road) full of heavy jerks, we reached 9. Pavana Narasimmar temple at 8:50 AM. Saw some structures established by tribes opposite to temple where they give bali (goat, hen etc.) to God on Saturdays. This kind of tribal practices in a traditional vaishnavite temple is unusual. But the history of God marrying Chenchulakshmi (Mahalakshmi who took avataram as a tribal girl) explains for that practice.

2. Yogananda Narasimmar

We started back from Pavana at 9:15 AM and visited 2. Yogananda Narasimmar temple (10:30 AM) and 3. Chatravata Narasimmar temple (10:45 AM) which were on the way back lower Ahobilam. From there, we took another route for 1. Bhargava Narasimmar temple. Even that path (again not a road) was tough to travel except that it wasn’t long (just 2kms from lower Ahobilam). Flowers near that temple which look the same as thiruman of ahobila mutt is a wonder!

3. Chatravada Narasimmar

Though we got some negative feedback from people that we may not be able to cover those 4 narasimmars before afternoon, we finally did it. Thanks to the jeep driver who took us to Pavana in just 1 hr. We heard that tractors take almost 2:30 hrs to reach Paavana from Lower ahobilam but on the other hand it is less tough travel compared to jeep. But we wanted a quick travel and not a comfortable one. We paid Rs. 1800/- for jeep and gave Rs. 300/- to guide (though Ahobila Mutt website suggests only Rs. 200/- as guide charges).

1. Bhargava Narasimmar

We packed our things, had lunch (Pongal, vada and curd rice) in the same Iyengar hotel opposite to mutt and started back to Bangalore at 12:40 PM. For a change, we took another route (Ahobilam-Allagadda-Jammalamugudu-Tadibatri-Anantpur-Somandepalle-Chikballapur-Bangalore) for our return journey. While the worst road from Allagadda to Jammalamagudu (60 kms) disappointed us for taking that route, the nice road from Jammalmudugu to Tadibatri and Tadibadri to Anantpur relieved us. Then came the 4 lane Anantpur-Bangalore highway on which we were literally flying over 120 KMPH with frequent ‘ah’, ‘uh’ and ‘iyyo’ from Vindoh since it was a rash driver named Karthik on driver seat ;)  

Thiruman shaped flower

I would definitely recommend Anantpur route compared to Kadappa route barring the worst experience you may have to bear between Jammalamadugu and Allagadda. I am not sure how much Naxal threat is there in Anantpur area. We didn’t face any problem. We reached Bangalore city outers at 8PM, had nice dinner together at Adayar Ananda Bhavan before getting down at our respective places. 

Ahobilam-Bangalore route map (via Anantpur)

As Vinodh told at the end of trip (he had been to Ahobilam earlier but was not able to cover all the 9 narasimmar temples), the trip was convincing especially because we were able to cover all the temples in effectively just 1 day and most of them had archakas (not locked).

Ilayaraaja’s songs in music player during the total 800 km travel was just awesome! Of course, travelling with friends is always a delight. I would like to tell two words at the end of this blog.

“Mission accomplished”

I visited Ahobilam again and added some more details in the following blog post. Please do read that also.
http://karthikcpt.blogspot.in/2012/02/ahobilam-gandi-kadiri-trip.html

Tiruvannamalai trip

After quite some time, I went for a trip last weekend (Dec 11 and 12, 2010) with my friends Senthil and Vinodh. We went in Vinodh's car.

Day 1: Dec 11, 2010

It was 9:30 AM when we started at electronic city. We took Bangalore-Hosur-Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai route (200 Kms). Road till Krishnagiri (NH7) was very good (90kms) but the 110Kms from Krishnagiri to Tiruvannamalai was horrible. Road was badly damaged due to recent rain.

We reached Tiruvannamalai at 2PM. Lunch was not very great but didn't mind much about it since we were pretty hungry. We booked a room in Ramana Towers hotel for a rent of Rs. 1400/- per day. The facilities were very nice and worth for the money given.

We started girivalam (14 kms walk around Arunachala hill) at 3:30 PM and completed it at around 7PM. There are 8 lingams in that perimeter and few more temples. After visiting the main temple (Annamalai and Unnamalai are the main deities), we ended the day.



 Day 2: Dec 12, 2010

We started from room at 8AM. It was very wet outside and when enquired, we came to know that there was heavy rain from 2AM to 6AM. We went to Ramanashram and started our Arunachala hill trek from the way behind Ramanashram.

Our initial plan was to see Skandashram, Virupaksha, return back to Ashram by 11:30, have lunch and then leave to Bangalore. But near Skandashram we met a person by name Jothi who gave us some information about Tiruvannamalai and how the whole worship was earlier (right from his great grandfather's time). It seems he is one among the persons who light the Jyothi at Arunachala hill top during Karthigai month.

When I asked him about his take on Vijay TV program which was spreading some information that the annamalai jyothi went off, he gave some explanations and called it as a rumor. We asked curiously if we can go to the place where jothi is lightened, he said that he can take us. While Vinodh was not able to proceed further up, he went down to Ramanashram. Myself and Senthil along with our guide Mr. Jyothi started climbing to the top of hill.

It took around 3hrs from Skandashram to the top of hill and the climb was pretty tiring. But as soon as we reached the peak, all the tiredness vanished and we were so happy to be in that place. We were physically on a place which we were just seeing on the TV for 20+ years during every Karthigai Deepam.

After taking some photographs, we met some youngsters who are sishyas of Narayana Guru Swami. It seems Narayana Guru swami is a saint from Kanyakumari who did Thapas in Arunachala hill for 16 years and then went back to Kanyakumari again. They served us herbal tea.



Our guide Jothi asked us to get down by our self. We started climbing down. But only after some time (around 45 mins) we realised that we were getting down in a route which we didn't see while climbing up. But still we proceeded in the path of a water falls with the belief that we will get down somewhere. We got to see a person on the middle and came to know that we were climbing down on the other side of hill.

We were kind of happy that there was some exploration element in the trip. We got down on the other side of hill at 2 PM and went back to our starting point (Ramanshram) in auto. We had a surprise news over there. It seems music director Karthik Raja (son of Isaignani Ilayaraaja) visited Ashram at 11:30 AM and Vinodh took some pics with him. I would have felt jealous if I had missed a meeting with Ilayaraaja. Karthik Raja.. Worth missing for that nice trek ;).

Weather at Tiruvannamalai was cool and that was really the best part in this trip. 

We had lunch in Ramakrishna hotel (Taste was good) and took alternate Tiruvannamalai-Vellore-Krishnagiri-Hosur-Bangalore route while returning back. Though we had to travel extra 80Kms, the roads were pretty good.

I actually went to to this trip without any expectation. But it turned up to be one of my best trips. Thank you Vinodh and Senthil for the nice company!