So, it all started with a lot of planning (he he). We shifted from North (Amritsar) to South (Thiruvannamalai-TM) in a day or so...
I was to bear the punishment by coming back on Ugadi (Happy Ugadi everyone). I did a lot of RnD about TM and each person whom I talked to gave a different picture; finally called-up Deepak and we started from my Jaynagar villa at 7PM (. on time).
[Fri 7PM] The gruelling journey:
I will just write the DO's (that we didn't) while traveling to TN in a TN bus (no harsh feelings please):
* Check where to get-into the bus - Lack of information forced to board bus in Bapujinagar and we got a tour of whole bangalore (lucky it was a holiday)
* Be sure what you wish for - We were maha-thrilled looked at 2 TVs in the bus and the Vijaykanth movie they played started our nightmare
* Carry voice-cancellation headphones, if you have - Tamizhs are crazy about their music, but more so on imposing them on sleepy ears of the poor souls.
We checked, requested, Deepak even raised his voice (in Hindi) about reducing the volume atleast; but both Conductor and Driver totally snubbed us-off
* Carry food - the place where our bus stopped was neither hygenic nor encouraging a byte
* Sleep where you can and when you can - I guess this is true for all night journeys
[Sat 1AM] In Thiruvannamalai: We landed at around 1AM; first thing that scared us (literally) was the gopuram.
Again some tips in finding a place to stay:
* Be patient (where I lag) - Be ready to bargain for another 5 min or walk those extra yards to reduce
the harassment
* Carry mosquito coils and a thin bed-sheet - it helps
* Stay near the temple - accessibility
We ended up in a room paying 400 for the night and took a nap amongst cruel mosquitos; and decided to go for Girivalam @ 4AM (2 hour sleep)
[Sat 4AM] Girivalam:
About: It is a 14km walk around the Arunachala mountain sorrounded by Panchalingam (w.r.to. panchabhutas) supposdely inhibited by Siddhas and sadhus. Historically if you do a round you free yourself from another janma (hence EMIs associated with); but Deepak's version is much more encouraging:
Coming back, we started bit late (4:45AM) with a bottle of water. The only mantra seem to be Girivalam'kk yeppadi poradh? We were wondering in the city and Deepak was coming-up with a similar scheme for some hill near Gangavathi... We again asked our Girivalam question to a Sadhu looking guy and guess what he charged for the consultation this time (!!!)
We crossed by a quiet Ramana Maharshi ashram and headed right into the Bangalore road we came in hours before! Turns you take a diversion inwards from this road (about 3km from start) and continue your journey.
We did come across numerous sadhus and noticed we were almost alone till suddenly these 2 men overtook us (let them be Lungi and his friend). We were taken-back by their pace. Deepak started advicing me about how I should stop sweating and be cool ...etc (crap).
We decided to take a break @6 and continued; saw a couple go into an ashram and followed. There was a huge shiva lingam and we took photos.
Deepak started to envison Shiva in the arunachala mountain (always in our perview) but all I could see were clouds; we continued into sunrise passing by a village. I was tired and was trying my luck walking barefoot now. I needed a break (6:15 already) and Deepak continued pushing me (upadeshas were coming in full-force); till we suddenly spotted lungi and his friend...
I had heard enough of Deepak and decided to overtake the guys before I drink water (sounds strange, but moment was such); I almost started jogging while smiling Deepak followed and the moment finally arrived!!! I celebrated it like a 100m winner and we went to drink tender-coconuts to cherish to ocassion
I started seeing morphed shiva form in the hill while Deepak realized we are just 5km away.
We restarted on the footpath this time and Deepak was barefoot (with socks; odd ain't?); Anyway we were pretty comfortable now and I was picking-up pace over Deepak. We entered the city outskirts and I asked where would this girivalam end?
Deepak came up with this hypothesis "When you see a full Shiva's face in the hill"; alas, this never happened and we were walking in the city now.
It was 7:20 and we were done with it and headed back to the lodge. (Note: Deepak's HSBC card never worked in TM; not sure it was a shaapa on Deepak or all HSBC card holders).
[Sat 8:30AM] The TEMBLE:
Enough has been already blogged about it so I'll be brief here. Temple complex is HUUUUGE (25 acres) with lot of temples and a big kalyani inside. Photography is allowed in the complex but not in the main temples.
4 temples is what we visited; Vinayagar, Arunachalam, Devi and Paathala lingam.
There is a 20rs special entry it is worth it.
The sculpture is humongous in scale and aw-r-some (from Deepak's dictionary). It was not at all crowded and we could go near sanctum-santorium with ease. 2 tips here:
* Elderly people watchout for it is a huge temple complex with steps in between (can get scortching during day)
* The inside is slightly ill-ventilated so a steam-bath is gauranteed
[Sat 10AM] The remaining:
We were out and found a place to eat nearby; me being experimentative ordered POORI,but could finish only half of it while Deepak laughed at my plight and dug into his idlis (Tip: Experimentation with food in unknown territory can be deceitful). We went back, decided to leave as it was getting hotter.
So, at 11:30 we were off to Pondi after a successful visit ... (om namah shivaya)
I was to bear the punishment by coming back on Ugadi (Happy Ugadi everyone). I did a lot of RnD about TM and each person whom I talked to gave a different picture; finally called-up Deepak and we started from my Jaynagar villa at 7PM (. on time).
[Fri 7PM] The gruelling journey:
I will just write the DO's (that we didn't) while traveling to TN in a TN bus (no harsh feelings please):
* Check where to get-into the bus - Lack of information forced to board bus in Bapujinagar and we got a tour of whole bangalore (lucky it was a holiday)
* Be sure what you wish for - We were maha-thrilled looked at 2 TVs in the bus and the Vijaykanth movie they played started our nightmare
* Carry voice-cancellation headphones, if you have - Tamizhs are crazy about their music, but more so on imposing them on sleepy ears of the poor souls.
We checked, requested, Deepak even raised his voice (in Hindi) about reducing the volume atleast; but both Conductor and Driver totally snubbed us-off
* Carry food - the place where our bus stopped was neither hygenic nor encouraging a byte
* Sleep where you can and when you can - I guess this is true for all night journeys
[Sat 1AM] In Thiruvannamalai: We landed at around 1AM; first thing that scared us (literally) was the gopuram.
Again some tips in finding a place to stay:
* Be patient (where I lag) - Be ready to bargain for another 5 min or walk those extra yards to reduce
the harassment
* Carry mosquito coils and a thin bed-sheet - it helps
* Stay near the temple - accessibility
We ended up in a room paying 400 for the night and took a nap amongst cruel mosquitos; and decided to go for Girivalam @ 4AM (2 hour sleep)
[Sat 4AM] Girivalam:
About: It is a 14km walk around the Arunachala mountain sorrounded by Panchalingam (w.r.to. panchabhutas) supposdely inhibited by Siddhas and sadhus. Historically if you do a round you free yourself from another janma (hence EMIs associated with); but Deepak's version is much more encouraging:
- You walk for 14 miles - you will get married in a year
- You walk barefoot - 2 months discounted (marriage in 10 months)
- You walk everyday - you will get married ASAP (first in the wish list kinds)
Coming back, we started bit late (4:45AM) with a bottle of water. The only mantra seem to be Girivalam'kk yeppadi poradh? We were wondering in the city and Deepak was coming-up with a similar scheme for some hill near Gangavathi... We again asked our Girivalam question to a Sadhu looking guy and guess what he charged for the consultation this time (!!!)
We crossed by a quiet Ramana Maharshi ashram and headed right into the Bangalore road we came in hours before! Turns you take a diversion inwards from this road (about 3km from start) and continue your journey.
We did come across numerous sadhus and noticed we were almost alone till suddenly these 2 men overtook us (let them be Lungi and his friend). We were taken-back by their pace. Deepak started advicing me about how I should stop sweating and be cool ...etc (crap).
We decided to take a break @6 and continued; saw a couple go into an ashram and followed. There was a huge shiva lingam and we took photos.
Deepak started to envison Shiva in the arunachala mountain (always in our perview) but all I could see were clouds; we continued into sunrise passing by a village. I was tired and was trying my luck walking barefoot now. I needed a break (6:15 already) and Deepak continued pushing me (upadeshas were coming in full-force); till we suddenly spotted lungi and his friend...
I had heard enough of Deepak and decided to overtake the guys before I drink water (sounds strange, but moment was such); I almost started jogging while smiling Deepak followed and the moment finally arrived!!! I celebrated it like a 100m winner and we went to drink tender-coconuts to cherish to ocassion
I started seeing morphed shiva form in the hill while Deepak realized we are just 5km away.
We restarted on the footpath this time and Deepak was barefoot (with socks; odd ain't?); Anyway we were pretty comfortable now and I was picking-up pace over Deepak. We entered the city outskirts and I asked where would this girivalam end?
Deepak came up with this hypothesis "When you see a full Shiva's face in the hill"; alas, this never happened and we were walking in the city now.
It was 7:20 and we were done with it and headed back to the lodge. (Note: Deepak's HSBC card never worked in TM; not sure it was a shaapa on Deepak or all HSBC card holders).
[Sat 8:30AM] The TEMBLE:
Enough has been already blogged about it so I'll be brief here. Temple complex is HUUUUGE (25 acres) with lot of temples and a big kalyani inside. Photography is allowed in the complex but not in the main temples.
4 temples is what we visited; Vinayagar, Arunachalam, Devi and Paathala lingam.
There is a 20rs special entry it is worth it.
The sculpture is humongous in scale and aw-r-some (from Deepak's dictionary). It was not at all crowded and we could go near sanctum-santorium with ease. 2 tips here:
* Elderly people watchout for it is a huge temple complex with steps in between (can get scortching during day)
* The inside is slightly ill-ventilated so a steam-bath is gauranteed
[Sat 10AM] The remaining:
We were out and found a place to eat nearby; me being experimentative ordered POORI,but could finish only half of it while Deepak laughed at my plight and dug into his idlis (Tip: Experimentation with food in unknown territory can be deceitful). We went back, decided to leave as it was getting hotter.
So, at 11:30 we were off to Pondi after a successful visit ... (om namah shivaya)
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