Puttaparthi--Sri Sathya Sai Baba

“I am God. And you too are God. The only difference between you and me is that while I am aware of it, you are completely unaware.”

Truth, right conduct, peace, love, and nonviolence are some of the principles advocated by the superfluous soul ‘Sri Sathya Sai Baba’. In order to understand the real core of this great saint, let’s go back in the century when India was still under the British tyranny. Born on 23rd November 1926, Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born under the auspicious influence of stars, giving the trail of indications that divine power has taken birth in the small Village of Andhra Pradesh. Puttaparthi., the cradle of great divine power is evident of all the superficial events that took place during the early years in 20th century. During his child hood days, Sri Sathya was known by the name Brahmajnani. As the name suggests, the intensity of highest divinity, Sri Sathya during his teenage never craved for material things. His interests were completely different from rest of the children in the village. True Devotion, strong affiliation and feeling of sympathy, equanimity were some of the qualities rarely found in any of his kindred folks during those days. At the age of 14, when he discovered that he had achieved the pinnacle of enlightenment, he declared the notion of salvation to his relatives. He called himself as ‘Sri Sathya Sai’(incarnation of Sai Baba, Shirdi), enthralled by his testimony; everyone in the village followed his well defined footsteps of love, care, benevolence and mercy towards the needy ones.

Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Divine Peace)

Following the track of spiritual accolades, in the year 23rd November 1950, the devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, inaugurated the Ashram with the name Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Divine Peace). The main aim of building this Ashram was to uplift the poor or destitute ones by preaching them with the highest level of noble thoughts. With the grace and blessings of this great saint, today there are immense numbers of charitable hospitals, hermitage for the poor, and educational institutions are carrying the beacon of his ideals successfully. Besides this, Puttaparthi hallowed by the divine presence of this sublime saint receives huge influx of devotees from every nook and corner of the globe. It is believed that Sri Sathya Sai Baba relinquishes every pain or misery of his devotees by the supernatural affect of his powers inhabited by him.

In retrospect, there are also infinite numbers of real stories speaking about the great boasts of him. The best instance is the story of Mr Dixit, who in the year 1918 visited the dome of Shridi’s Sai Baba in a stance to get cure from his physical ailments. Shridi’s Sai Baba gave him a Udhi-the powdered ash to be consumed in diluted liquid form. Eventually, the powdered Ash showed better results and Mr. Dixit was relieved from the physical ailment. Again, after the gap of 45 years, Mr Dixit saw some man with crowned hair following him in the dreams. At the first glimpse he didn’t believed that the man following him in the dreams was the re-incarnation of Shirdi’s Sai Baba. But when he came to Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai Baba left him frozen when he told him about the series of his meetings at Shirdi. Perhaps from that day he commenced following this divine light effulgent in the small town of Andhra Pradesh.

However, to achieve enlightenment devotees’ throng to visit this reverberating niche of divine energy, it is obvious that they would be looking for some most convenient stay at Hotels in Puttaparthi. Dotted with one of the finest facilities; the Puttaparthi Hotels cater to the needs of every discerning traveler. But following the trail of budget and luxurious hotels, Chaitanya International Hotel, Sai Towers and Sai Plaza come under the league of most suitable Puttaparthi Accommodation options offered to the mindset of every aspiring devotee. The entire ambiance of these Puttaparthi Hotels is weaved in the amalgam of divinity in such a manner that you can flow in the thoughts of spirituality while at the same time, providing you the rejuvenating experience in totality.


Coming back to Sri Sathya Sai Baba, every accent of this place embrace a vital supremacy of discourses offered in the premises of Puttaparthi. With an assortment of Various religious activities, the devotees are provided with the spiritual discourses on fixed timings. There is a separate kitchen, majestic lecture rooms and free accommodation for all the devotees who have planned a week long schedule to immerse their minds in the element of spirituality. Moreover, each and every corner of the ashram is soaked in the aura of divine bathe that you will feel like exuding your self to highest levels of super consciousness. Living and thinking about Shri Sathya Sai Baba is not merely the thought but it is the true virtue which by following could improve the lives of devotees in different dimensions.

Periyar Hotels and Accomodations

Gift wrapped with one of the picturesque valleys, the Periyar Wildlife sanctuaries also known as Thekkady is positioned in the Idduki District of South Kerala. The Periyar Sanctuary located 777 Sq Km above the sea level offers vast array of valleys, wild life and serene ambience to the aspiring travelers. The travelers coming to this beautiful destination could avail an opportunity from the vast range of Periyar Hotels festooning in different corners of the region. While choosing the best property from the list of hotels, it is necessary for the bag packers to select the viable location according to their comfort and convenience. Additionally, there are many benchmarks like proximity, facilities, reach ability, transport, prices, dinning and hospitality standards which could be kept in mind while choosing the Periyar Hotels Locations.

Besides this, if you really want to enjoy an idea of living in complete seclusion and luxury, then Hotel Aranya Niwas could be the best option. Located amidst the lush green and tranquil spaces of the Periyar sanctuary, this is a 3 star property of KSTDC blessed with excellent dinning, unblemished 24 hours room service, laundry, manicured spas, air condition, and travel assistance. The special attractions include the wild life safari which is exceptionally peerless in all aspects. Sharing its close proximity, the bus station is only 4 KMS away. The Kottyam railway station and Madurai Airport are positioned more than 100 KMS away from the main hotel. The tariffs generally follow the trend of great variation commencing from 2500 to 7000 Rupees, which could be specifically availed depending upon the requirement and room availability.

However, if you want to enjoy the vivacity of the region more closely, then Spice Village Hotel suffused with the backdrop of Periyar Sanctury and Cordomom hills could provide you the most comfortable stay. Encompassed with tempting balcony view, eye catching azure skies and aroma of spice plantations, this property is worth visiting for a week long stay. Ayurvedic massage, indoor sports, relishing gourmet meals are some of the facilities provided by the Spice village hotel. Interestingly, Kumily Bus stand is clubbed at the reachable distance of 1km. Kottyam Railway Station and Madurai Airport is 130 KMS away from the main hotel. As it is already a full fledged villa, the cost inclusive of all taxes range from 10,000 to 12,000 Rupees.

Apart from all, Periyar Accommodations also exhibit various budget hotels which provide incomparable stay at reasonable prices. Hotel Ambadi Green Berg Holiday Resort, Edassery Resorts Woodlands, Prime Castle Hotel Leela Pankaj, and MAS Lake Queen hotel are some of the budget hotels providing you the most delightful experience of life . The Periyar Hotels Facilities are unmatchable and share a close affiliation with international standards. Well maintained rooms, briskly furnished floors, flawless room services, serene ambience soaked with outer beauty are some of features that attract every eye to plan their holiday at the above mentioned Periyar Hotels exclusively.

Delhi Zoo

I do not remember when I had last visited the Delhi Zoo. Always had this fixation that animals are best left in the wild and to see them inside the cages is an upfront assault on animal rights. However this time I had to give in to the demands- a combination of family and work to make it through.

This Saturday, braving long traffic snarls and smog covered Delhi skyline we managed to reach the Zoo somehow around 2 pm. On inquiring, the parking lot Guard enlightened us that we can be inside till 6 and the last ticket is issued at 4 pm. Heaving a sigh of relief we went inside. The ticket was Rs 10 for adults and Rs 5 for kids.

A good and sign of assurance was the special emphasis on security and on taking eatables inside. There was thorough frisking. Plastic, eatables (the notorious biscuits which many overzealous visitors had often used to get friendly with the Chimpanzees or Deer) were strict no no. In my opinion even Mobiles need to be banned inside as I found some workaholics giving frenzied instruction from their mobile sets very close to the railing that separates us from Animals. This looked quite vulgar.

The Zoo is well kept with lots of greenery, though the constant sound of trains passing through the Pragati Maidan station was quite disturbing. The first to greet us were the water birds on the left hand side. A few paces ahead there was the first signage in stones which said if we follow the signage the visit could be wrapped up in 2 hours. Enticed we decided to stick to it.

Soon, we encountered our prized moment of the day the best find- Painted Storks. It seemed that these amazing birds have established a kind of Colony inside the wetlands of the zoo. Perhaps it was their nesting time and the zoo authorities equal to the task have barricaded the entire area with dried tree branches to protect their privacy. The Painted storks known in Latin as Mycteria leucocephala are about 3 feet tall and with orange bills they looked heavenly. Their flapping of wings, standing on the treetops and feeding the young ones were no less amusing to a lay visitor like me than to any ornithologist or zoologist. I bet just looking at their activities can tranquil the most fretted nerves. After spending some good 35 to 40 minutes did the thought came that we were running short of time.

Passing through enclosures for Neelgai the signboard there gave an interesting piece of Information. That Neelgai, an antelope was saved from extinction due to mindless hunting was for the sake of its name. Neelgai’s “Gai”, Hindi for Cows thus sacred in India is the saviour. A brilliant idea came to my mind, why not go on a naming spree and somehow put the “Gai “to all those animals endangered thus. Tigers, Elephants, Ghrarial( in the Ganges)- just anything and everything. The Wildlife authorities can take cognizance of this if they read this blog.

Along the designated route we passed by the enclosures of Lion Tailed Macaque, Rhinoceros (none was spotted), a number of antelopes-Cheetal, blackbucks et al, Chimpanzees (unmindful of the public gaze seemed enjoying the early winters).

Next to catch my attention was the enclosure for the Sambars Although most animals were in tolerable enclosures, the Sambars seemed huddled together and there was genuine lack of space or was it too many of them. By a rough headcount I found atleast 40 jostling for space, can the Zoo officials take note of this?

The cages for birds were another attraction Eagles, Parakeets looked majestic. A vociferous crowd of young school children passing by theses cages were imitating the shrill sounds made by the Parakeets much to their discomfiture. One of the young boys perhaps summed up their plight in right earnest when he started counting the numbers written on the cages as “Quaidi Nambar Ek, Quaidi Nambar Do……”

After seeing the Crocodiles lying as if dead near the moat we decided to call it a day and made an about turn from the "guided tour" offered by the stone signages( infact we also got deviated from them).

One last word, the Camera was missed squarely and taking it inside invited no extra amount either (video camera does). This was due to my inhibition of not to look like a ‘Camera lugging tourist’.

Pachmarhi, Queen of Satpura

For people from north Pachmarhi still remains a distant dream as compared to hill stations like Shimla, Manali or even as far as those in Sikkim. So the scorching heat of Delhi and the advertisements put by MP Tourism did us in as we decided Pachmarhi to escape.

Pachmarhi nestling in the Satpura hills derives its name from the 5 caves up in a hill which was uses by the Pandava Brothers during their years of exile. During the British Raj it was used as a sanatorium for the ailing soldiers of the British Army. Gathering as much information as possible on the attractions of Saputara as on the logistics we found out that Pachmarhi has enough logistical reasons to loose out as a favoured destination for the northerners. Pipariya the closest railhead to the hill retreat (around 50 km) is not serviced by trains from Delhi. There are two choices either to get down at the state capital Bhopal which is about 195 km away or at mainline Itarsi some 120 km from Pachmarhi. We decided on the later to save on time if not costs!. So on a hot humid June night we boarded the cooler climes of the AC 3 Tier compartments of Karnataka Express to take us to Itarsi.

In the morning we reached Itarsi little aware of what was in store for us. Asking for the Taxis to cover the 120 km distance and we were stormed by an army of overzealous Drivers and their touts all eager to ferry us but for a sum or perhaps a ransom. Some demanded 2500 bugs some 2000 it was as if a free for all Tamasha with everybody trying to lift our luggage. Hungry and desperate to reach the queen of Satpurara ranges we zeroed on a Cab with the least quoted price and was on our way soon.

After some time the hilly roads started with zig-zag and sharp bends and the temperature became gentler on the skin gave us a feel of Pachmarhi at an altitude of 3555 feet.

Finding accommodation was not a problem as we had already booked accommodation with Hotel Glen View a MPTDC run hotel. The hotel as with many other State government run properties is situated at the most vantage point of the hill station giving a fascinating view of the bucolic landscape besides a being a building with historical antecedents.

The well furnished rooms were spacious and clean thus making us forget all the travails we faced on the journey from Itarsi. The hotel along with good food and cooperative staff also takes care of the laundry.

Pachmarhi is not very glamorous as compared to other hill stations there are no palaces, sight points or for that matter any other source of amusement but the woody expanse encapsulates and overwhelms you wherever you go. Sal, Mahu and Harrh trees dominate everything else.

The falls for which Pachmarhi are known tempts one to trek as most of them are quite some distance below the ground level. We visited Rajat Prapat, and then some distance away was Apsara Vihar. Then there are the Bee Fall and the somehow difficult Duchess fall.

A visit to Chauragarh merits a full day trip. Here on a hill top, a life size idol of Lord Shiva exists. As reaching the point requires climbing 1200 stairs so think twice before deciding on this arduous climb.

A must visit is the Priyadarshini point named after Smt. Indira Gandhi. It gives a panoramic view of Pachmarhi. Formerly known as Forsyth point after Captain James Forsyth, who discovered Pachmarhi supposedly from this point in 1857.

Other points include Bade Mahadev, Gupt Mahadev, Ambadevi Temple and off course if you are an wildlife buff a visit to the Satpura Tiger Sanctuary is a must.

Like all good things our brief sojurn in the hills of Satpura came to an end but not before some nasty haggling and ugly moments with the Taxi that brought us back to earth at Itarsi. Some thoughts for MP tourism to make the access easier for gullible travelers like us into this wonderful retreat.

Nathdwara, Gateway to the Lord

In Nathdwara it seems the clock is tuned to the activities of Shree Nath Ji everything and everyone goes by the Lord’ way no doubt the people seems a bit whimsical considering Shreeji lives here in the ‘Live Form’ of a small child who is known as the most adorable prankster.

Arriving at Nathdwara to have a quick Darshan and leave for Udaipur afterwards is not possible, you need to have a Himalayan patience. The lord is accessible but not for those in a hurry. The Darshans of Shreeji are regulated and opens up eight times day albeit in short bursts. This makes for huge serpentine queues and occasional skirmishes with those in charge of the securities.

The eight “Darshans” or “Jhankis” as they are called starts from the morning when he is waken up and ends with his going to bed early in the evening. These are termed as Mangala; Shringar; Guwal; Rajbhog; Utthapan; Bhog; Aarti; Shyan. With the exception of Shyan devotees can be a privy to the lord’s Darshan. Shyan is not always performed openly and is open to masses only on certain special occasions.

Shrinathdwara is one of the most important pilgrimages of the "Pushtmargiya Vaishnavites” whose proponent was the 15^th century scholar Vallabhacharya. A large number of pilgrims belonging to this sect and others ascend daily here from the various towns in Gujarat. No doubt Gujarat and Gujaratis have a formidable presence in this small temple town. With countless small eateries promising authentic Gujarati Thalis in various price tags, Gujarati Dharmashalas and Hotels with names written in Gujarati are prominent here.

Nathdwara is reminiscent of typical Temple towns in India where it seems very little have changed over the centuries. Constricted lanes taken away by overzealous shopkeepers selling their wares, countless sweet shops selling the favourite sweets of the lord all claiming to have been prepared with 100 % pure Milk and Desi Ghee, mishmash of overhead cables, constant stream of crowds on the road- all vying with each other for some breathing space. An ICICI ATM counter amidst the plethora of rundown shops looks some kind of a mismatch here.

If you are an enthusiastic ‘eater’ and ‘shopper’ type, who can leverage good bargains out of impossible prices, then the Chaupati Bazaar with colourful shops is the place to head for.

Navneet Priyaji or the adorable lord is everywhere in framed metallic cases, in the famed Pichhwais painting on cloth wall hangings, copper and silver vessels all make for the perfect souvenirs. After shopping, a combo of Doodh- Jalebi from Puroshottam Bhai Doodh Jalebi Wala works wonders and keeps you sustained till the main meal of a royal Gujarati or Rajasthani Thali.

Leaving Shreeji’s Haveli as the temple is known as comes with a tinge of sadness as well as with a promise- to be back again at the most opportune time.

Luxury train will cover popular destinations in North India

Luxury train will cover popular destinations like Amritsar, Dharamshala, Anandpur Sahib, Patiala, Kurukshetra, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi in a week-long itinerary. The Ministry of Tourism has joined hands with Indian Railways and Punjab government to launch a “Palace on Wheels” tourist train . Ministry planed to expance 7.25 crore on Luxury Train.

Indian tourism had grown 10.4 per cent in the first half of this year

British Ambassador for Overseas Business Lord Swraj Paul said the increased flights from the UK to India from 2001 (19 per week) to today (134 per week) has largely contributed to the growing capacity of the Indian tourism industry.

According to nstonline.com, the revenue from international tourism rose from US$2.6 billion in 1995 to US$3.6 billion in 2000, then to US$7.5 billion in 2005. The percentage increase in foreign exchange earnings from tourism was 16.8 per cent in 2007.

The Indian government has confirmed India is attracting record numbers of international tourists despite the current economic climate and high fuel prices, reports the Press Trust of India.