Wanderlust Tales - Road trip from Bangalore to Sripuram

With our busy chaotic life, road trips are an excellent way of spending some quality time with family along with refreshing one self.

Last month, we went on a road trip from Bangalore to Sripuram, which houses the famous golden Lakshmi temple. 

Picking few lines from wikipedia:

"The temple is located on 100 acres of land and has been constructed by Vellore based Sri Narayani Peedam, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma also known as Narayani Amma. The temple with gold covering, has intricate work done by artisans specializing in temple art using gold. Every single detail was manually created, including converting the gold chunks into gold foils and then mounting the foils on copper. Gold foil from 9 layers to 0 layers has been mounted on the etched copper plates. Every single detail in the temple art has significance from the Vedas."

Image from Google

We started from JP Nagar, Bangalore at around 09:30 and reached the temple by 1330. It took us approximately 4 hours to reach there in the wee hours of traffic. But yes this was without any break on the way.

It was pleasant drive till the destination via the national highways.

The Google maps can be of great help to reach there. More or less it is a straight road once you hit the highway. And if you follow the hoardings right, you will not face much difficulties to reach there. Even the people are very helpful and will not hesitate to assist you with routes.

The main highlights for the roads, I would put it as below:

• Drive till the silk board signal and then take a right from there towards NH 7 
• Drive towards Electronic City - Hosur road 
• Continue till you see the Toll road. We collected toll passes to reach Krishnagiri, and asked for both way tolls since it was cheaper. It was priced at Rs.40/-. 
• From there you must drive straight. You will cross around 2-3 flyovers and before the last flyover there will be a diversion, you need to drive left since there is construction work going on. Drive on from here, till you reach Krishnagiri. You will come across another toll plaza, priced at Rs.90/- for both ways. 
• From here it is a drive of 116 kms straight on the highway. 
• You will come across two more tolls at Natranpalli priced at Rs.105/- for both ways and another one at Pallikandan which is Rs.110/- for both ways. 
• From the last toll gate at Pallikandan, after a drive of 2 kms, you need to take a right for the diversion to Sripuram.Please keep a watch on the right, so as to not miss the diversion. Then drive straight along the directions given, and bang on you will be there. 

Rocky mountains

On the way you will come across many petrol pumps, dhabas, food joints, engineering colleges, factories. So you can be tension free for food, water, petrol or car malfunctions.The roads are on either sides are just filled with lots and lots of coconut trees plantation. You can feel the greenery throughout. It made our journey quite scenic. It was just an awesome drive though nature.
We also passed some local markets in the small cities which were bustling with people. You can find all hoardings of all Tamil movies in these local markets.
There were lot of heavy vehicles plying on these roads. So everyone please drive safe, avoid rash driving and ensure everyone's safety. :) 

After the last diversion taken for reaching Sripuram, you will pass through a beautiful village.

It is a pure delight to witness it. The road is beautifully shadowed with trees. It is an awesome ride where you would see everything from the bullock carts to local buses moving at slow pace. The kachha ghar, people sitting on the open veranda outside their houses gossiping away or just drying spices or clothes. There you would find everything ranging from small shops and tapris to farms, local men busy in their day to day chores.

Just awesome!! :)

View from the parking lot

Once you reach the temple, you would see a huge gate. It is grand welcome for one and all. :)

There is a provision to park your car, priced at Rs.50/-. No camera, phones are allowed inside, so you would be required to deposit everything at the counter. Although not advisable, we left our belongings in the car itself.

The entrance itself gives you feel of the incredibility of the temple, which is spread over many acres of land.

As soon you enter the temple, they have chambers with specified number of occupants allowed in each one. The devotees in a single room are released in batches for darshan, which keeps the crowd and rush at bay. They have a provision for special darshan priced at Rs.250/- per head, which is the quick darshan avoiding the queues and waiting in the rooms. They also have other denominations of darshan coupons of Rs.1000/- , Rs.1500/- and on.

From the chamber to the temple, it is a lovely walk of around 3 km. With the beautiful gardens around, the numerous lovely messages put up throughout the place, and the brilliant architecture, it was all a sight to catch. 
Don't be in a hurry for darshan, everyone gets a chance for darshan. You must enjoy every bit of the view during your walk till the temple.

Mid way, if you happen to get tired they do have water, milk and prasad stalls, for you to have a quick bite. 
The seating arrangements throughout the way, is a great relief for elderly people, so they can cover the distance at their own convenience.

Once you are nearing the temple, you will be simply mesmerized by its beauty, architecture, structure. A golden temple in middle of a small man made pond. It is just a treat to your eyes. Just being there brings immense peace to your mind and soul.Feels heavenly. Beauty at its best!

The thing that I disliked, only the people who had opted for the high values darshan coupons could go for darshan near the Thakur -they could sit, chant the mantras and spend some peaceful time in the temple - near the Thakur.
Others like us, just got a chance for a quick darshan,and had to take a detour.

On your way out, they have the provision of prasadam. They serve piping hot south Indian  - rice, sambhar, rasam, sabji. The Prasad is served on banana leaves which ensures cleanliness and hygiene.

It was a superb experience all together. 
On our way back, with the onset of rains it made our return all the more enthralling.

Enjoy your trip! Bon Voyage!! :)

Fair

    

Cheers to life!!

~Journey  of a thousand miles begins with a single step! :)

P.S.All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D

Outlook : Sometimes I wonder...

Sometimes I wonder,wouldn't it have been better if I was not born a GIRL?!

I could have enjoyed the perks of life better-restriction free.

On the eve of 68 years of independence,social networking sites are flooded with captions about, what makes one feel independent after 68 years?!

Pondering on the question,I came to a conclusion that nothing makes me feel that I am independent.In a country where women have achieved such heights, I am ashamed to say - "As a woman of this country, I DO NOT FEEL INDEPENDENT." 

Well, to begin with,I am currently working in a multi-national company. I come from a well to do family, earn good enough to lead a lavish lifestyle, but still somewhere it doesn't qualify me to say that I am an independent girl. Why so?!

If you would google the word "Independent", you would find these meanings:

independent

adjective

1. 1.

   free from outside control; not subject to another's authority.

   "an independent nuclear deterrent"

   synonyms:

   freethinking, individualistic, unconventional, maverick; More

   • 
     

     
     
2. 2.

   not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.

   "I wanted to remain independent in old age"

   synonyms:

   self-sufficient, self-supporting, self-sustaining, self-reliant, self-standing, able to stand on one's own two feet; More
3. 
   
4. 
   

   • 
     

noun

1. 1.

   an independent person or body.

   "one of the few independents left in the music business"

So here you you have the answer. Probably I am not dependent on my Dad, for my survival,livelihood or subsistence, but I am still subject to another's authority.

And why I am still subject to another's authority ,it is simply because I am a GIRL!

Each time I step out of the house, I am suppose to inform my parents.Let them know once I return home,so that they can have a sound sleep knowing that their daughter is safe.

Each time I travel abroad, my dad's life becomes chaotic. No matter which part of the world and at what time zone he is in, he will make it a point to call me and check about my whereabouts- if I reached safe or not?!

He always has my entire itinerary handy, to track me.

Each time I travel to Mumbai from Pune, my parents call me numerous times, to make sure I am ok. They take down every details of the car and driver.In their own way they try to take all the safety measure possible. And why is that, it is simply because I am a GIRL!
Well, obviously these things have never been spelled out to me, but one can definitely understand the extra concern all the time.

As a matter of fact,my parents did everything in their capacity to make me independent. They always treated me at par with my brother, gave me the best of education,best of amenities. They always treated me as an equal, never did anything that would differentiate me from my brother. I was allowed to do everything that my brother could. In fact, being the first child of the house, I was always encouraged to do many more things than my brother. There was never any bifurcation based on my gender.And I am sure this holds true for many girls out there.

But the same ME,the minute I step out of  the house,the society plays a pivotal role in making me realize that I am a GIRL.
Does any of this qualify me to call myself independent? And the part of my independence that I have,comes with a price of my parents being worried about me,when ever I step out of the house.

If a girl is treated like a princess at home, she is forced to wear n-number of restrictions once she is out of her nest.

But who forces our loved ones to subject such authority on us? Is it that by their will they are doing this?No,the answer is simple,it is the society that we live in, that forces them to impose these restrictions on us.

Would a guy ever be subjected to such behavior from their parents, NEVER-EVER.

GENDER-BIASING!

After 68 years of INDEPENDENCE, we have still failed to achieve one thing- respect women!

Each day, you open the newspaper or listen to news,you find at least two rape cases covered. And these are just the cases, which have been covered and reported.There would be so many such cases happening in the country, which go unreported, so many victims who have been just silenced under pressure, or many who have been blackmailed with dire consequences.

These heinous acts at such rates by the men in our society forces women/girls to be always subjected to authority. These acts forces parents to be extra cautious about their girl child.

We maybe independent from the British Raj, but we are still living in a country driven by the male chauvinism,where few men ruin the society with their acts.These men feel they can commit such acts,and can go unnoticed. And to add it, they even justify their acts.

When few of the rape accused were interrogated on why did they commit such crimes,they came up with answers like "We wanted to punish the girl, because she was roaming around with a guy so late in the night." 

Really?! Who gives a man the right to punish a girl?Who gives the man the right to decide what she can do,and what she can't?
Tracking the root is easy,the cause being men in our country still fail to respect women,treat them as an equal. Somehow men always tend to feel superior to women, and think she is their way to vent out any sort of frustration or anger. And EQUALITY takes a side track here.

We call ourselves a part of independent INDIA. But are the women of India really independent?

For me,in true sense,India would be independent when women of all cadre,caste,creed can live,breathe and stay freely-without the fear of being molested,sexually assaulted,eve-teased or raped.
When women can do what they want.
When the women in our country can walk with their heads high,without being subject to any authority and be damn-care.
When women can feel secured in all circumstances.
When all the parents having girl child, can be in peace, even after knowing that their daughter is outside home.
When such heinous acts would be made stringently punishable by law.
When the men in our society can stand up for the wrong that is being inflicted on the women.
When the men and women are allowed to stay,think and live in equality across all cadres,caste and creeds.
When the men in our country will start respecting each and every woman.

It is such a shame and an irony, that India is the country where we pray to numerous female deities but on the other hand women are treated with such atrocities.

The country needs  the awakening of men,much more than awakening of women.

So that every girl or woman can say "I am INDEPENDENT" in literal terms.

Cheers to life!!

~Believe in yourself always!