A Trip to Thirupathi by walk

       Iam quite happy to share my experiences  on this trip .I  am publishing the blog late ,I hope i will not miss some interesting or exciting moments we faced.We planned a trip to thirupathi on Oct 8th and we booked a car from chennai to thirupathi.The trip is with my family,my uncle's and my aunt's ..We started our journey early in the morning by 4.30 AM.

Members of the Journey

The climate was quite chill since it was an October month.We totally 10(excluding driver)of us comfortably seated in the vehicle ,a 12 seater Qualis.We have 2 kids (my nephew and knees) with us.The car started with devotional songs as per instructions from my father and mother.The car we booked was with no good audio system.This disappoints us a lot and of-course the kids too.But still we started playing songs from our mobiles .For next 2 hours we had a quite ,cool and calm journey .My mother was commenting that we  were very calm ,because we were not out of sleep completely and hungry without breakfast .But the truth was that we were not thrilled on the trip without songs and few other friends we left out . 

         By 6 AM  we crossed tamilnadu border and started feel Andhra's climate with good view of mountains.The good scenes  we passed reduces our laziness and we came out of sleep and started to chat with very low voices .Then we planned to have a break ,so we stopped the car in a deserted place where no humans or animals around but only the vehicles passes us in the national highway. As soon as the car stopped we four and my uncle stepped down.

Thirumala in a Long View

We started to look for good locations and poses to capture.We had a handy -cam with us,,we took few good snaps and videos.We were forced to step into the car we decided to reach tirupathi before 9AM .   

My Cousin in a pose

By 7.30AM we reached almost near to Thirupathi so we decided to have breakfast before we reach thirupathi for dharsan.We stopped our car in a motel and had a stomach full breakfast .We four finished our food so fast and ran out for some good clicks in the camera .The motel was designed well with few antiques in the reception and the garden.

Waiting for breakfast

          We took nearly 20 snaps with different combination of persons.There was a resting place in the motel with chilrdren  park aside .we spent sometime in the park till the  elders finished their food .We had many clicks there.

Group photo in the Motel

 We started our journey again which was quite interesting ,because we started to chat on few hot topics between us ...I was in my own world with camera in hand capturing the running natures on two sides of the roads..Till we reach thirupathi we had no idea of dharshan by walk..As everyone experienced unplanned or unexpected  gives more flavor and happiness than a pre-planned or expected...There was only 5 to 10 KM to reach the destination.As one among the discussion we started sharing others experience on walk from thirupathi to thirumala.Suddenly my aunt said why can't we try for mountain climbing for dharshan,which was thrilling to hear.Next comes my uncle who accepts the proposal from my aunt ...Myself and my cousin raise hands next .So totally we were six decided to go by walk.After the final GO !! from my mother and father we started to think of path through hills and forest that leads to Lord Venkateswara .My father decides to travel in the car upto the hill and he requests my sister and a kid to come along with him which sounds better,as we think they will not be able to climb the altitudes .We doubted my mother that she might go along with my father but surprisingly she said " Enalayum mudiyum nanum nadanthu varaen" which means that  she is ready to walk.

                   After the decision we stepped out of the car as soon as we reached keel-thirupathi ,place where we have to start climbing the hill.The place is symbolized by an garudar idol which was big and splendid piece i can say ,specifies the journey 's epitome . The garudar Idol faces Lord venkatesawarao in the thirumala .The Idol is colorless, divine and in  sign of welcome

Garuda Statue at Tirupathi

(Keeping two hands together-Indian way of welcoming people).The time was exactly 8.45 AM and the climate was quite chill though the sun smiles on us.The climate is because of the hill and the forest around us.I felt really cool and thrilled with lots and lots of scenes in the mind .The scenes were obviously on the path ahead.We inquired on the way to start climbing the hill .We were guided by a lady,who sells flowers with different colors .I fixed a single prayer on my mind and i thought i should complete the walk with same prayer.I started murmuring my slogam on Lord Venkateswaro.Between this I thought that everyone will have the same kind of prayers for their own desires .To be true I tried to guess the prayers of each one who comes along with me.I had my cousin as a company and we started holding hands.We started exactly by 8.50 AM .

Initial steps to climb

 The initial point was like a cave with water leaking tubes .This tube sprays water gently on our feet ,which we considered that it would be for cleaning  our foot before we started to climb the holy hill Thirumala.  Was so thrilled to climb the initial steps of the hill.The First 50 steps were lighted with lot of camphor  and it was decorated so we well with turmeric and flowers.Devotees consider the steps to be so divine that leads to Lord Venkateswaro and they believe strongly that prayers will work for sure .Initially the steps were very steep since they built on the hill that leads us to quite high altitude.We climbed nearly 300 steps.Though I was with slogam on my tongue and prayers on my heart,,i was not satisfied in the scenes around us.I sould say that we quite disappointed as  the path was not so thrilled and we did not had a feel of being in a  hill      .

         While climbing we were hearing lots and lots of comments and communication on "number of steps" that leads to the destination.But nothing sounds

 true .We have counts on the steps of every 50 ,myself and my cousin started registering the counts that was written .After almost 500 steps we were able to feel the heights from the sea level.It was so chill though the time was 9.45 AM .There we can feel the nature

which makes us fresh and happy .We found lots of shops with snack and drinks where we stopped to have something that makes us energetic ..After 700 steps we found thick forest on both sides.

 I enjoyed my favorite green scenes on both the sides.The height really made us to feel the change in pressure and temperature of our body.While we reaching 1000 My mother and my aunt looks very tired and we reduced our speed to support them .We started to sit after 20 or 50 steps to make them comfortable .There were lot of shops with glucose which was a good catalyst for the devotees climbing steps..We happened to see lot of devotees lighting camphor on each steps .That surprises me a lot ,since we were struggling to climb the steps without doing anything special.
     I thought i should dedicate a separate paragraph for giving some thoughts on the beautiful green trees and plants on both sides of the steps.There was a rumor that many one killed by wild animals at thirupathi ,while climbing the steps of the hill.But we did not have this fear since we are very eager to have few clicks in-between the thick forests.The forest is not so thick  but looks bushy and looks scary in some places ..We saw lot of signboards that gives warnings on wild animals with pictures..We were commenting on the boards though we have a thought " how we will act  or react when a tiger suddenly jumps on us" really funny.
           Nearly 4 to 5 KM and 1500 steps were steep  after which we reached a plain where we have lots and lots of shops selling foods and snacks.There is  beautiful idols of

Lord Vishnu's avatars on every plains between the separation of the hills .There was a huge crowd for taking photographs  and we did not missed it too.We have a ticket counter and checking counters where a Identity photograph has to be taken and get register with name and signature.We were with great happiness of achievement .After we started to walk in the steps that were not steep but very flat steps .We felt very comfortable since we did not loose energy on walking in flat steps.One of the step says that it was 2500 steps and we felt only after that we climbed 2500 steps .

 We happened to see a lot of Deers on both sides and we did not missed the clicks along with them ..Thick trees in green and bright light in between on few spots which was selected for our camera clicks .

        After nearly 3000 steps we entered a long wide road where we can see vehicles that travels to Thirumala.There was a white goupra welcoming the group with divinity and beauty .

 We walked neary 3KM on the hair-pin bend road with  beautiful hills and tiny springs in between.In my last trips to Thirupathi i felt like walking in the roads, getting down from Bus or car which was attained in this trip.We saw beautiful deep valleys one side and brown gigantic mountains with trees and plants hanging .
Between the tress small or medium sized springs spraying water on the people who goes near for photo clicks.Looks like Brown fat Giant crying with open green hair.
 Some of the Beautiful clicks : 

          We My uncle was composing us that we were reached almost the destination and the last step to Thirumala.This really made us happy though we knew its not true.

 After we started climbing beautifully painted steps with decorated with flowers and turmeric and rangolis..Those steps seems to steep again and i think this is another hill we are climbing .We took lot of snaps there, since most of the places looks attractive and tempts us to sit for a while.After few number of steps (Not really - about 500 steps ) we climbed flat steps that extends about 5 KM .WE happened to see groups of monkeys which was trying to grab things from the devotee.We saw a group of people standing in a place .

 We pierced through the group and understood that we have reached the destination i.e:4800th steps.I cannot explain my feeling that time,I felt i achieved something big. We were very happy and there was an Hanuman Idol symbolizing the end of the 7 mountains .

 The time was exactly 1.30 PM noon.So  exactly we took 41/2 hrs .There we understood that we walked through all the 7 mountains ,some are with steep steps,some with flat steps and some with plains.We a snap there and we did window shopping there.The sun was bright but not too hot . From this place we took an auto to reach the temple entrance .It was about 3 KM from the statue.From there it is our choice to select the counter based on money we pay for tickets Either 300 Rs ticket or above is recommended in the month of Oct.Because the rush is unbearable and it is good to avoid taking small children and old aged persons in these months i.e: Oct to to mid-november .We did not feel that we were exhausred or with no energy ,look forward to move further with enthusiasm.

 we did'nt  missed to capture our achievement .We were eager to see darshan as soon as possilbe.

History of  Thirupathi :
 
       Thirupathi temple is an ancient hindu temple. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is located on the Tirumala hill and Tirupati is at the foot steps of the Tirumala hills.It is located at the south of andrapradesh. Tirumala has seven hills, this seven hills representing the seven heads of Sesha Saye a huge serpent on which lord vishnu resides. lord vishnu is considered the most powerful hindu god, he is believed to be the fulfiller of every wish made to him by the devotees.

The black idol of balaji or lord vishnu in thirupathi temple has 2 meter height. In this temple  tradition has it that the temple is Swayambhustala, meaning, it came into existence on its own without anyone making it.Temple is famous for wood carvings.This one of richest temple in the country.Tirumala temples nestles amidst the peaks of the seven hills of Tirumala. The temple can be approached from Tirupati by a 15 km .