Tirumala Tirupathi Trip II

Getting darshan at Tirumala Tirupati temple had been tough for our family who went to stand in queue at night for free darshan could not get vision even after morning, whom were shut in rooms the whole night are released only in morning after devotees got furious to open the gate, the temple authority took a photo and gave everyone a timing card to bring back after couple of hours refreshing at room. The dad who was taking care of me at night was supposed to go for darshan after grandma, mom and cousins return, was anticipating the whole night for their arrival, but they came at last after our breakfast with an intense stress and sorrowful face of not getting vision.

(A free bus service in tirumala, operated for the benefit of pilgrims.)

I was expecting them to be soon so that I can visit other places nearby and on way back to home; it was disappointing the time took for them to receive the vision of lord and the cousin who spent the whole night in the rooms refused to go back thinking it might delay again. After lunch, gandma, mom and a cousin went again with their card to return in 2 hours only come out by 5 and the hotel we book in for a day was suppose to vacate by 3 pm so before they say we vacated the room and parked within their premises among the Woodside waiting for them.

In meantime we checked the Silathoranam, which is a Natural Arch located 1km from the Tirumala temple is a wonderful archeological site considering enormous value to the department’s point of view. Silathoranam, which means is a rock garland stung over a threshold, is an arch… measuring 8m in width and 3m in height is a natural formation dates back to a billion and a half years old.

This is a place elevated from the temple town towards left is surrounded by trees and rocks replacing a sight of forest, attract many visitors who come to tirumala and almost the Jeeps take control the need of bringing people to this natural arch. Following the arch, steps lead down to more rock formations and the view from this point is evergreen and gray rocks which are quite opposite to the temple town valley that rose in bricks and cements.

The arch is one of a few natural arches or bridges in Asia withstood to intensify weathering and erosion of steam action is found during the excavation that take place in this area in 1980s. The nature rock arch has two dissimilar set of rocks with a connecting thin link. We then drive toward another place called as sri padam, but we withdraw it rather after going somewhat through this forest road, which was quiet and visible of some anthill, thinking it might take much time, we get back to our parking area and waited till we receive a call from cousin.

It was dusk surrounded while we decide to climb down and it was quite dark half the way down hill, the tirupati city has began to twinkle away. It was wonderful seeing those colorful lights spread down and the multi hairpin bends and wild animal’s news of late are something bothers me as it was even dark. It was night as we drive home and nothing to observe like arriving, I missed the opportunity of visiting some places en route and it was dark everywhere giving company in the light of Lories and trucks that passes us. We had our dinner in Tiruvallur as a last customer to close the hotel since it was nearly 10pm and reached home at 11.

City of Tirupati