Guide does matter a lot..!

In my recent visit to Simhachalam and other places,felt a real importance of a guide when we were in the city ride vehicle to see interesting places.We were on that fateful day in the A.P.state tourism bus,heading for the destinations as our guide provided in the bus,busy briefing about  the places as they were closing by.The guide was not trained well in disclosing important historic details or other required information.He was not so well spoken even in Telugu and seemed never bothered about it.In our bus there were some families came from other states and they were not told details about the places even they have requested.It's not good in any aspect,visitors must be given priority ,because they have come here all the way  to see something worthy.

Scenic beauty as approaching Simhachalam 

One happiest thing is booking counters of state tourism are satisfactory in dealing with visitors at Vizag.Either at bus stop counter or Railway station counter,giving the people required info.Thanks for that,but guides in the bus allotted must be fluent at least in Hindi along with local language.In our bus, we experienced a guide's negligent info providing facts about things and places.He was no way interested in that job first,that's the real problem in our country.Even I felt it in some Northern states also.Many tourism offices of state governments behave like 9 to 5  jobs.

Anyway,happened to capture some beautiful pictures in the tour.I will keep posting them as often as possible.Here are two of them when our journey in action.Hope you enjoy it.

Simhachalam - A pilgrim place

Simhachalam,a well known hill top temple located in the midst of lush green ambiance.The place has its presiding deity of Varahalakshmi Narasimha swami with the consort of Lakshmi.Simhachalam is 20 km away from Visakhapatnam of Andhra pradesh and well connected by bus from Visakhapatnam.The deity is considered as the incarnation of Vishnu.Interestingly here the temple faces west side instead of east side.The temple is very ancient one with historical anecdotes inscribed on stone walls.Chola king Kulothunga (1098 AD),queen of Eastern Ganga of Kalinga (1137-1156),Narasimhadeva the second (1279-1306) and Sri krishnadevaraya (1516-1519) others visited the place and gave land and jewellery to the devasthanam.

We still can see 252 inscriptions in Telugu and Odiya in the premises of temple.As the temple located on the hill top one would feel cool breeze all the time.Bus stop and car stop places are classified in different locations.Staying facility is also there with number of choultries and other guest houses.Festival seasons witness more visitors and other days are preferable for having a leisure darshan.

A special festival called Chandanotsavam is celebrated here for the deity in the month of may.On that day only full form of deity will be seen without the sandal wood paste cover,remaining all other days not to be seen so due to the age old tradition.Nearest Airport is at Visakhapatnam (20km) and railway station is at Simhachalam (11km).Well connected by bus from Visakhapatnam.

Submitted to Our world tuesday

A Mystic introduced

Here I am going to introduce a mystic called Swami Balananda and his book "Spiritual Enquiry".Now he is no more physically.He happened to get samadhi around 70's.Once I was fortunate to visit the ashram some 25 years back,on the request of a friend.It was then in a dense forest amidst the high rising mountains and water falls.One has to cruise at least some hours to reach there.No modern amenities were there and no flux of disciples or followers were seen.Haunting peacefulness everywhere.the echoes of unknown birds were lulling the heart.A small ashram was there  and we found two persons there on maintenance.One lady was called Repalle talli.Must be around in her sixties.

The place is named by Perantalapalli among Papi kondalu,these are part of Eastern ghats.Now it's in East Godavari district of Andhra pradesh.Then ,in those 25 years back of time,no transport was certain to reach there except one boat in the morning and another boat in the evening.Animals were common to be seen.And colossal mountain ranges.And the gushing sound of Godavari in that eerie silence.Why this swami built his ashram in this dense forest ,if any epidemic engulfs ,any wild animal wants to strike,no doubt the human being should have died there and then without any outside help.

After getting there,A book that was written by Swamiji found by me there and asked the lady to let me purchase that.She accepted.For some years I never opened that book.Unintentionally recently flipped through it,really I was aback to think of his dedication,penances and his chosen path.We can't certainly know what happened to him to go to that dense forest to embark unusual things spiritually.

Swamiji, He elaborated many things in his book in the form of discourses.Surprisingly he never quoted any religious utterances or any prescribed text.All he told was what he came to understand  through his penances.He cited it in his foreword.The topics he discussed were from rebirths,human activities,nature and its role,demons,ghosts,Gods,human consciousness,and many many more.Very interesting.The first print seemed to be in 1963.So it was very old and pages ( 450 plus) almost are loosening its strength.Anyhow I am giving here some glimpses of that one.By the way Swami Balananda did not mention his real name or his whereabouts anywhere in the book,titled Spiritual enquiry .One must admit that Balanandaji's English is impeccable and the subject chosen was a matter of depth to assimilate.

Our World Tuesday

In fact I have taken this picture for the tree with no leaves.Resembled closely with the neurons of our brain system,sometimes things in the nature reminds some other and that will trigger a new thought eventually.Surrounding greenery is bushes unguarded,a small hut like roofed house is appealing was a residence abandoned long back.The white washed ones are conglomerate of hostel buildings.Once upon a time this village was affluent with many facilities,due to the destiny,its adjacent village Laksminagaram flourished as many of its mandal level offices established there.By the way it's name is Dummugudem,falls in Khammam district of Telangana state.The place is uniquely a fascinating one with many beautiful landscapes with age old mammoth trees sowed by British settlers once upon a time.Have posted other pics in my last posts also.

ABC Wednesday

Ferry in the river.Crossing the Sabari from Chattisgarh border village to Odisha state village.The picture was taken from the outskirts of Komta village.Daily wage workers exchange their visits  to fetch the work for their livelihood. Inter state borders usually have some Facility like this anyway.

ABC Wednesday

An exciting location at the village of Dummugudem.Lush green and flooding water together make it an eye feast in simple.In fact most of the people do not know the place as it is neither a tourist spot nor a renowned one.Let's call it a pristine charm.Water seems a little muddy as it's the season for floods.Other side of the banks, there was just like an island full of beetle nut trees and other plants.Enjoy your day friends..! 

Konta : A less known town in Chattisgarh

At last ,We have been to Komta,an obscure town located in the state of Chattisgarh.Umpteen times thought of being there in for its untouched natural beauty and its uniqueness in many ways.Small time towns offer much of variety in any country in my opinion.My friend Malyasri garu,a prolific Telugu writer asked me to accompany him when he was going to Komta to meet his friend  P.Srinivasa Rao  garu who is working as a teacher there.

This is a nagara palika panchayt with some  thousands of  population.Our bus stopped at the outskirts of Andhra and which is very close to the town of Komta.We have walked all our way to our friend's house,through the calm and serene lanes of neatly built houses and shops.Greenery is evident everywhere.At the bus stop we have taken a tea and the hotel vendors are from Andhra it seemed,they have spoken in coastal dialect in particular.Very reasonable rates indeed.

In the bus stop,private buses and autos etc., were seen.Anyway we reached the residence of Sreenivasa Rao garu.The couple received us warmly and served sumptuous meal and desserts.We were beyond having satisfied,thanks for their hospitality.Sreenivasa Rao garu told us many things about the area.He said that his forefathers had been come here around 1920's.Entire household is well versed in Hindi along with the Telugu.It seemed most of the people who engaged in business here are Telugus and some are Bengalis as well.

In return,we have visited a beautiful landscape called "Motu ghat" of river Godavari.This side Chattisgarh and Odisha that side.Both the states'people cross the river to have their works in routine.My maverick mind prompts me to have some photographs on this occasion of visit.