Varanasi Tour 2010

Varanasi Tour 2010

Introduction:
During October month we have decided to visit three Jothilingas i.e. Varanasi, Ujjain and Omkareeswar temples in December 2010.We have decided to make the trip short by choosing air travel to Delhi from Chennai and return travel by air from Mumbai to Chennai by air. All the other travels from Delhi to Varanasi, Varanasi to Indore and Indore to Mumbai were carried out by over night trains.

Day-1: 18.12.2010 Saturday:
We have assembled at Chennai Domestic terminal at Chennai air port (MAA) at 5.30 hrs. First we have security check for our baggage and hand them over to SpiceJet desk (Counters 27 to31) and got the boarding pass for SG-312 flight. After personal check up we proceeded to Gate No4.At 7.15 hrs we were asked to board SpiceJet bus to go to the aero plane. We got seats 23D,24E & 24F( window seat).The flight took off at 7.30 hrs. The journey was very nice. We have arrived Delhi at 10.00 hrs. After getting the luggage we went to New Delhi Railway Station by prepaid taxi. We put all our luggage in the cloak room.

We crossed all the platforms and went to Metro station on the other gate. We got metro ticket to Akshartham. We first boarded a train( Yellow line) to Rajiv Chowk. Then changed train (Blue line)to Akshardham ( Noida train).The train goes via Yamuna Bank. We went to temple by rickshaw. We noted that the Akshardham temple just out side the Metro station after a right turn of 90 degree.We have visited the Sanskruthi Vihar - boat ride ( 15 mts) and a movie about swaminarayan i.e.Neelakanth Darshan(40mts).As we have limited time we have not visited Sahajanand Darshan ( 50 mts) light and sound shows. Then we visited the Main temple. The Murti is 11 ft high gold plated murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

We then returned to New Delhi Railway station by Metro in the same route. After we took tiffin
( Dosai) at canteen in the station, we got our luggage and went to the platform. The train 12560 is already there in the platform. We occupied our seats. The train started at 6.45 pm to Varanasi.

Day-2:19.12.2010 Sunday:
The train reached Varanasi at 9am after 2 hours late. We went to Kumarasamy Matt located at Kedar Ghat by separate autos ( Rs120 per auto).We got five spacious rooms with attached bath in the new building.

We went to Kedar Ghat and had holy dip in the Ganges. We proceeded to Annapurani temple and had Dharshan and took meals there. Then we went to Vishalakshi temple and Viswanathar temple which are nearby. We had nice Darshan in the temples freely.We have purchased Puja items such as Ganga Theertham, Annapurani and Spadiga maalai and banaras Silk sarees.

From there we went to Kalabhairavar temple by rickshaw. After darshan we have purchased Kasi Kyaru, Chakra etc. We returned to our room by 8pm.We got south Indian tiffin ( Iddly, Vadai and Dosai) in the hotel opposite to the Mutt.

Day-3 Monday:
We arranged Tata Sumo car and went to all the temples in Varanasi. We went to Choli Madha temple, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas temple,Hanuman temple and Kasi Raja’s Ram Nagar palace & Vyasar Kasi temple.Finally we went to New Viswanathar temple ( Birla Mandhir) located in BHU. It is a very big temple constructed by Madan Mohan Mallavia similar to the ancient Viswanathar temple which was destroyed by mughal rulers. We returned to our room at 12.30 hrs. We vacated our rooms and proceeded to Varanasi Junction by Sumo car. We boarded the train 19322 at 4.45 pm and the train started at 5.00pm.

Day-4 Tuesday:
Morning full of train journey. In the after noon the train reached Ujjain station at 3.00 pm. Ujjain, a historic capital of Central India in Madhya Pradesh is an important pilgrimage center enshrining Mahakaleshwara, one of the Jyotirlinga manifestations of Shiva. The town is situated on the Right bank of the holy Kshipra River. Ujjani is the modern name for Ujjayini. We went to Mahakaleswar temple at Ujjain. The idol of Omkareshwar Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nagpanchami. On the way we have also visited Kali temple , Kal Bhairava temple on the banks of the Shipra. and Navagraha Mandir which is dedicated to the nine ruling planets . It is located on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra river. Then we proceeded to Indore. We reached the Hotel Samrat at 9pm.After putting luggage in the room we had tiffin at Chotiwala Hotel.

Day-5:Wednesday:
We proceeded to Omkareswar at 7am.We got some food on the way. Omkareshwar is located in an island in the Narmada River. Tourists who arrive at the banks of river, which is also part of the town, have two options to cross the river. There are two bridges that connect the temple to the other side of the river. Tourists also have the option of crossing by steamer. We went to the temple by boat. It is a huge and temple on three stories. Scenic attraction has always been an exciting factor in Omkareshwar. Situated on the river banks, climate in Omkareshwar is absolutely pleasant and friendly We had food in Chotiwala and returned to the room. We vacated the rooms and went to Station and boarded the train 12962 to Mumbai. The train started at 15.50 hrs.Full night train journey.

Day-6:Thursday:
We have reached Mumbai BCT station at 6.45am.We proceeded to Chembur by car. We got room in Hotel Suryaprakash in Chembur. After break fast in Geetha Bhawan hotel, we have arranged a car for Mumbai local visit. There is a Krishna Sweets branch in Chembur. We have purchased snacks in the shop.We have visited all important places such as Gate Way of India, Taj Hotel, Air India Building, Oberoi Hotel, Chowpati beach,Marine drive, Mahalakshmi temple, SidhiVinayak temple, Juhu beach, ISKAN temple etc. We had meals at Udupi hotel in Juhu beach. We returned our room at 9.pm.We had nice tiffin in Geetha Bhawan.

Day-7:Friday:
Today we have planned visit to Shiridi & Trimbakeswar by car. We have started at 6 am and proceeded to Trimbakeswar. We have seen lot of devotees going to Shiridi by walk on the road.On the way we have seen Kasra hill and Igatpuri hill station and a dam which is the starting point of river Godavari. We have reached Trimbakeswar at 11am . We visited the temple. It is one of the twelve Jotilingas. There is heavy rush in the temple. After having the Dharshan we proceeded to Shiridhi. We have reached Shiridhi at 4pm.We had a nice dharshan of Sri Sai Maharaj in the Samadhi Mandhir. After seeing all the places inside the temple complex, we returned from Shiridi at 6pm and reached Mumbai hotel at 10.30 pm.

Day-8: Saturday:
We vacated our room at 8am and put our luggage in the reception hall. After had our break fast at Geetha Bhawan, we went around Chembur shops and had local purchase. After getting the luggage from the hotel,we proceeded to Mumbai Domestic Airport (BOM) at 11.30am. After check in formalities we boarded IndiGo flight 6E-279 at 2.30 hrs. The flight took off at 2.55 hrs. We enjoyed the flight very much as we got the window seat. The flight reached Chennai at 4.45 pm. We have arranged car from Neyveli. The car waited for us in the airport. We went to Nanganallur relative’s residence and had our tiffin. Then we proceeded to Neyveli at 6pm.We reached our house safely at 10.30 pm.

Sri Kumaraswamy Matt,B/13/156,
Sonarpura, Kedar Ghat,Varanasi-221001,
Ph:0542-2454064 Hotel Samrat,18/5,
M.G Road,Indore.Ph:0731-4067840

Hotel Surya Prakash,Sidharth House,
Plot No: 11A,19th Road, Chembur,
Near Ambedkar Garden,
Opp to Chambridge Show Room,
Mumbai-71,Ph 022-25275780/81/82& 022–25240717

Annapurna Hotel,70H,
Geetmala Building,
70th Central Avenue Road,
Chembur, Mumbai-71
Ph: 022-25280124

Nattukkottai Nagara Satram,
(149)1/91,Mori,Daraganj,
Allahabad,Mr.N.Jayam Kondan
Ph:0532-2501275 & Mobile - 09651765246

Sri Kasi Nattukkottai Nagara Satram,
Godowlia, Varanasi,Ph: 0542-2451804