Links
  Alma Mater:   About Life@ISB:     Carnatic Music - My Favorites:  
Other Sites/Blogs I visit:   ISB Blogs:  
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Trip to Ahobilam - Part 3

Its been really long since I wrote Part 2 of this thread. One of my friends is planning to visit temples in South India and might most probably visit Ahobilam. He wanted me to complete this thread ..... so here goes .....

(Please click here to access Part 1 and here to access Part 2 of this thread)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After reaching Prahalada Padi, we visited the Yoga Narasimhar shrine.
Way from Prahalada Padi to the shrine
From top to bottom: The priest, Rajani, Murali and Ramki

The priest (archakar) performed 'puja' (archanai) and explained us the significance of the place. From here, we started the most difficult part of our climb - the trek to the top to reach the "Ugra Sthambam" which is believed to be the place with the iron pillar from where Lord Narasimha emerged. The trek upwards was really tough. As I was not aware of the trekking part, I was wearing slippers which made it all the more difficult for me. After climbing for a long time, we finally managed to reach the top.
This is Ramki sitting on one of the rocks at the top

To go to "Ugra Sthambam", we had to pass through a narrow stretch of rocks which were slippery and had around 2 km drop on both sides. I decided to stay at the top and not proceed to "Ugra Sthambam".

At the top ... the ones from our group in this picture are Rajani (green shirt), Murali (blue shirt), and Karthik (white T-shirt). The one behind in the white full sleeve shirt is the driver for our trip and the one to his left (behind Karthik) is our guide for the climb. The couple behind Rajani came along with us for most part of the climb.

Karthik, Murali and Ramki (L to R) returning from "Ugra Sthambam" while a monkey keeps vigil
Thats me ... the one to your right when you face the picture :-) .... at the top of the climb

The climb down was really difficult. The rocks were very slippery and it was proving really difficult to get a firm foothold with slippers on. We reached Jwala Narasimhar shrine after spending a lot of time climbing down carefully. On the way, we saw a spot called "Rakta Kundam" which is where Lord Narasimha is believed to have killed the demon. Near this spot is a huge waterfall. Here are some more snaps taken on the way down ....

Rajani & Venu (the driver) catching some fresh water from the waterfall
More monkeys ... a group of monkeys actually trekked along with us for almost the whole of the trip as though guiding us on our way
A bridge on the way

We finally reached the spot where we originally started from and went inside the main temple there to have darshan. We were feeling very hungry by that time after having spent all our energies trekking up and down. Murali happened to strike a conversation with a senior priest there. Don't know if we told the priest that we were very hungry or he figured it out himself. I think it was the former. When he heard we had trekked up till the very top he was very happy and was kind enough to arrange some "prasadam" for us.

It was almost dark by the time we reached lower ahobilam. We just killed time for 3-4 hours while our driver slept in order to get ready to drive in the night. I think we left Ahobilam at around 10:30PM and reached ISB in the morning at about 6:30 or 7AM.

***********************************************************************

Finally, I leave it to you to interpret the following two snaps and to appreciate the similarity in them (I think I am in for some real good bashing from KR tomorrow) ......
Snap 1
Snap 2, taken at the same place immediately after taking Snap 1, although from a different angle

posted by Ram at 8:18 PM

9 Comments:
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great work dude,

really appreciate your work..

those pic were amazing. i am also planning to visit the place tomorow.

thanks

suresh

11:10 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

hi
its really great wonderfull i also planing to go ahobilam iam in chennai can guide me for my trip about the train timings, accomodation rate,guide rate,and at what time should i reach the lower ahobilam for dharshan please guide me i am waiting for your reply

6:50 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Pavan

Nice pictures


We have booked the tickets on june

any guide we will with us

11:01 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Excellent commentary.Photos are amazing. I am sixty plus.
Guide me whether I can climb and see ugrasthambam.
Please give me the road map to Ahobalam devasthanam,details about accommodation, guide, their rates and timings.
Thank you,
vasanthpadman

10:29 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your experience in the trip...could you tell me was the night journey safe to travel as it is a hilly area.

I am going along with my parents and grand mom....will they be able to walk till ugrasthambam????? waiting for your response.

You can send me these details to my mail id geethasim@gmail.com

FYI...i am going this saturday thats 10th of July 2010.

11:25 AM  
Blogger Kannan said...

It's been my long time interest to know about Ahobilam mutt. So When I start google it, some where I started but when I started your write , it was informative and so impressive with good photo to let me know and understand the place much better.

Thanks to you.
Kannan( kannanann@gmail.com)

5:35 PM  
Blogger Highspirits said...

Thanks for the information buddy...it helps people like me who are planning to visit this place..

8:55 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Informative article...I am also planning...I have a kid of one year... how May temples can we cover as I have to carry my kid???

3:09 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Nice experience.we are planned to go Feb 2019 through atmayana mayyam group

3:00 AM  
Post a Comment

About Me
Name: Ram

View My Profile

Orkut me !!

Previous Posts
Update on placements
Its all started
A typical day (these days)
Concerts in Delhi
4 days to the D-Day
Rang De Basanti
Tennis @ ISB
More shortlists
Shoppers' day out
Musical Evening in Mumbai

Archives
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006


Carnatic music:
General links I visit:




Powered by Blogger
Thanks for visiting my blog !!!
You are in Ram's abode
 Disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own.