On Saturday 28 September 2024, we went for a Scouting & Piloting Trip from Chennai to Tiruchanur to make the necessary arrangments for our forth coming Tirumala Padayatra from 07 December to 10 December 2024. We had already spoken over phone to most of our regular landlords and now we need to check the place again, confirm the dates, pay the advance and get the receipt.
This year, the number of pilgrims has surged by over 30% and hence we have to change some of our usual break / stay locations.
This time, for this pilot trip we had Shivakumar, Yuvaraj, Vijayaraghavan, Karthikeyan & myself - Mohanraj (alias Babu)
We started around 6:30 AM from our houses and each got pickedup on the way.
Reached our NCR (Naicker Chatiram Residence) location around 7:30AM, offered prayers at our temple and started our trip.
In keeping with our tradition, this location - NCR, will serve as our starting point. During this recent monsoon rain, our NCR location has compeletly overgrown with trees and vegetation which need to be cleared. That work will be completed during the first week of December.
First we went to our lunch location - Kannigaiper and tried finding if there are any other better new location in that area but that location being very small village there are no other marriage hall with big space to accommodate our crowd. So we decided to stick to our same place - Sri Govinda Bhavanam Trust Marriage Hall.
We went in and inspected the place if it is still good as last time. From there we called the Trust that owns this place and informed them about our requirement and got the confirmation and also confirmed with the care taker residing there.
Next, we started towards our night stay place. On the way we checked our Tea spot - if it is still feasible to have a tea break along roadside - it is still good.
We reached Jessy Mahal, Latchivakkam which will be our night stay location. Enquired with the care taker about the availability of the place during our travel date and negotiated on the rentals and finalized the palce. Gave the advance and took the receipts.
By then it was almost 9:30AM and we had our breakfast on a restaurant on the way.
After breakfast, we reached Uthukottai. This being the last big town before Puttur, we tried identifying and noting down some 24 Hrs Medical Service Facility which might be handy if there are any needs during our Padayatra. There was only one 24 Hr Hospital there - Jeevan Hospital on the road towards Tiruvallur.
We reached Nagalapuram. We know that our usual place - Saibaba Temple cannot accommodate our count this time for the breakfast, so definetly we want to find an alternative location.
We recalled noticing a new Kalyana Mandapam on the way to the temple and decided to check it out. Unfortunately, it wasn't available, so we continued our search for another place.
Finallly, we found TTD Kalyana Mandapam, opposite to the Vedanarayanaswamy Temple entrance and found that place to be big enough and also neat. Enquired about hiring that place and finally booked it immediately.
So this time, for breakfast we are moving to a new place instead of our regular location of Saibaba Temple, which we were using for more than 18 years either for breakfast or for lunch.
Having decided on the breakfast location, we now need to find a better spot for lunch. Unfortunately, our usual spot at the Shivan Temple can’t accommodate such a large group and lacks necessary facilities.
Although we've been using this place as dinner spot and for overnight stays, or as lunch spot, since 2003, we have no choice but to find a new venue.
Since there are no villages between here and our night stay in Palamangalam, we decided to search for a place in Pichatoor town itself. After searching throughout the town, we eventually found a suitable place right at the town's entrance.
This place MKT Mahal, Pitchatoor, was spacious and neat and also right on the main road. We enquired with the care taker and got the contact details of the owner of the place.
When we reached out to the owner, he was initially reluctant to rent out the place for our purpose. However, after a lengthy and persuasive conversation, he finally confirmed in the evening as we were heading back. Immediately we made a advance payment through online and got the receipt.
From there we went to Palamangalam night halt location - Shri Bhadravathi Sametha Bhaavanarushi Function Hall and tried meeting the owner and confirm our dates. However he was not there and when enquired he was in another village. So we went to that village, met him there and confirmed our travel dates and gave the advance.
He mentioned that he would be available at the premises in the evening and invited us to come see the newly built rooms at that time.
Next location is the Karthik Function Hall, at Puttur bypass end for next day breakfast. When we went there the in-charge was not available and when called and spoken he did not confirm but told that he will check the bookings and let us know by evening or within 2 days.
This being important location and no other option we had, we decided to wait until he gets back hoping it will turn out positive.
Next, we headed to Appalayagunta, our designated lunch stop. When we arrived, we discovered that a festival was taking place at the Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy Temple, and the area was packed with devotees.
The road leading to our destination passed through the temple area, which was so congested that we had to crawl along slowly toward the Sri Vaibhava Lakshmi Function Hall.
After a certain point, we could no longer drive further, so we called the landlord to see if he could meet us on Temple Street. Fortunately, he was not at the venue but was in Tiruchanur, which was our next stop, and he offered to meet us there in about an hour.
Once again, we know, our usual Tiruchanur location wouldn’t be sufficient to accommodate our group, so we definitely needed to find an alternative venue.
So, we decided to check with the caretaker of our regular venue to see if they could recommend any nearby accommodations for both dinner and an overnight stay for our group size.
Upon their suggestion, we found that the very next buiding is available and it is spaceous enough to accommodate our group size. Then we met with the landlord of that place - AVR Residency, and after a long negotiation regarding the rental cost, finally we both agreed. We paid the advance and took the receipt from him.
By then it was almost 2:30PM and we again called the Landlord of Sri Vaibhava Lakshmi Function Hall. He told he is on his way to Tiruchanur from Tirupathi and wil be there within next 30 mins. We deceided to have lunch in a restaurant on the way to Tirupathi and then wait for him.
Within few minutes after our lunch, the landlord arrived and he agreed for our dates, took the advance and gave receipt.
We started our return journey and on the way back we visited Shri Bhadravathi Sametha Bhaavanarushi Function Hall and met the landlord. He showed us the newly built guest rooms and told we can even use those rooms during our stay there.
With that, almost all places that we halt for food and for overnight stay were finalized and paid advance - except for Karthik Hall. We will be calling these locations a week before and also on a day before of our travel and reminding them on our arrival there.
From there we started back to chennai. After this, once back home, we need to look into other arrangements like fixing the caterer, finalizing the food menu, purchase of grocery & consumables, vehicle arrangement, water supply etc etc.
The Landlord of the Karthik Hall gave his confirmation on following week and we paid the advance over online.
And that's it - looking forward for this year padayatra and wishing you all a happy and safe padayatra 2024.
