One can consider this as an official entry to the contest hosted by 
[The gate at the top of the Hill]
It's hard to pick a visit for me. But if I were to share one experience, that would be of the Tirumala Tirupathi Sri Venkateshwara Temple (Lord Balaji Temple). I had been there 4-5 times and each time the experience is different. I am struggling to find words to describe the feeling but I will try my best. One time I remember spending more than 28 hours in the queue one time to get the lords darshana and the other time it was like a miracle we got the darshana in the 3hrs. Most of my visits to Balaji Temple was when I was stationed at Chennai. And for my journey to the temple is always by Bus. From Chennai to Tirupati and from the Triupati to Tirumala Hills by Hike. A 9KM trail from the bottom of the hills to the Tirumala Temple. There are 3500 steps to the temple. How do I know because the steps are marked at regular intervals, usually every 100 steps will have marking.
[Steps about halfway journey]
[Hanuman ji Status]
[Hanuman ji watching over us]
I preferred the steps for myself when the last time I visited with family (My wife and kid) we took the bus to the hilltop. Because the steps can be brutal at times. But the steps offer not only a glance on your health condition but to meet new people and to listen to there story and experience. I prefer the nighttime to start my hike because even though the trail is through the jungle it can be really hot and humid during daytime, and the steps can be scorchingly hot. The beauty of the trail is that by the time you reach the top you would have forgotten why you even started the journey. I have seen people dancing with joy and singing and chanting Govinda Govinda throughout the trail. And that sight alone is enough to replenish the energy meter. I believe that the visit to be a personal mind and soul cleansing exercise. Because by the time you reach the hill top your body would be exhausted, drained and only one thing will be there on your mind and that is to visit lord venkatesh and get a glimpse of him and taste the delicious divine prasad (Laddu).
[Krishna Avatar]
[Sri Ram]
[Varaha]
And just when you get into the line with thousands upon thousands of devotees, you understand how small and irrelevant your problems really are. Because I have seen people who have nothing but are still happy. I once saw a guy climbing the steps on his knees while applying chandan (Sandalwood Paste) and kumkum (vermilion) to each step. He was just happy that his daughter had gotten into a good college, and he gave the credit to god. I used to believe that people were unreasonable, but now I understand that it's about a personal connection. We dont have to find meaning in each and every action that is happening around us. We just need to understand that the definition of faith is different for everyone, and each one experiences god differently. You dont have to be a fanatic to experience the magic. You dont even have to ask, because god already knows what's best for you.
While photography is not allowed in the Temple of Tirumala Tirupati. A replica of the temple was built in Vijayawada, and I managed to click this.
NAMO VENKATESHA, NAMO TIRUMALESHA, NAMASTE NAMASTE NAMHA
Hi Folks
You must have been wondering what happened to this guy. Well, it was Navratri and I was practising my fasting for nine days. Now the fasting is over, and I'm back to full strength to play around the hive and entertain you all.
And as always, A big thank you to Indiaunited and the beawesome community for the love and support.
And a big thank you to
Image source - All images were taken by me. during my visit to these awesome places.
