Last weekend we planned to go to Sabarimala. But, we couldnt make it for various reasons. So, instead we visited some local temples and ashram.
March 24th and 25th we planned for Guruvayoor.
We started from home at 8:00PM after having dinner, reached the station by around 9:15PM. Our train to Trichur (Amrutha Express) came on time at 10:00 PM and started at 10:30PM. As soon a sthe train started we went to sleep after setting alarms on all the phones for 4AM.
We got down at Trichur early in the morning at 4:15AM.
We dont have any idea on how far the bus stand is and how to go to Guruvayoor from there. There were some cabbies behind us telling us that we wont get any bus at that time and have to take a cab. But, we wanted to take a bus. After enquiring with some people we went to busstand, which is just out side the railway station :-).
At busstand, we got to know that the KSRTC bus is at 6AM. Outside the busstand, therewere few private services. We got into one of the bus to Guruvayoor and reached Guruvayoor by 6:30AM.
We didnt have reservation, so we had to search for an accomodation. The city was too crowded that day and almost every hotel was full. Dad went on search and we were waiting for him. Almost after 45min. he came back saying he found something. We took our luggages and started following him. He was walking, walking and walking... finally we went to the hotel room had bath and left for darshan.
We wanted to have darshan before taking breakfats. But the queue was too long, we changed our mind and went for breakfast. The breakfast was very tasty had heavy breakfast and stood in queue at around 9:30AM. Before standing in queue we had to deposit all mobile, camera etc at a counter there. Men are not allowed to wear anything on top. We came out by 11AM. It was too crowded and they were pushing the devotees even before one gets to see the god.
After coming out we went back to hotel for a quick nap. But all of us fell asleep that no one got up until 2:30PM. Everyone started feeling hungry and started looking for lunch. We were asking every hotel if they have lunch. Most of them said "No" or they have Kerala meals. Finally one place was serving meals with sona masoori rice. We had our lunch there.
We hired an auto for local sight seeing which includes Punathur kotta ( where the temple maintains big number of elephants) and Siva temple. We came back from the temple at 6PM.
Instead og going back to hotel, we wanted to spend sometime around temple before having dinner and then go to hotel.
Nanamma and thatha wanted to have darshan once again. Dad didnt want to go. I stayed with dad irrititaing him to buy me some toys. Finally he had to buy me some toys. After an hour, nanamma, thatha and mummy came back. We were surprised to see them back so fast. They said, they didnt have darshan as the gates were closed for some pooja after waiting in queue for an hour. It will be closed for an hour. So, they left the queue and came back. It was 7:30PM. So, we spent some time around temple going through all the shops.
At 8:30PM, we had dinner and went to hotel for rest.
When I got up early in the morning at 6AM, only dad was with me. He said, nanamma, thatha and mummy went for an early morning darshan at 4AM. The plan was to leave Guruvayoor by around 7-8 AM and visit a temple in Trissur before we catch our train to Trivandrum at 11:50AM.
Me and dad were waiting for thatha and group. They came at around 8:30AM. They said it was too crowded and took so much time for darshan. But, they were satisfied with having nija roopa darshanam.
When we finished breakfast and started back to Trissur, it was 9:30AM. The bus reached Trissur at 10:15Am. The bus stopped at a distant place from railwa station and we walked to the station as we had lot of time. We waited at staion for an hour before the train came.
We reached Trivandrum at 6:15PM and home by 7PM.
Next week we are planning to go to Kanyakumari for my birthday celebrations...
