Started from Hyderabad with family this time without my wife. This is my first outside trip with my new Ertiga Zdi+. After filling it with Rs.1200 diesel (Rs59+ per litre) left for kuruvapuram. It is 200km away from home. I have never been to this datta kshetra though it is the nearest one.
We heard that it is remote area and food is not available. So we packed some snacks.
We took ORR (pedda amberpet - shamshabad). And we followed maruthi maps (comes with new vehicle). shamshabad, zadcherla then take right turn and reach makthal via mahabub nagar.
traffic in mahabub nagar is regularly heavy. And it is state formation day too. In between we took 1-2 tea breaks.
After reaching makthal we asked the people for kuruvagadda. Most of the people there do not know this place. One person told the route. We have to ask for 'Anugonda' After crossing indian oil and Bharat petrol bunks there is vasavi kanyaka parameshwari temple where the road will divert slightly to right. At this point we have to go to left leaving the raichur road. There was a small flexi indicating the kuruvapur road. From this point temple is 22km away.
Hyderabad to Zadchela 4 lane road. Zadcherla to makthal 2 lane road and makthal to kuruvapuram single lane road. Road widening was happening when we went there. Kuruvapuram road will be 2 lane road in 3-4 months.
After 22 km there will be an arch on right side and vittal baba ashramam will be visible. We reached vittal baba ashramam and parked our car. Vittal baba ashram is on the banks of krishna river.
The Shri pada sri vallaba temple is sourrounded by krishna river. In rainy season we can take small round boats (coracle) to cross the river oneway Rs.20 per person. If the water is very less (in summer time) many people will cross the river by walk. But if you are going there first time, better to go for rounded boats. If the water is less we have to take a boat till mid point(Telangana Karnataka Border)(10rs charge) and from there walk for a while and take another boat (Rs.10) till the main temple.
Two boys guided us the route and took us to temple, 800 year old baniyan tree where shri pada shri vallbha, tembe swami cave and the place where shri pada shri vallabha swami performed bath, pooja and surya namaskara at a cost of Rs.50/- each.
After crossing the river we reached the kuruvapuram temple. It was 2PM and the temple is open. Only few people came for darshan and 1 or 2 doing the Guru charithra parayana there. The temple is pleasent, very peaceful and silent. To enter into the temple men should remove their shirts and should wear lungi/dhoti which they will provide. We had the darshan and we asked pujari about kshetra mahima. Pujari told us Shri pada shri vallabha swami stayed for 16 years there and he explainded the story of vallabhesha (Chapter 10, Guru Charitra). Swami padukas are covered with flowers. We can have paduka darshan between 5AM to 9AM only (during Abhisheka). After that even pujaris will not touch. After darshan we came out and chanted "Digamaba Digambara Shri pada vallabha Digambara" for some time.
Pujaris will arrange food in the afternoon if we update them in the morning timings. The temple has sign boards indicating to keep silence, not to chew tobacco, ghutka etc. and interestingly 'To stay maximum of 7 days for Guru charithra Parayana'.
After that we left for 800 year old baniyan tree where swami came first and did the dhyana. After that we visited tembe swami cave and went back to the vittal baba ashram. From there we went to the place where swami used to perform the surya namaskara daily. After that we left for makthal.
In makthal, we filled fuel Rs.1200/- and had our lunch in pavani hotel. It is near to swagath grand hotel and home prepared food. Rs.50/- per plate. After the lunch we left for home and reached home by 10PM.
Digambara Digambara Shri Pada Vallabha Digambara
