Puttaparthi is the home and
the headquarters of the spiritual guru, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Venerated as a reincarnation
of the Shirdi Sai Baba, a mystic saint who lived in the beginning of the 20th
century, this Sai Baba has a large following worldwide. Puttaparthi is located in a rocky
and arid part in southwest Andhra Pradesh, quite close to the border with Karnataka. This
erstwhile nondescript village where the Sai Baba was born is now equipped with schools, a
state of the art health care centre, a sports complex and a university. Sai Baba spends
most of the year at the ashram here. In the hot season he may retire to Kodaikkanal in
Tamil Nadu or to Whitefield, near Bangalore. It’s a good idea to confirm whether he
will be there when you visit before you make the journey. Telephone: (08555) 87583.
Getting There:
There are flights twice a week from Chennai and Mumbai. The nearest station is at
Dharmavaram, very well connected to Puttaparthi by bus. There are trains to Dharmavaram
from Bangalore and Hyderabad. Most people come down to Puttaparthi by road. There are
buses from Bangalore and an overnighter from Chennai but the ride is bumpy. Long haul road
journeys are better handled in a car. Hire a cab and the cabbie and you’re ready to
roll.
Accommodation: Most
devotees stay at the ashram where accommodation is cheap, basic, but comfortable and
clean. Sai Baba devotees run other establishments, basic and not so basic. The Sri Sathya
Sai Village has air-conditioned rooms and a multi-cuisine restaurant. Early to
bed-&-early to rise, and no substance abuse (dope, alcohol) is mandatory behaviour
everywhere in Puttaparthi. Food at the ashram is vegetarian, extremely cheap and clean.
There are a few eateries scattered around the village that serve simple but delicious,
wholesome ware. The ashram foundation runs a brilliantly equipped hospital that provides
free treatment and medical care.
The small town of Lepakshi definitely warrants a diversion if you
are making your way between Puttaparthi and Bangalore. A large monolithic sculpture of
Nandi, Shiva’s bull guards the town entrance. The Veerbhadra Temple is beautiful and there’s an
English-speaking guide to take you through the intricacies of mythology, architecture and
history.
For detailed state and
visitor information, see Andhra Pradesh. |
