Tirupathi Pilgrim trip

Our Tirupathi pilgrim trip started by Pondy to Tirupathi passenger train on 18 Nov'11. I started off from my Cuddalore at 1.00 p.m. and caught the train at the Villupuram rail station. We, a group of 5, reached Tirupathi at 11.00 p.m. Took rest at the Railway waiting hall. Got up by 3.00 a.m. Took bath and then started off in an auto rickshaw to Alamel Mangapuram by 4.30 a.m. Lucky to have Suprabatha darshan of the diety. By 6.00 a.m. we started off in an auto rickshaw to Alipiri, the starting point of the foot path to Tirumala. Finished our walk up the hill by 1.00 p.m. Had the free lunch provided by the Devasom and deposited our luggage in the locker. Had bath and proceeded to the Vaikuntam Q Complex by 4.00 p.m. We waited for some 3.5 hours and our queue to be opened. Had darshan of the Lord Venkateshwara by 9.00 p.m. and came out by 9.30 p.m. Bought the Rs.100 token for 4 additional laddus and then went for the queue to get the laddus. By 10.00 p.m. we completed our pilgrimage of the Lord. Came back to the amenities hall, had food and vacated our locker. It was now 11.00 p.m. Caught the bus downhill and came to the Tirupathi Rail Station by 12.30 p.m. The train from Tirupathi-Pondy starts by 4.00 a.m. The train was found parked. We hoped of taking some precious sleep on the train. So, we bought the tickets and boarded the train. The train has 8 coaches and we went into each and every compartment to get a seat to sleep on. But ill luck for us, each and every seat has already been occupied by the people. Atlast there were only two seats vacant on the whole of the train. We managed to sleep on it and we found other three upper berths meant for keeping the baggages. We climbed and laid ourselves to rest by 2.00 a.m. Got into deep slumber and we never knew when the train started off from the Tirupathi Rail Station. At around 7.30 a.m. we awoke when the train was halting at the Arakonam Rail Junction. Got down from the sleeping board and finished the morning routine. The train started off after a 40 minute hiatus. We reached the Villupuram rail station by 1.00 p.m. Then caught the bus to Cuddalore. Reached home by 2.30 p.m.
On the whole it was a journey  little over 48 hours. Such is the quickest of my Tirupathi trips in my life time.