' Deep ' Purple !!!

This week I was welcomed by this wonderful bloom in my house.



A cool pleasant weather with the sun playing hide and seek is what we Bangloreans are experiencing from many days.



Have got many visitors who are making hay whilst the sun shines.



It is always good to grow some plants in the house as it adds to the beauty along with its main role of purifying the air from CO2 and releasing O2.

Ascent

This was the scene at 3-30 AM in the Tirupathi bus stand. There was a huge crowd of devotees waiting to get the tickets for the darshan up the Thirumala hills. Left Bangalore on the night of July 6 with three friends.



After we got the tickets for darshan at 9 PM we checked into a hotel and freshened up. We decided to experience the arduous climb while it was still cool. So we started at the foothills at 7-45 AM. Devotees walk up the steps round the clock.



It usually takes 4 hours on a average inclusive of the numerous rest breaks taken. Portions of the path are very steep and it puts the body to the maximum stress test.



The lovely Deers along the footpath up the hills.



My friends and me ascended without taking a single break. It was really taxing and rejuvenating for the body.



Along the path there are numerous such arrangements of stones by the devotees. According to one version there is a belief that one will build a house in his lifetime if he does this.

Finally we reached up after climbing up 4000 odd steps / 9 Kms, in about 2.5 hours.

After the darshan of lord Venkateshwara, we left for Bangalore on the same night.