Sai Darshan Tour

Sai Darshan Tour: Complete Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Bangalore
Arrive Bangalore airport/ railway station meet and greet with our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel check in.

Afternoon half day city tour visit the Lal Bagh Garden: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. Also see the Government buildings Vidhana Soudha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing.

The Bangalore Palace & Fort: The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple. The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887 on the 400 acre space. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, foiled windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for its carving and paintings.

Tippu’s Summer Palace: The palace was first a mud-brick defense built by Kempegowda in 1537. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan later rebuilt it 1791. The two-storied structure (replica of the Daria Daulat in Srirangapatnam) served as Tipu's summer retreat. An inscription on the wooden screen describes the palace as the 'abode of happiness', almost mocking the ruins that surround it. Though the palace still has elegant teak pillars, most of the painted decorations have been destroyed and it is in very bad shape. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: Bangalore to Puttaparthy (155kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Puttaparty the Abode of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba: Puttaparthi, once a sparsely populated village, has shot into national and international fame as the abode of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba. The original name of Sai Baba is "Satyanarayana Raju". He was born on November 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi.

He started showing unusual talents and purity and compassion from an early age. Baba's supernatural abilities caused some  concern to his family, who took him to Vedic doctors. After being pronounced to be possessed by the divine rather than the diabolical, at the age of fourteen he announced that he was the new incarnation of Sai Baba, a saint from Shirdi in Maharashtra who died eight years before Satya was born. Number of devotees, from all over the world flock to this small town every year to have a glimpse of the Baba, and be touched by him.

His disciples have constructed the 'Prashanti Nilayam' an ashram, which attracts large number of devotees throughout the year. Prasahanti Nilayam means 'the abode of peace". The ashram was inaugurated in 1950. The ashram is a huge complex with room for thousands, with canteens, shops, a museum and library, and a vast assembly hall where Sai Baba gives 'darshan' twice daily. A considerable number of devotees turn out for his birthday celebrations in Puttaparthi, where he delivers a message to his devotees.

Museum; One of the oft-visited locations in the ashram is the museum, perched on a nearby hillock. The museum contains models of various temple structures including the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Mecca mosque, etc. The story of Satya Sai Baba, right from his birth to the time he attained Nirvana, are also depicted in the form of pictures. The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 12 noon. It contains a detailed, fascinating display on the major faiths with illustrations and quotations from their sacred texts, punctuated by Sai Baba's comments. Within the campus of the ashram, there is a sophisticated planetarium as well. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03: Puttaparthy
Breakfast at hotel; Visit Birth Place of Bhagavan Sai; A Siva temple in the Puttaparthi village signifies the birth-place of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The temple was opened by Baba in 1979. The real birthplace, not known to most people, is located across the river in a small depilated house. Sathyabhama Temple; On the other side of the street there is a temple for Sathyabhama, a rare one exclusively established for Sathyabhama. Sathyabhama is commonly known as the consort of Lord Krishna, and the worse example of such. Perhaps this is the reason why the temple in Puttaparthi is the only temple in the world dedicated to Sathyabhama. Sri Kondama Raju, Bhagavan's grandfather, had a dream where he found Sathyabhama standing in heavy rain and wind, asking for shelter. This lead to the determination of constructing a temple for Sathyabhama.

Sri Raju Kalyana Mandapam: The Old mandir was constructed in the year 1945. Bhagavan selected a new location for His darshans and a new mandir, the current one, was constructed in 1950. Thereafter the old mandir has been used as Kalyana Mandapam (marriage hall) and is given for free use for marriages in the village.

The Village Mosque: The village mosque and the hall opposite was constructed and opened by Baba in 1978. At a certain borderline from Puttaparthi, accidents and diseases  would set-in on travellers. Bhagavan asked local people in the area to dig at a certain spot, and a plate was discovered, containing various Muslim inscriptions. The plate was moved into the Mandir, and all inauspicious events stopped. A mosque was built in Puttaparthi and the plate was taken on yearly processions to the mosque from the mandiram.

Anjaneya (Hanuman) Swamy Temple: This temple is between Kalyana Mandapam and the Sathyabhama temple. At the entrance, Lord Siva as Lingam, brought by Bhagawan from Kasim, is installed. The temple appears as if Anjaneya engraved in a guha stands inside a cave. There is always a pool of water at the feet of Anjaneya (Hanuman) representing the tears he sheds in his love and longing for Lord Rama.

Kalpa Vriksha: This 'wishfulfilling' tree is an old tamarind tree from Bhagavan's childhood. The Kalpa Vriksha is famous from Bhagavan's life story in Professor Kasturi's Sathyam-Shivam-Sundaram series. In His boyhood, Bhagavan used to display His miraculous powers to His playmates by asking these to think of any fruit, in or out of season, and the same would appear hanging off the branches of the tamarind tree. Thus the name 'wishfulfilling tree' was given. Today the tree is a great look-out point over the Chitravathi river. It is located on the side of a hill on the banks of the Chitravati. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04: Puttaparthy – Bangalore (155kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Bangalore direct transfer to airport/ railway station to board flight for your onward journey.