Friday 1 June 2012

About Chivatam and Undrajavaram

The following information might be useful for those visiting Avadhuta Sri Chivatam Amma Samadhi at Chivatam, and Sri Sudhindra Babu gari Samadhi at Undrajavaram for the first time. These two villages are very close to Tanuku, which is a small town.

If you are coming from a faraway place, then the nearby relatively more well known town to those places is Ravulapalem (RVP). RVP is in NH-5 route, and is nearly 30 Km away from Rajahmundry (RJY). The frequency of buses from RJY to RVP is reasonably good! So, if you are coming by train, you may come by train till RJY, and then take bus to RVP.

From RVP, you need to catch a bus going towards Tanuku. Tanuku is again 30 Km away from RVP!

Just to get a feel of these locations:

 
The process is simplified if you take a Taxi/Auto from Tanuku Bus stand to those places (~5 Km away). I mention here the routes when you continue to travel by a more economical means :-)

Here are the routes when you are going from RVP towards Tanuku, by Bus...

(1) If you are visiting Sudhindra Babu gari Samadhi first

(1.a) To go to Sudhindra Babu gari Samadhi:
(A) Little before entering into Tanuku town, on the national highway road, there is a side road that goes to Undrajavaram.
One can ask the Bus conductor to stop at that road (the conductor should generally know the exact location), and get down there.

(B) From there, there will be share-autos going to the Undrajavaram. Another landmark near Sudhindra Babu gari samadhi in Undrajavaram is a "petrol bunk".

(1.b) To go from Sudhindra Babu gari Samadhi to Amma Samadhi:
(A) From the petrol bunk near Undrajavaram, one can take an auto directly to Amma Samadhi at Chivatam; This may cost around Rs. 50/- in case there is no share auto.

(1.c) To come back from Amma Samadhi to Tanuku:
(A) To come back, from Chivatam to Tanuku road (this on the other side of Tanuku main town compared to Undrajavaram road mentioned above), it's about 2 or 3 km, you can take either a Riskshaw (~ 10 Rs.) or an auto.
This stop is called as Bellam Market.
This is, similar to Undrajavaram road, a bypass road very close to the town.

(2) If you are visiting Amma Samadhi first

(2.a) To go to Chivatam:
The stop is called Bellam market. I think this stop comes little after crossing the Tanuku main bus stop. (That means, you need to take bus ticket to the stop that comes after Tanuku to get down here!) So from there, one can go to Chivatam. Bus conductor should be generally knowing that stop. Follow the inverse route of (1.c)

(2.b) To go from Chivatam to Undrajavaram:
Follow the inverse route of (1.b)

(2.c) To go from Undrajavaram to Tanuku:
Follow inverse route of (1.a)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Sudhindra Babu gari samadhi mandiram is closed from around 1 pm in the afternoon till evening. On the other hand, Amma Samadhi is always open from morning till late evening. So in case if you happen to reach near Tanuku at that time, it is better to first visit Amma samadhi, and then to Sudhindra Babu gari place.

Places to visit in Chivatam:

(1) Amma Samadhi, (2) Amma Kutiram, (3) Ramulavari temple

All these 3 places are in the same compound, side by side.
http://saibharadwaja.org/books/readbook.aspx?book=Avadhuta-Sri-Chivatam-Amma-Charitra&page=4

In the same compound, there is also the house of a devotee of Amma; her name is: Geethamma garu. In her house, there is a huge collection of photos of Sri Sudhindra Babu garu. This is indeed a treat to see so many photos of Sudhindra Babu garu at one go. So, you may profit by spending some time in that house also.

(4) Jammi chettu - This is the tree where amma used to immerse in deep meditation. This tree is still there in the outskirts of chivatam, but unfortunately, the surroundings are not well-maintained. Plan to visit this place only if you have ample time...
http://saibharadwaja.org/books/readbook.aspx?book=Avadhuta-Sri-Chivatam-Amma-Charitra&page=7
http://saibharadwaja.org/books/readbook.aspx?book=Avadhuta-Sri-Chivatam-Amma-Charitra&page=8

Sairam.

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