I just took opportunity to write a review on Goden temple located at Sripuram in Tamilnadu state.This is Lakshmi Narayani or Mahalakshmi temple coated with gold both interior and exterior.About 1.5 tonns of gold has been used and Rs 600 crore is spent to build the temple covers 55, 000 sq ft.
We started our journey from Bangalore(Vijayanagar)on Saturday 11.00AM in my Swift. It was 12:30 when we reach Narayana hridayalaya due to traffic. I took 10 mins break then drove towards Hosur.
This is NH7 neat road with cat eyes erected and borders are painted with white color, this helps a lot during the night driving. After driving about 45 kms, there is a toll plaza, near Krishnagiri, pay Rs25(One way) Next there are 2 flyovers, gon’t go over the 2nd flyover. Take left side lane, drive for a km, you get signal and take left(towards Chennai/Vellore) leaving behind the NH7, now you are on NH46.
There is one more Toll plaza near Ambur, paid Rs 35, keep drove for another 10 mins.It was 2:30PM feeling hungry, found a hotel on the way(LHS), Motel Rosin, we had lunch, food quality was not good but there were no other options.
We continued our journey and drove till Pallikondaj Toll plaza, paid Rs 45.When we were near to Vellore(5Km), I found a sign board to Sripuram.I asked a local person how to reach the Golden temple. He suggest 2 routes. One from Vellore the distance will be 13 Kms. And the 2nd route(Just 5 KMS) is from the same place where we asked him for the route.(I am sorry, I don’t remember that place.)
I decided to take 2nd option because it was 4:00PM and if I go Vellore city, it may take more time due to traffic. Road was very narrow but good, there are 2 -3 small villages on the way and need not to ask anybody about the rout. Because once they spot the car, they show you the rout even before you ask them. They knew those vehicles are heading toward Golden temple.
After driving 3 Km, mud road starts and drove for another 2 Km. We reached the backside of the temple and drove along the compound wall till the main entrance.There were many Pay –n – Park sign boards on the road. For safety reason, do not park anywhere, but go the temple premises pay Rs 10 and park your vehicle.
Temple timings: 07:00AM to 9:00PM(queue will be closed by 8:30PM). Restrictions: Mobile phones/cameras not allowed. Need to submit at the special counter and get the receipt or keep them in your car. Girls with mini skirts(even if the age is 6-8 Yrs) are not allowed to enter the temple. In this case, you need to buy a cloth from the nearby shop located in temple premises(security persons will suggest where to buy and what to buy).
Entrance/Darshan Fee: Free entrance/Rs 150 /Rs 250. With Free Darshan, you have to walk through the queue complex just like in Tirupati, It will take 2-3 Hrs.With Rs 150, you will skip the queue complex and directy enter the temple, but you need to walk through the star shaped path to reach the main temple.With Rs 250 Darshan, you will be allowed to sit for 10 mins in the temple near to Amma and offer special pooja.
You have to pass through the two levels of security check inside the temple. People should walk through the star shaped path way to reach the temple. It is about 1.5 KM.The messages of’Amma’ and quotes from Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran are displayed On either side of the pathway. Though the people’s focus will be on the temple in gold. Temple is surrounded by water; I found coins, notes and even some visiting card thrown in water.
We took Amma’s darshan and there for 15 minutes in the temple.After receiving Prasadam, we moved out of temple and walk through the star shaped path way. On the way back, you will find Tea stalls also. It is worth to pay a visit. The landscape, beautiful scenery, good atmosphere, greenish lawns, fine architecture and 2 tons of gold all combined makes one feel worth of the visit. There is huge, well maintained restaurant in the temple premise.