Paaru Hobbies

The second day of our journey began early. We started towards Kalady , the birthplace of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya . We had pre-booked a taxi from our hotel in Thrissur to Kalady and back to Thrissur Railway Station. The total cost was around ₹2,500 . The journey from Thrissur to Kalady takes approximately 2 hours . The monsoon had already arrived in Kerala, and it was raining heavily throughout the journey. We reached Kalady around 9:30 AM and had breakfast at Matha . After breakfast, we proceeded with our planned rituals. We had booked two sevas— Sri Chakra Puja and Rudrabhishekam . We visited the nearby Krishna Temple , which is located adjacent to the Matha. Standing in the very place where   Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born was a deeply moving experience. It was a blessing to be present at the birthplace of a saint who travelled across India, spread the message of Advaita Vedanta, and left an unforgettable mark on Indian spiritual history. We had also p...

We travelled from Yeshwanthpur (Bengaluru) to Thrissur by the Yeshwanthpur–Thiruvananthapuram Express . The train departs from Yeshwanthpur at around 3:20 PM and reaches Thrissur at about 1:00 AM the next day. Since our itinerary included both Guruvayoor and Kalady , Thrissur turned out to be the most convenient railway station, as there are no direct trains connecting both destinations. Another good option is the Kanyakumari Express , which departs from KSR Bengaluru (Majestic) at around 8:10 PM and reaches Thrissur at approximately 6:00 AM . If you prefer arriving in the morning instead of the middle of the night, this is a better choice. For this trip, we booked a 1AC Coupe . It is almost like having a private room on the train, offering more privacy, comfort, and space. Whenever we travel with our child, we always try to book First AC . If that isn't available, our next preference is Second AC (2AC) . The extra space and quieter environment make long train journey...

We travelled during December 2024, and I am writing this blog now so that it may help fellow travellers who are planning a similar trip through the beautiful Malnad and coastal Karnataka region. This was not my first visit to these places. Since childhood, my grandmother used to take me here during summer holidays. She stayed in Soraba, and many of these places hold beautiful memories for me. This trip was special because this time I travelled with my own family, including our 4-year-old child. If you are wondering whether this schedule is hectic, honestly it did not feel too tiring. The only thing I would strongly suggest is to avoid weekends and holiday seasons to escape heavy crowds at temples and tourist places. Day 1 – Travel from Kengeri to Talguppa Our journey started from Kengeri Railway Station, Bengaluru. We boarded the Mysuru–Talguppa Express night train. Train: Mysuru – Talguppa Express Departure from Kengeri: Around 10:30 PM Arrival at Talguppa: Aroun...

Day 2 & Day 3 – Ujjain to Omkareshwar, Indore & Departure Namaste travellers and devotees 🙏, 🕉️ This is my 5th Jyotirlinga Yatra series. You can also read: 👉 First Jyotirlinga Yatra: Kashi 👉 Second Jyotirlinga Yatra: Rameshwaram 👉 Third Jyotirlinga Yatra: Srisailam 👉 Fourth Jyotirlinga Yatra: Ujjain We started our second day very early in the morning from our hotel in Ujjain. The first place on our list was Kal Bhairav Temple 🛕. It is believed that Mahakal darshan is incomplete without visiting Kal Bhairav, who is considered the guardian deity (Kotwal) of Ujjain. Kal Bhairav Temple Experience One of the most unique things about this temple is that the devotees offer liquor 🍶 to Kal Bhairav, which is quite rare and interesting. The priest pours the liquor into a plate near the idol, and it is believed that the deity accepts it. This ritual has been followed for years, and many devotees believe it removes negativity and pr...