Trip to guruyavoor - Journey begins

Previous month we had visited Kerala’s natural beauty. And had the greatest satisfaction of being a part of the nature for a fraction length of time. This month our plan was to become pilgrims. And pilgrimage place is Guruvaoor, the abode of Lord Krishna.



And we planned to travel by train along with my brother and his wife. Unlike the previous time, when we hired a cab. Since the place our visit is a well-known pilgrimage center and time we chose was December-January, a time when all the temples down south are thronged by Ayyappa’s devotees. So we got our reservation done at Mysore though the train starts from Bangalore. At the reservation counter we were too blessed as one Mr.Prasad, who was Sarasa’s student was at the counter. And guided us the right trains for both onward and return journey: and did the reservation.

The train from Bangalore is to start at 6.50 p.m. on 5th of December. As the journey is in the night and we, all the four did not feel like having our dinner prepared by the railway caterer, my sister in law prepared seasoned colored rice and curds rice. For carrying the food we bought aluminum foiled tray like cups with cover and packed our night food.

I was with my brother and Sarasa was with her sister on the day of our departure. So. She came from Rajajinagar and we three from Padmanabhanagar. And we met at Railway station. As the train was to start from 2nd platform we crossed over to the 2nd platform and waited for the train. But incidentally the train was in the platform. But reservation chart had not pasted to wagon. So we were standing on the platform in front of the wagon. Then one Mr. Krishnan who had already occupied his seat in the same bogey, told us that the same bogey he is in , is the one in which our seats are reserved. (He overheard our conversation regarding the bogey number in which our seats are reserved). After a few minutes reservation chart was pasted which facilitated us to occupy our seats. Incidentally his seat and ours were in the same area.


The train started at the right time. Couple of minutes passed for the inmates of the train to get used to the new ambience. When every thing was homely (temporarily), conversation started with other passengers. After the preliminary F.A.Q.’s were over we asked how we could reach Guruvayoor from Trissur. Our co passenger Sri Krishnan gave us a couple of guidelines which were very useful.

He told us that there are a few trains to Guruvayoor from Trissur. And ticket could be bought from the counter and the train comes to the same platform. And further he also in the temple there will be separate queue for senior citizens. Thus aged devotees need not stand queue for long. These two tips were like taking us to God’s Abode by the almighty himself, as we were to return Bangalore, the same day. We were so happy to get such information, we profusely thanked Mr. Krishnan. He was like God to us.

The train was jugging with its usual speed. The clock was showing the time as 8.30 p.m. The passengers one by one started opening their dinner bags. So also we too. The seasoned coloured rice and curds rice was quite filling. In the meanwhile the train and clock jugged by one hour. The time was now 10.p.m. Every one was getting ready to sleep as some were to get down before morning. WE also followed what others were at, at that time. And a peculiar silence engulfed the bogey.

I do not know how long I had slept. Suddenly some sort of sound started emanating from around. The nature of sound did not match the sound of snoring I had been accustomed. It was different. Sometimes it was like an alapana. Sometimes it matched the moving of a bus without a break lining. A few times it was the sound of waves of the high tide sea. Even these sounds were of varying pitch. Sometimes loud and some times it would be neighing of horse. The rest of night I was busy trying to track the origin of these sounds in my half sleep. As I was thinking about the origin of the sound, I became awake. The sound which had rendered me sleepless for the night had stopped. I checked for the time. It was 4.00 a.m. Now our alighting station, Trissur was to arrive soon. All the four of us got ready to get down. When I told my wife that I was hearing some strange noise the whole night, she told me that it was indeed a snoring sound; it was coming from the couple who had given us beautiful tips about darshan at Guruvayoor!!