About my Stay at Viswaratna, A.T.Road, Guwahati (Assam)

 

Reception Counter

deluxe room

Executive Room

Khayal (Bar & Lounge)

Durbar Banquet Hall

Mehfil Banquet hall

This three-star hotel is located centrally located in the busy market area. Yet once we enter in, we find the surroundings quite cosy and comfortable. The lounge at the entrance is decorated with a row of wooden carved idols, metal figures and photos that will give you a picture of Assamese culture and art. In the corridors also we find some photos depicting the various dress forms and dances of North-eastern states. As there is no scope for outside scenic views, these pictures will give us a brief view of the hilly surroundings of Assam state.

 In this hotel there are nearly 50 rooms on three floors with lift facility. The rooms are of three types. The deluxe rooms are quite spacious and if you want more space you can go in for super deluxe, executive rooms and suites with more space and furniture. In every room you will have facilities like wifi, A.C. tea/coffee maker, T.V., mini-bar, locker facility, work desk with a chair, phone and bottled drinking water. In this hotel there is laundry service, wheel chair access, a coffee shop, bakery shop, multi-cuisine restaurant (The Jharaana),, a bar and lounge (Khayal), a unisex spa and salon (Sahil's),   an open door swimming pool, airport transportation facility, free parking space and doctor on call facilty also. 

There are two function halls (Durbar banquet Hall) and (Mehfil banquet Hall) with attractive ambiance for arranging parties and meetings. The travel desk counter arranges tour packages to places like Shillong, Kaziranga national park, Chirapunjee and Uniam Lake. The complimentary breakfast provided here is very delicious and caters to  the tastes of people coming from various regions of India.

 From this hotel many tourist sites and places are easily accessible such as the famous Kamakhya temple (7kms), Assam State Museum (1.1 kms), Nehru park (1km), Guwahati Planetarium (1.7 kms), Umanand temple (2kms), Shukleswar temple (1.5 kms), Silsako lake (7kms) and Assam state Zoo cum Botanical garden (7kms) etc. The international airport is nearly at a distance of 21kms. The room tariffs are also very reasonable. As this is a three star hotel, it would be better if the accessories like shaving and dental kits are kept in rooms along with a note pad and a pen for the convenience of customers. Pamphlets and brochures giving information about the neighboring tourist sites will help customers in planning their local trips. The check-in and check-out timings are from 12.00 to 12.00 noon.

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    5th November, 2018                                         Somaseshu Gutala

At PAI VISTA, Bangalore Nilgiri Road, Mysore

                           

                   

                     

Swimming Pool

GYM

Gift & Handicrafts Store 

     

           

Jungle Restaurant

            

Gupha (Cave) Restaurant

Breakfast in Jungle Restaurant

During our short trip to Mysore we chose this hotel as it is located just opposite to KSRTC Bus stand and is very near to Mysore Palace. The hotel is behind Bhima jewellery and is beside Vishnu Bhavan, a very popular restaurant where one can get many varieties of dishes. In Pai Vista also there are two restaurants with jungle and gupha themes. One should surely go there to get a realistic experience of jungle climate where servers move dressed as forest rangers. Children will feel very much happy and love to visit these restaurants. Besides the complimentary breakfast provided in Jungle Restaurant is very delicious with a variety of South Indian and North Indian dishes. Buffet lunch is also served here. In Gupha Restaurant one can choose ala carte lunch. Apart from proximity to many important tourist places this hotel has very well-maintained rooms with prompt service and many facilities. The staff are quite courteous and helpful. There is free parking space and drivers are given free accommodation along with free breakfast and free lunch. To chill out there is “Opium Bar”, a rock music pub.

There are three types of rooms to cater to the needs of customers.The “Comfort Room” has a large bed room with many facilities like 24-hour hot water supply, A.C., Wifi, refrigerator, mini-bar, free mineral water bottle, work desk, T.V.   & Coffee maker along with 24 room service and laundry. In “Luxury Room” one can have spacious interiors with charming décor. In “Club Suite” apart from these facilities there will be an adjoining living room for luxurious stay.

 In the hotel premises there is a swimming pool, Gym, Ayurvedic Spa, Pastry Shop and Gifts and Handicrafts Shop. Foreign currency Exchange and Air Port transfer are available here. There is a spacious conference hall called “Sammilan Hall” with a seating capacity for 450 people for professional Board meetings. Just near this hotel there are many shops like Mysore Silk Shop with many gift items and art pieces. One gets a very comfortable and relaxing stay at this four-star rated hotel. The check-in and check-out timings are from 12.00 p.m. to 12.00 noon.

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      27th October, 2018                                      Somaseshu Gutala

            

 

I FEEL

         
 











              1)        I feel Thy Grace in fresh, cool air

                         In dew-decked flowers in colors fair

                         In raining showers from blue cloudy sky ;

                         In sprouting grass flowers Thy smiles I spy.

             2)        I feel Thy Love in looks of dearest hearts

                        In helping hands with no gross, selfish thoughts

                        I feel Thy guidance and moral advice

                        When I am tempted by fair-seeming vice.

            3)         I feel Thy Mercy in every smile of dawn

                        Thy forgiveness as I wake up in morn

                        My countless blunders seem nothing to Thee

                        You fill my bosom with fresh hopes and glee.

           4)          I feel Thy Might in tempestuous seas

                        In bursting quakes and stunning Tsunamis

                        Our latest knowledge and tools can’t withstand

                        Before Thy might, our earth—a grain of sand.

           5)          I feel Thy Presence in countless stars and spheres

                        Moving in orbits with precision clear

                       Thy divine laws beyond our mortal sight

                        Even greatest sages can’t see Thy visage bright.

           6)          I feel Thy enchanting Joyous Charms

                        In Nature’s captivating colorful forms

                        No poet or painter can catch those marvels

                        No artist can create such magic-spells.

            7)         I feel Thy all-conquering Power of Time

                        That leads this universe with power sublime;

                        What is to happen, happens in a trice

                        Thy mysterious workings we can’t surmise.

            8)         I feel Thy wise Controlling Force

                        Without Thy mighty will, not a moment goes

                        Despite my perversions, you try to mend

                        My crooked ways and lead me to my destined end.

            9)         Thy justice wise beyond my narrow range

                        Thy various ways of acts seem to me strange;

                         When virtue suffers exploited by vice

                         While vicious vermin thrive and swiftly rise.

             

          10)         As I give up my hopes and blame Thee unkind

                         I feel Thy whispering voice within my mind

                         Thy mercy boundless—saints and sages say;

                         Help me, oh Lord, to tread on righteous way.

                             +++++++++++++++++++++++++

                 21st October, 2018                               Somaseshu Gutala

                                                

         

                       

                                                

           

PARADOX

             

                         

 

                   

                                                           

     1)      We do not mean by what we act

              We do not act by what we mean, a fact

              Our conscience seems so innocent and clean

              Our acts divulge our minds cunning and mean.

    2)       Our cows—abodes of gods—we state

               So many stray cattle in starving state

               Who cares about their wretched state?

               With dirty plastic-food they fill their pates.

    3)       On serpent –stones milk we devoutly pour

              To ward off evils and ill-health from our door

               But kill the snakes that crawl through brier and bush

               Vile poisonous pests we ruthlessly crush.

                         

    4)        As holy goddesses we ever treat

               Our lakes and rivers filled with waters sweet

               We dump all dirt, garbage and sewage waste

               Degrading them to a most polluted state

    5)        True shelters of gods our trees we say

                Going around them we piously pray

                In lakhs we cut them down without remorse

                Ignoring future disasters and loss.  

    6)        Our greed for land destroyed jungles dense

                Resulting in famines and drought intense

                Wild animals and beasts perished a lot

                Nature’s rare gifts, alas, forever lost.

    7)        To compensate our countless sinful deeds

               To holy places we devoutly proceed

                Donating wealth in liberal measure

               To pacify gods and earn their pleasure.

    8)         In lakhs we give to monks and temples great

                But not for men in suffering state

                One omnipresent  God we rarely meet

                In fellow-beings and fairly treat.

    9)         Will our bosoms melt with pity to see

                Those kids toil out of dire necessity?

                Who cares to see those beggars and orphans poor?

                To wipe their tears and their poverty cure ?

       

   10)        We talk so big about our ancient culture

                Still murders and rapes rage like vultures

                Justice creeps too slow like a wounded snail

                 While criminals enjoy their stay in jail.

    11)        Our bureaucrats equipped with latest tools

                 Still treat their customers and public as fools

                 Till their purses are satisfied, they never mind

                 Their crooked tactics too abstruse to find.

    12)        What is the use of bragging glorious past

                  If the noble spirit behind them is not sought?

                  No deceptive acts can save us from fate

                  The fruits of our deeds we suffer soon or late. 

     13)       Our thoughts and words should match with our deeds

                 Give up violence and destructive creeds

                  Live up to the ideals you praise upright

                  If not, we will be called mere hypocrites.

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              Plastic-food --- food polluted with plastic material

    Note :         A paradox is a statement which appears to be

                      contradictory but is actually true in fact.

                           Eg:  I must be cruel to be kind.

                                  The child is father of the man.

                                  Truth is honey which is bitter.

                  

       13th October, 2018                            Somaseshu Gutala

                                                       

                                                   

                                                   

                                              

About Gali Anjaneya temple, Byatanarayanapura, Mysore Road, Bangalore

                             

                       

                           

                             

                           

 This temple is one of the oldest Anjaneya temples in the city. As it is located in the heart of the city on Mysore Road , many devotees visit this temple. The temple’s outer walls freshly painted with gilded towers attract everyone’s attention. The main deity is called Gali Anjaneya as the idol was found in an open space before the Saint Vyasaraya discovered the idol and constructed a temple in 1425 at the convergence of two rivers, Vrishabhavati and its tributary, Paschima Vahini. This is one of the 732 temples built by him in various regions. Now the river is not seen. The word “gali” in Kannada means “wind’. As Vayuputra the Lord here is called “Gali Anjaneya”.  The word “gali” also suggests the harmful evil spirits and the Lord here is the protector who wards off the effects of evil spirits. Many devotees bring their children to receive the protection and blessings of the Lord.

 The 75-foot tall Rajagopuram leads one to pass through an arched entrance where one can see tiny idols of Venu Gopala and Ganesha on either side of the corridor. The main presiding deity Anjaneya appears quite different from those of other Hanuman idols we see in other temples. The west-facing idol of Anjaneya faces directly the devotees (yathumukhi) with wide-open eyes and radiant sindur-coated body. He keeps His left hand on his hip and holds a flower in His right hand. A small knife is seen near His right hip. The Lord’s face looks quite benign and calm. So he is called Prasanna Anjaneya and a Shanta Gnana Swaroopi (an embodiment of wisdom and serenity). The moustache on his lip indicates the Lord’s valor and manliness. The tail has a lot of bends with a small bell tied at the end. The small bell attached at the end is a common feature seen in most of the idols installed by the great Hanuman Bhakth and philosopher, Sri Vysa Raja (1460-1539). 

Just on the left side of the main shrine, there is a shrine for Sri Rama along with Lakshmana and Sita facing east. On the right side of the main shrine there is a shrine for Lord Satyanarayana On every full moon day, Satyanarayana Vratam is performed here. In the hall leading to exit door there is a shrine for Gopala Krishna. Here a sacred range-colored thread along with sindur is given as Prasad to devotees as a means of Lord’s protection and blessing. The temple is very much crowded during Tuesdays and Saturdays when special poojas are done. The car festival is being celebrated here in Chaitra month for the last 120 years. During Sankranthi season special poojas are performed for one month. 

The Gali Anjaneya Trust formed in 1985 looks after the temple activities. The temple is open from 7.00 to 2.00 p.m. in the morning and from 3.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. in the evening. Recently an idol of Anjaneya is found in the storm drain just near this temple. The idol is now under the care of the Archaeological Department.           
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    8th october, 2018                                              Somaseshu Gutala

     
       

About Ragigudda Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy Temple, 9th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore

Entrance Arch to Anjaneya Temple

                         

Way to the temple ground floor

                                                                           Place for doing homams

Prasada section

Kitchen Section

                                              Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy in the main sanctum

Trimurthy Sannidhi

Main Temple Tower

This is one of the most popular and well-known temples in Bangalore. Though located on the road the spacious temple surroundings with lush greenery and beautiful structures attract everyone’s attention. The main temple of Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy is located on a hillock and one has to climb nearly 87 steps. Lift facility is available for old and disabled people. At the foot of the hillock there is a temple with three separate shrines for Navagrahas, Maha Ganapti and Raja Rajeshwari. 

As you enter the temple one finds a counter selling tickets for various sevas. Many people buy coupons for doing Annadanam. One can buy rice for any amount starting from ten rupees. If you buy a coupon for Rs.50/- and above, you will get a packet of Prasad at the entrance of the temple. Before the idol of Goddess Annapurna, the devotees drop rice into a big container. In Navagraha shrine one can see the nine Graha Devatas along with their consorts and vahanas. In shrine of Mahaganapati a very big idol of Ganapati is seen. The idol of Rajarajeswari is nicely decorated with garlands and ornaments.

 On the top of the hillock the main deity, Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy is seen bearing a mace in one hand and Mount Sanjeevani with the other hand. On the right side of this shrine the shrine for Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are seen. The idols are quite big and well-sculpted. On the left side of the main shrine a big Marakatha Linga (made of green-colored stone) is seen. The main hall is very big and neatly maintained. In this temple there are two halls on the ground floor used for conducting ceremonies and marriages.

In the Prasad division there is a hall for dining. Just beside it there is a kitchen. From this Prasad division if you climb a few steps you can see the lofty figures of Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) engraved on huge rocks. It said that Trimurtis once visited this place and decided to stay here in these hilly and scenic surroundings. Thus their holy presence enhanced the sacred atmosphere of this temple. The hillock is called “Ragi Guddam” since this hillock was formed from a heap of Ragi millets. In 1969 a group of youth along with residents of this area set up a small Hanuman temple on the hillock. Later it has developed into a huge temple complex with many facilities in an area of five acres of land and was registered in 1972. The waterfall "Hanuman Dhara" along with temple pond adds much charm to the temple surroundings. 

The Ragigudda Trust undertook many charitable activities like providing free education, free medical care and conducting Yoga, music and Language classes in Kannada and Sanskrit. There is a library with many religious books and a shop for selling books also. There is a Goshala with thirty cows and milk from these cows is used in performing Abhishekam and in preparing Prasad. Every Saturday lunch is served to all devotees. Every year in December a twelve-day grand celebration is held on Hanuman Jayanthi when thousands of devotees visit this place. 

The temple timings are from 8.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays the temple is kept open from 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m. On the road leading to the temple one can see many shops and restaurants. In the busy crowded city this place gives a sense of serenity and happiness not only to elders but to people of all ages.

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           28th September, 2018                         Somaseshu Gutala