TRIP TO CHENNAI / KALPAKKAM

 Thur/Fri/Sat 16/17/18 June 2022

Chennai, Anupuram, Kalpakkam, Tambaram (Tamilnadu)

V S Srinivasan, s/o late V Sundaresan, affectionately invited us to attend his son Rakesh's Upanayana at Kalpakkam.

V. Subdaresan and wife Prema was our close family friend, who passed away last year due to COVID19 pandemic.

So I booked Shatabdi Express train to Chennai in the morning at 6 am from Bengaluru Railway Station. The train is A/C chair car, fastest train takes about 4 hrs 45 minutes to Chennai Central Station.

So we got ready at 5 am and Rishi was there to take us to Railway Station. It was 10 min before departure, we went to 6th Platform as per Google info, but the train was at 7th Platform. So we ran back, entered one of the compartment, and walked to our reservation seats in the 8th Compartment.

The train leaves exactly on time,  stops briefly at Contonment and Katpadi and reached Chennai Central at 10.45 am.

Snacks, tea/coffee, breakfast served on train, it was 2 vada, pongal and coffee.

Taxi arranged by Srinivasan was there at the station, we proceeded to Anupurama, a distance of 65 km. Stopped briefly for saree shopping at Nallis.

Reached Anupuram Towship of Atomic Energy Commission, at 1 pm. Srinivasana's apartment was at the 10th floor of Podhigai Block. 

Same day evening was Udaka Shanthi pooja at his apartment, and next day, early morning Upanayana ritual at Mahaveer Kalyana Mantapa at Kalpakkam.

GUEST HOUSE

Saturday 18th June morning after breakfast, we left in a taxi to Tamabaram to visit Satyanarayana Acharya (Ramakrishna wife Kavana's Father).

After lunch, at 3.30 we left in a local train to central station to catch Shatabdi Express Train at 5.30 pm to Bangalore. 

There was snacks, Tea/coffee and dinner served on train. It was Chapathi, Dal, Rice and Paneer curry.

Reached Bangalore Contonment Station at 10.15 pm, Rishi was there to take us home.

Stayed for two nights at Anupuram Guest House, which was good.

Written on Monday 20th June 2022