Visiting Sai Baba at Puttaparthi
Sai Kulwant Hall, circa 2003
This page last updated:
28 May 2008
Sai Baba's Ashram at Puttaparthi is called Prashanti Nilayam.
Prashanti Nilayam means "the abode of Highest
Peace".
This is a very big ashram with the capacity to house thousands.
Here we will give you an overview of visiting Sai Baba, and some important information to get you well prepared!
Puttaparthi is located in South India, in the state of Andhra Pradhesh. The ashram is approximately three hours drive from Bangalore.
View of Sai Kulwant Hall, Prashanti Nilayam
(Darshan Hall, during Ati Rudra Maha Yagna)
Travel to Puttaparthi
Air
International flights land in either Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras) or Bangalore.
AIRLINE SERVICES TO PUTTAPARTHI
Domestic
As at 30 December 2007, no domestic airlines have offered services to Puttaparthi for 12 months.
1. Air Deccan - Flights from Chennai and Hyderabad to Puttaparthi
Air Deccan are providing a new air service to Puttaparthi. Flight details are provided below for those who wish to avail themselves of this service.
Air Deccan pcommenced operations to Puttaparthi from Chennai and Hyderabad from the 12th of November 2005. Timings are given below for your reference.
Indian Airlines
Indian Airlines will commence their schedule operations with effect from
14th November 2005 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays
with timings as given below: page.
IST is Indian Standard Time, GMT plus 4.30
When information is available about domestic air services to Puttaparthi, this page will be updated.
Terminal Building, Sathya Sai Airport
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways both have regular flights from Mumbai to Bangalore, and Chennai to Bangalore. These can be booked at the same time as your International ticket.
Nearest Airport: Bengaluru (Bangalore)
A New Airport
For International Travellers, a new airport opened on 11 May 2008. This airport is located at Muddenahalli, which is approximately 35 kilometres from Bangalore. The Main access to Bangalore will be National Highway 7, otherwise known as NH7. The airport is approximately 35 minutes from Whitefield Ashram, and 2 and a half hours from Puttaparthi Ashram. The Airport Proper is some 7 kilometers from National Highway 7 junction, at Muddenahalli.
New Departure Fees
A User Development Fee of Rs. 1070 will be collected from all outbound international passengers using the Bengaluru International Airport. The User Development Fee is towards the cost for construction and operation of the airport and has been approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India.
Departure on or before June 30, 2008
International Passengers traveling out of Bengaluru International Airport before or on June 30, 2008 will have to make payment of the User Development Fee at the counters provided in the check-in hall or on the first floor before emigration check counters. Passengers should produce the receipt of payment at the time of emigration check.
Payment can be made by cash, debit card or credit card (Visa/Mastercard only). If you are paying by cash you are requested to provide exact change for quicker processing.
Please allow 10 minutes for the transaction during peak hours between 2200 hrs and 0300 hrs. And about 3-5 minutes at all other times.
Departure on or after July 01, 2008
For passengers traveling out of Bengaluru International Airport on or after July 01, 2008, the User Development Fee will be included in your ticket.
Exemptions
Infants under the age of 2 years and Airline Crew on duty are exempted from User Development Fee.
Rail
Prashanti Nilayam Railway Station
Trains ply regularly between Bangalore City and Prashanti Nilayam. The railway station, with four platforms, is called Sri Sathya Sai Prashanti Nilayam, (Acronym SSPN) and is host to as many as 18 trains per day in each direction. Buses and rickshaws meet every train to convey devotees to the Ashram, some 5 kilometers away. During festival times, additional services to Prashanti Nilayam station are added. You can check out the Southern Railway website for further information.
Current Train timings (as at August 2005) for Prashanti Nilayam Railway Station may be found here
Bus
Sri Sathya Sai Prema Kutir, Home for the Aged, as seen on the road to Puttaparthi
Buses ply daily from Bangalore to Puttaparthi. Deluxe buses, Andhra Pradesh Buses, and Karnataka State Buses also ply daily to Puttaparthi. There is also a daily bus Prashanti Nilayam-Brindavan. This departs at 1PM outside the entrance to Whitefield Ashram, which goes to and from Puttaparthi.
There is a Chennai - Puttaparthi bus service; overnight. In Chennai, the Puttaparthi bus leaves from the Andra Pradesh RSTC Bus Station. This is a separate bus station some kilometers away from the other main bus stations. Fare is reasonable, but take your own drink and food; the hotels at the bus stops are not much to speak of.
Taxi
The following taxi operators have been taking Sai Baba devotees to and from the Ashram for many many years:
Average Taxi Fare at June 2006:
Fares at 31 June 2006: 1.Non ac regular Rs1500 2.Ac regular Rs1800 3.Ac Spacio Rs2400 4.Non ac spacio Rs2000 5.Deluxe car Rs2600
Prince Travels =============== Bangalore Phone 0091 80 852 5061 Whitefield Phone 91-80-845-3131 Puttaparthi Phone 0091 8555 229946 Bombay Phone 921-22-2416-2587 Fares Bangalore-Whitefield 250 rupees Airport Pickup Bangalore-Puttaparthi 1400 rupees (more for a/c taxi) Puttaparthi - Bangalore Return 1800 rupees
MOHAMMAD TAXI SERVICES ====================== Has been taking devotees to Prashanthi for 10 years. Mobile 0091-98802-05835 Email mohammadtaxiservice [at] yahoo [dot] com Airport - Whitefield 250 rupees Whitefield - Puttaparthi 1400 rupees
Noor Khan Taxi Services and Sight Seeing Tours =============================================== Has been taking devotees to Puttaparthi for over 12 years. Contact for availability and fares (fares will be approximately the same as above) Bangalore Phone 0011 91-80-2864402 Mobile Phone 0011 91-98452-50603 email noorkhan1 [at] yahoo [dot] com GLOBAL SERVICES =============== Global Services are an Internet Cafe next to the Samadhi of Swami's parents, in Samadhi Road. They have a taxi service and the main driver, Chandra, has been driving devotees to Puttaparthi for 15 years. I am very comfortable in the car with Chandra. Contact details are: Post Bag# 9 Samadhi Road, Prashanti Nilayam. 515134 Tel/Fax +91 8555 289302 Tel +91 8555 289199 Mob (0) 98483 31191 email saiserve [at] yahoo [dot] com
Rudy Muller Tours and Travel ============================== Rudy and his drivers are well known to many devotees and have been driving devotees for more than 15 years. Contact for availability and fares Bangalore phone 91 - 80 - 2845 3657 rmuller [at] rediffmail [dot] com
Accommodation
Ashram
Sai Baba provides low cost accommodation to those who visit his ashram.
Rooms are available for Married couples, and those travelling alone or in a
group are allocated rooms in one of the many accommodation blocks. All rooms
have shower, toilet and vanity. Dhobi's (washer-men and women) visit each
accommodation block morning and afternoon to collect and return washing. Seva
Dal provide security and there are watchmen allocated to every accommodation
block in the Ashram. Accommodation is usually granted for three or four weeks
stay.
Note: persons under the age of 18 years, travelling
alone, will be refused accommodation in the ashram. Persons under the age of 18
should be travelling in groups. Note that this discretionary rule may
soon be raised to under the age of 21.
Accommodation outside the Ashram
There are many hotels outside the ashram, in the village. Comparable to
three-four-five star hotel accommodations are available, along with guest
houses and other accommodation rooms. As far the guest houses are concerned, if
you are arriving at festival days and accommodations is full in the ashram, or
simply want to live on your own without sharing rooms, you can go hotel
hunting. Rates vary according to season, and you should bargain intensely as
rates are very exaggerated and overpriced for the quality of the room. You
should start your offering at Rs. 75-100 per night unless the place is more
simple and small without running water. Sai Baba of India dot com has an
extended list of accommodations in Puttaparthi.
Reccomended Hotels
Sai Towers Hotel (in the main street, opposite ashram, with bookshop and resturant)
Tariff ranges from Rs295 single room non aircond Single aircond Rs500 Double rooms tarrifs begin at Rs750. Phone 91-85550287270 /327 Contact bookings@saitowers.com Has their own taxi service also… will collect and return to airport at prices cited on this page.
Sai Renaissance By Pass Road, Puttaparthi. (appprox 5 minutes walk from ashram, has a resturant)
http://www.sairenaissance.com/home.htm for view of accommodation, and tariffs. Has hotels at both Whitefield and Puttaparthi. 5 minute walk from ashram. Double Room 900 Double Room A/C 1350 Phone +91 8555-287591, 287592, FAX +91 8555 287324 email info@sairenaissance.com
Hotel Shree Sai Plaza, in Gopuram Road, approx 5 minutes walk from ashram.
Double Room 400 Deluxe Double 600 Aircond 1000 Phone +91 8555-287411 and +91 8555-+289809
HOTEL SAI BRUNDAVAN, Gopuram Road, Puttaparthi
telephone +91-8555-287927 email hotel at saibrundavan dot com website www.saibrundavan.comRoom rate Rs 450 Deluxe Rooms
Hotel Sri Sai Sadan
[MEDA'S Guest House]
Gopuram Road, Puttaparthi,
email srisaisadan at yahoo dot com
medaguesthouse at yahoo dot com
SBI - Gopuram Road, Puttaparthi Single Room - Rs 300 Double Room - Rs 500 Aircond double - Rs 700 Family Suites available Vegetarian Resturant
Travel Documentation Assistance - Puttaparthi 288130
Shopping
View of Walkway looking towards the Shopping Complex, Prashanti Nilayam. The multi storey Supermarket is on the left.
View of Meeting Hall and Bookshop
nearby the Shopping Complex, Prashanti Nilayam
The ashram supermarket caters for all needs, from clothing to photographs,
audio cd's to darshan clothing. It is open in the mornings for ladies (9 to 11
AM) and gents can go from 5PM - 7PM each evening.
The ashram has
a superb bookstore with books available in many languages. Also sold are
multimedia DVD and CD, audio CD, photographs, and tapes. Temporary bookstalls
are put into operation during festival times.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, water, cold drinks, ice creams can be obtained at the new complexes near
the shopping centre.
The New Drink and ice-cream stores - Greatest Ice Cream in the World!!!
Food
Puttaparthi Ashram has three canteens, South Indian, North Indian, and Western Canteen. All canteens are set up to serve large numbers of devotees quickly, and on festivals, additional outdoor temporary canteens are also provided under shades called 'shamina'. Meals range in cost from Rs 7 (South Indian) to Rs 30 (Western Canteen). North Indian Canteen has *very* reasonable prices and a good, filling meal can be had for Rs20. All meals are vegetarian. Ladies and Gents eat separately.
Money
Money can be encashed at the State Bank of India, and most other banks in Puttaparthi. Many banks will also allow you to use credit cards to make withdrawals, and some ATMs are available in Gopuram Road.
Bookshop and Library
Puttaparthi Ashram has a bookshop and library complex. There is a library upstairs above the bookshop, which has over 9000 titles on Sathya Sai Baba, in many, many languages. Below is the entrance to the Bookshop. The Books and Publications Convenor, Sri Rajan, extends a cordial welcome to visitors to the Library.
Here is the view from the Library over the recreation area at the rear of Prashanti Nilayam Ashram
