About
Puttaparthi :
Located 400-km from Hyderabad by road, the village Chitravati, situated at
a distance of about 18 miles from Penukonda, 2 miles from
Penukond-Bukkapatnam road has now become a centre of great attraction,
Puttaparthi. It is abode of Puttaparthi Sri Satya Sai Baba. An important
tourist attraction of Ananthapur district, Puttaparthi is surrounded by the
arid and rocky hills bordering Karnataka .
The Abode Of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba :
Puttaparthi, once a sparsely populated village, has shot into national and
international fame as the abode of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba. The original
name of Sai Baba is "Satyanarayana Raju". He was born on November
23, 1926 in Puttaparthi.
He started showing unusual talents and purity and compassion from an early
age. Baba's supernatural abilities caused some concern to his family, who
took him to Vedic doctors. After being pronounced to be possessed by the
divine rather than the diabolical, at the age of fourteen he announced that
he was the new incarnation of Sai Baba, a saint from Shirdi in Maharashtra
who died eight years before Satya was born. Number of devotees, from all
over the world flock to this small town every year to have a glimpse of the
Baba, and be touched by him.
His disciples have constructed the 'Prashanti Nilayam' an ashram, which
attracts large number of devotees throughout the year. Prasahanti Nilayam
means 'the abode of peace". The ashram was inaugurated in 1950. The
ashram is a huge complex with room for thousands, with canteens, shops, a
museum and library, and a vast assembly hall where Sai Baba gives 'darshan'
twice daily. A considerable number of devotees turn out for his birthday
celebrations in Puttaparthi, where he delivers a message to his devotees.
The Museum :
The most often-visited place in the ashram is the museum, which is located
on the nearby hillock. The museum contains models of various temple
structures including the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Mecca mosque, etc.
The museum also depicts the story of Satya Sai Baba, right from his birth to
the time he attained 'Nirvana'.
How to get there ?
Air - The nearest airports to Puttaparthi are Bangalore
and Tirupati at the distance of 250-km and 300-km respectively.
Rail - The nearest railhead - Dharmavaram at a distance
of 30-km on Secunderabad - Dharmavaram and Pakhal - Dharmavaram line.
Road - Puttaparthi is situated at 150-km from Anantapur
and 30-km from Dharmavaram. Regular State buses from Hyderabad and major
towns of A.P. Taxis are also available from Bangalore .
About Nagarjuna Sagar Dam :
Nagarjuna
Sagar dam is the tallest masonry dam in the World, located on the border of
Guntur - Nalgonda districts. The dam was completed in 1966 and it is 124m
high and 1-km long. It is built across the river Krishna and has one of the
largest networks of canal systems irrigating over 2,000,000 acres of land in
Guntur, Prakasam, Nalgonda, Khammam and Krishna districts.
Prime Attractions :
The Lake - The lake, which the dam straddles, is the
third largest manmade lake in the world. 4-km away from the dam, is the
viewpoint, where a panoramic view of the amazing landscape, is simply a
feast to the eyes. One can find the image of Nagarjuna, on a pylon not too
far from the dam.
There are many places of tourist importance near Nagarjuna Sagar like
Ethipothala waterfalls, and the thick forest of the Srisailam Wildlife
Reserve. This reserve is part of Project Tiger, and supports a variety of
animals, birds and reptiles.
A 20-minute ride by a motorboat across the river Krishna attracts tourists
for its Buddhist relics and a fine museum. During the floods in Krishna, the
dam is a spectacular sight and attracts a lot of tourists.
How to get there ?
Rail - Nearest railway station is at Macherla.
Road - Regular bus services from Hyderabad , Guntur and
Vijayawada are available.
Tourist Attractions of
Andhra Pradesh
