Travel to Prasanthi Nilayam

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Travel to Prasanthi Nilayam

>From the International Sai Organization

Website:http://www.sathyasai.org/ashrams/prasanthi/travel.html

The ashram Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Pece) is situated next to the village

(now a city) of Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh State

in South India. It is 120 kilometers (about 80 miles) north north east of

Bangalore.

Air travel

>From outside India, one has a few options in traveling by air to Prasanthi

Nilayam. Check with your travel agent.

1. Fly to Bangalore (either direct or from Bombay, Delhi, or Madras). Then take a taxi or bus.

2. Until 15 March 2005, Indian Airlines has flights on Monday, Thursday, and

Saturday between Bangalore and Puttaparthy:

Flight IC 969: 14:00 Bangalore -- 14:30 PuttaparthiFlight IC 970: 15:10

Puttaparthi -- 15:40 Bangalore

3. At times, Indian Airlines may operate flights between Mumbai and Prasanthi

Nilayam two days a week (Wednesdays and Sundays, but this may change) when

Sathya Sai Baba is at Prasanthi Nilayam. The plane lands in the Sri Sathya Sai

Airport, about 6 kms. away from the ashram. Check the current schedule of

arrival and departure with Indian Airlines.

Please note that you generally have to confirm your return flight several days

in advance. In Prasanthi Nilayam, enquire at the Airlines Office in North

Building 2-Al a few days after you arrive in Prasanthi Nilayam. Telephone No.

87444 (Office) and 87484 (Airport).

Taxis (to and from Bangalore)

A taxi from the Bangalore airport to Prasanthi Nilayam takes 3 to 3.5 hours. You

can ask your travel agent to reserve a taxi ahead of time. However, it is

possible to get a taxi at the airport itself --there are lots of taxi drivers

waiting there. Also, of course, ask the taxi drivers where Sathya Sai Baba is

--He may be in Brindavan or Prasanthi Nilayam, and they can drive you

accordingly.

The cost is around 1000-1300 rupees.

To make arrangements for a taxi from Prasanthi Nilayam to Bangalore, contact one

the taxi operators and travel agents that have offices outside the ashram.

Buses to and from Bangalore and elsewhere

We do not have exact schedules of the buses, but here is some general information.

Place

Distance

Cost (estimate)

Frequency (estimate)

Bangalore

160 km

60-90 rupees

6-7 times per day

Brindavan

180 km

90 rupees

2-3 times per day

Anantapur

85 km

35 rupees

15 times per day

Chennai (Madras)

450 km

200-250 rupees

2 time per day

Dharmavaram Railway Station

45 km

16-20 rupees

every hour, from 4AM to 8PM

Buses leavethe Bangalore main bus terminal. Take a taxi to it from the airport.

For return trips, bookings may be made at the Bus Terminal, near the Police

Station, just outside the ashram.

Trains

Prasanthi Nilayam appeared on the Indian railway map with the formal flagging of

the Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam - Secunderabad train by Hon'ble Minister of

State for Railways Sri Bandaru Duttatreya on 16 November 2002.

The following are the timings of the trains that will pass through SSSPSN

station as of fall 2002, with more trains to be diverted via the new Sri Sathya

Sai Prasanthi Nilayam station shortly.

Train No.

Route

Name

Arrival

Departure

2429

Rajadhani Express

Bangalore-Nizamuddin

9.10 PM

9.15 PM

2430

Rajadhani Express

Nizamuddin-Bangalore

4.20 AM

4.25 AM

6529

Udyan Express

Mumbai CST-Bangalore

4.40 AM

4.45 AM

6530

Udyan Express

Bangalore-Mumbai CST

11.10 PM

11.15 PM

8564

Prasanthi Express

Bangalore-Visakhapatnam

5.30 PM

5.35 PM

8563

Prasanthi Express

Visakhapatnam-Bangalore

5.35 AM

5.40 AM

7604

Express

Kacheguda-Prasanthi Nilayam

8.35 AM

--

7605

Express

Prasanthi Nilayam - Kacheguda

--

6.40 PM

434

Passenger

Guntur - Bangalore

1.05 PM

1.10 PM

433

Passenger

Bangalore - Guntur

12.10 PM

12.15 PM

For a return trip, you can make reservations and check the schedule in the bus

station near the police station just outside the ashram.