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Travelogue -
Akkalkot,
Maharashtra
By
Anuradha Shankar,
Contributing Traveller
Akkalkot is a small
town about 45 kms from Sholapur, known mainly as the place where the
renowned saint Swami Samarth attained Samadhi.
We took the overnight
train to Sholapur and then hired a jeep to Akkalkot, though we later
realized that there are a huge number of buses of the MSRTC plying between
various places in Mumbai and Akkalkot regularly. In fact, we were quite
surprised by the frequency of buses in that region, and thereafter, we
used only ST buses for traveling to and from Sholapur.
All the buses and jeeps
drop you at the Bhakta Niwas, built by the Devasthan for the convenience
of pilgrims. It has basis lodging facilities, with small and big rooms,
but only common bathrooms for the whole floor. The premises and the
toilets are surprisingly clean, considering that the charge for a whole
family (up to 10 people) is around Rs. 150.
There is also another
Bhakta Niwas, recently built, for people who like to be comfortable, even
during a pilgrimage. Here, the rooms all have attached bathrooms, and
there are also large rooms for groups. The charges here start from Rs.
250.
Both the complexes have a
vegetarian restaurant on the premises. The food is both cheap as well as
tasty. The Swami Samarth Samadhi Devasthan, the temple housing the
Samadhi is a small and neat place, calm and tranquil, transporting one
back to the days of yore when the swami was alive. If one reaches the
temple before 11:30 AM, one can perform Abhishek and puja of the Padukas
of the Swami for as little as Rs. 25 per person. It is worth it, as one is
allowed into the sanctum sanctorum, and can see the Samadhi and the
Padukas up close. After 11:30, the Padukas are decorated and kept for
viewing only.
In and around Akkalkot,
there are other minor places of interest like the ashrams and samadhis of
various disciples of Swami Samarth. These places are not as popular as the
main temple, but are worth a visit simply because the places have been
maintained quite well, and are exactly as they used to be, and one can
still feel the atmosphere that comes from years of meditation and penance.
The best way to visit all these places is to hire a local auto driver as a
guide. The chaps are only too happy to take one around the village for 50
Rupees.
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Around 2 Km from Akkalkot
is another place worth a visit for a traveler on a spiritual quest.
The
Shivpuri Ashram is a legacy of one of Swami Samarth's disciples, Shree
Gajanan Maharaj (not the Gajanan maharaj of Shegaon), and his father,
Shree Yogindra Maharaj. They were responsible for the revival of the
ancient system of Agnihotra, or the maintenance of the sacred fire. The
ashram is a serene place, with the Samadhi of the swamiji and his
descendants and disciples. It is amazing how they have managed to
popularize the age old concept of Agnihotra.
The only drawback, if I
may take the liberty to call it so, is that the main aim of the ashram
being the revival of Agnihotra, the inmates keep trying to get one to take
it up.
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The ashram also has
provision for accommodation, and they also cater to foreign tourists by
offering massages, treatments etc. In any case, the place is worth a
visit, even if one isn't really interested in following their way of life. Now for something a little
different. If one is accompanied by kids, as we were, they usually get
bored visiting temples and ashrams all the time. Akkalkot offers something
for them too!
The Akkalkot Palace
has been converted to a museum by the royal family, who reside at
Pune. The museum houses their personal collection of weapons, ranging from
small daggers and knives to the early firearms. As collections go, it is
an impressive one. The current king has also displayed his extensive
collection of car models and also models of various kinds of dogs (it
looks as if a childhood collection of toys has grown into that of a
professional collector). My 4 year old son who is obsessed with toy guns
and bows and arrows loved the place, though the one thing that struck me
was how humans have always loved to kill, and find newer and more gruesome
methods of killing.
All in all, Akkalkot is
worth a visit, whether or not one is spiritually inclined.
About
Contributing Traveller :
Anuradha Shankar - I am a
housewife and a mother of a 4 year old. I love travelling and enjoy
sharing my experiences with others.
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