From Chennai we took the train to Vellore. Vellore still isn't a tourist favourite because it hasn't made it into all the guide books and such yet. This city has a controversial new temple, called Sripuram Golden Temple, with 1.5 tonnes of gold built into its' structure. Wow it's pretty.
We arrived late in the day, there were 2 options to get in. Everybody working there kept trying to direct us to the fast track option of paying 250 Rupees (about $5) and skipping the queue. But, as the weather was pleasant and we had nothing better to do we decided to go with the less privileged pilgrims. What an experience! If the weather is good (not too hot) I recommend it.
The queue system can take 3 hours, but while we were there it took a little less than an hour. It consists on walking through a maze of caged corridors to 5 big holding pens. The 5 pens must have held about 200 people each, but weren't cramped. The wait in there might have been about 30 minutes. A canteen sold coffee, biscuits, ice creams.
On release (the Indians mostly push to be first, whereas Louise, myself, and one Indian family (perhaps 'Non India residents') held back) we entered more caged corridors. Until we eventually made it to the beautiful temple complex.
Photography was strictly forbidden on this one so you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that it's stunning, or visit it yourself.
This temple is stunning, and maintained with cleanliness (wow!), and although its free if you go by the queue system it's a money maker in itself. First, when you still can't see a temple, comes the first of the souvenir shops, then donation spots, then canteens for refreshments, then souvenir stalls, and the same again and again. But those things are all optional and if you stop and read all the signs (I did), they tell you about all the good work the guru (?) does.
From there we made a day trip to Tiruvannamalai to see yet another temple, called Arunachaleswar. But honestly, we are a bit "templed out". We just couldn't muster any excitement for this temple, although I'm sure it was beautiful.
Both Temples have us an additional wonderful experience. At the stunning Golden Temple we sat down to admire the view (the lights had just been turned on as the sun was fading) and some Indian tourists stopped to ask us some questions. On leaving us they shook our hands. Suddenly there was a queue of Indians filing past us to shake our hands as they headed to the exit.
The next day at the temple in Tiruvannamalai again we sat to take in the scene when a group of female pilgrims came over and insisted that we join them in a dance (of course I jumped in!). It was a lot of fun. As we left the security guys commented on our scene- they had watched it all on the CCTV! I really don't know if dancing in the temple complex is appropriate behaviour... But the pilgrims started it!
Notes:
23 & 24 January 2013 Vellore. Accommodation at Hotel River View R1440... Applauding service from staff who even tried to overcharge us, and promised service but never delivered it. Room also was dirty.
Local buses used to get to both temples.
