Puttaparthi

Puttaparthi
పుట్టపర్తి
Village

Prashanti Nilayam and surrounding area
Puttaparthi
Coordinates: 14°09′58″N 77°48′40″E / 14.166°N 77.811°E / 14.166; 77.811Coordinates: 14°09′58″N 77°48′40″E / 14.166°N 77.811°E / 14.166; 77.811
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
District Anantapur
Area[1]
 • Total 45.47 km2 (17.56 sq mi)
Elevation 475 m (1,558 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 15,088
 • Density 330/km2 (860/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 515 xxx
Telephone code 91-8555
Vehicle registration AP–02
Website Puttaparthi website

Puttaparthi is a town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The original name of Puttaparthi was Gollapalli. The town is located on the banks of Chitravathi River which is a tributary of Pennar River, and is surrounded by undulating hills.[3] While this small town may not have much to offer in terms of natural splendour and beauty, the place is a religious destination popularly known by the world at large as the birthplace of Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and for the ashram which he founded, known as Prasanthi Nilayam.

Demographics

The official language in Puttaparthi is Telugu, the language spoken by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Other common languages spoken in Puttaparthi are Kannada, English, Tamil and Hindi. Various national and international languages are understood and spoken due to the presence of national and international devotees. [4]

Climate

The climate is generally hot and dry throughout the year,[4] summer temperatures ranging from 34 °C-42 °C, (93F-108F) and winter 22 °C-27 °C (71F-80F).[5] The hotter months are from March until July and the milder months are from November until January.[4]

"The southwest monsoons play a major role in determining the climate. The northeast monsoons are responsible for about one-third of the total rainfall. Some rainfall may be expected during the months of July and August and again from October to December."[5]

Puttaparthi is 475 meters (1558 feet) above sea level.[6]

Transport

Entrance to Puttaparthi

Road

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Puttaparthi bus station.[7] People visit Puttapathi from all over India, and most State transport services also ply their own buses to this place. Puttaparthi is well connected by road to all parts of Anantapur district, the district headquarters Anantapur (84 kilometres (52 mi)), the state capital Hyderabad, Telangana (441 kilometres (274 mi)), Bangalore (154 kilometres (96 mi)) and Chennai (375 kilometres (233 mi)).

Rail

Platform No.1 of Prashanti Nilayam Railway Station

Puttaparthi has a railway station named as Sri Satya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam which started functioning from 23 November 2000, which was Baba's 75th birth anniversary. It is about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the ashram. This station falls under the Bangalore Division of the South Western Railway and lies on the Bangalore-Guntakal railway line. It is easy to reach the town from the railway station in 20-25 mins, through various modes of transport like cabs, autorickshaws and APSRTC buses. The town is connected directly by train to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata.[8]

Air

Puttaparthi Airport is a domestic airport situated in the town.

The nearest International airport is the Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli, a suburb of Bangalore which is about 119 kilometres (74 mi) from Puttaparthi.

Attractions

Entrance to Prashanti Nilayam ashram from main road

The main ashram in Puttaparthi is known as Prasanthi Nilayam. Prasanthi Nilayam means "the abode of highest peace", the name given to the ashram of Shri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi. In 1950, on his 25th birthday, the seer inaugurated this ashram. This heavenly abode comprises splendid temples, public relations desk, post office, canteen, bakery, kitchens, dining halls, guest houses, dormitories etc. It also houses a huge 'Darshan Hall', a place where Sri Sai Baba gave darshan to his devotees.The samadhi of the guru on 24 April 2011 led to decline of business.[9]

Apart from the main Ashram, other places of interest in Puttaparthi as per the ashram website[10] are as follows: -

Sports

Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports and Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium are two sporting facilities in Puttaparthi. Hill View Stadium was established in 1997 and mainly used cricket and capacity of 25,000. International Centre for Sports was established in 2006 with indoor facilities for Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Squash, Table tennis, Badminton, Gymnastics and Yoga/Aerobics.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
  4. 1 2 3 http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/AshramInfo/prasanthi_intro.htm
  5. 1 2 http://www.sathyasai.org/ashrams/prasanthi/climate.html
  6. ↑ http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=IN99808&sch=VOPN
  7. ↑ "Bus Stations in Districts". Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Sri Sathya Sai Prashanti Nilayam/SSPN to Kolkata Howrah/HWH". India Rail Info. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  9. ↑ A God Is Dead, but It’s Business That May Suffer Most by Jim Yardley for The New York Times, 24 May 2011, retrieved 8 January 2012
  10. ↑ http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/AshramInfo/interested_places.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/places-of-interest/
  12. ↑ Places of interest
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