amma's ashram getting there/ever been?

Hi

I am planning on going to Amma the hugging saint's ashram in the south.
In the directions they say i can either fly into Cochin or Trivandrum or take a train to Kayamkulam or Karunagapally.

If I leave from Delhi, is a train waaay to long of a ride?

any thoughts? anyone been?

thank you!

How do you feel about really long rides?

From Delhi, I'll bet Cochin or Trivandrum would be at least 30-hour ride -- is that too long for you? You could consider flying from Delhi to one of those cities and then take the train...

If you're going to take the train from Delhi, be sure to take food that won't spoil, just in case you miss a meal stop or don't like what's available on the station platforms you pass through.

According to http://www.trainenquiry.com/ , Delhi-Trivandrum would be 51-54 hrs. yes, barring any delays.

See also Advice on 37 hour train ride for members' reflections on those lengthy rides

Hi,

I just checked her ashram website and found that she is travelling. And she is coming to california on November 21st. (may be you know, but just an info)

http://www.amritapuri.org/yatra/usa.php
http://www.amritapuri.org/yatra/yatra.php

I have been there before and its a really beautiful place. Her ashram is in an Island surrounded by backwaters and Arabian sea. You will get accommodation there itself If you want.

As others have pointed out, its better to fly into Cochin or Trivandrum and then go by train to kayamkulam. From Kayamkulam you can get taxi or buses to vallikavu.

\\hkp

I have been to the Ashram a number of times - especially when I used to live in Kerala - Its a great place, the view from top of the Ashram (not sure if they would let anyone go there now) is amazing - Arabian sea to one side and endless span of coconut trees to the other side - you can really appreciate why Kerala is called "Kera"-lam - land of coconuts!

As for the Ashram itself, if you are spiritually inclined, you are likely to meet a lot of similar minded people there from all walks of life, some are there for good, some just to checkout what the whole lark is about etc. I know a number of people who have given up their ordinary life and have moved to Ashram full time to follow their quest!

If you get to meet Amma, you can make up your own mind about her, as I think that experience is quite unique for every individual. Be warned, there will be a quite a crowd (tens of thousands) waiting to see her when she gets back from the tour.

regards,
Ashok.

Just for info, this site was down before so I couldn't check: http://www.indiagroove.com/ would suggest Delhi-Cochin by train 39-49 hrs; Delhi-Trivandrum 43-54.

You can count on getting a little crazy after say the second night; can be an experience though.

is it possible to get there by boat? i thought we stopped there when i took a boat heading north along the canals.

I certainly boated by some popular ashram run by a woman there which I'd considered staying in but I changed my mind, from descriptions here I think this was it.

Amma's site offers directions which make no mention of boating though.

Yes it is the same Ashram, I was there in Jan, the main backwater cruise boats stop there and you can break your journey and then continue on the same ticket another day. A nice way of arriving, though its quite weird seeing such a hi-rise building all of a sudden on the waterways.

thank you all for responding... i am now going to fly into mumbai..spend some time there and then head down to Cochin by train.

So am I understanding this correctly? You can take a backwater boat ride from cochin to amma's ashram and alight there?

thanks again for all your replys!

If these leave from Kochi, I don't remember. Waiting for others to fill you in, as so often. Maybe this will help to bump it up.

Shouldn't be hard to find out on the ground in any case. If they don't leave from there directly, you can boat on from there or find another mode of transport, thus continuing along that area. The backwaters are quite extensive so depending on where you want to go you could string several boat rides together, if necessary or desired. It's just the traditional local transport system really, with various tourist and houseboating options having been thrown into the mix in more recent times.

Please check also Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets! (2003) for a general idea of the backwaters as such. Amma's been covered quite a bit before here, so you could try and search the site for it.

Does anyone know how to contac the ashram? I also would like to know if it is necessary to contact them before a stay. How long do they allow you to stay? Julie

Some interesting reading.

Fly to Cochin. Poceeed to Alleppey, Have backwater cruise by houseboat if your budget permits you. Other wise, get the tourist boat from Alleppey to Kollam and get down at Ahsramam.

I don't know if you have already or are still planning on visiting the ashram but I'll be there this august! You can reserve a stay on their site but not farther than 4 months ahead of the reservation. Their website is www.amritapuri.org/ Happy travels!