north carolina ferries Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Highest Peace) is the main ashram of the late Sri Sathya Sai Baba (1926

1 Sights Undavalli Cave Temples HINDU SITE (Indian/ foreigner 5/100; h8am-5.30pm) Four kilometres southwest of Vijayawada, these stunning cave temples cut a fi ne silhouette against the palm trees and rice paddies. Shrines are dedicated to the Trimurti Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and one cave on the third level houses a huge, beautiful statue of reclining Vishnu while seated deities and animals stand guard out front. The caves, in their Hindu form, date to the 7th century, but they re thought to have been constructed for Buddhist monks 500 years earlier. Bus 301 ( 9, 20 minutes) goes here.

Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Highest Peace) is the main ashram of the late Sri Sathya Sai Baba (1926 2011), the deceased afro-haired guru revered by followers from around the world. Setting up the ashram in his hometown of Puttaparthi 60 years ago, he lived here for most of the year, though with his death from a respiratory-related illness on 24 April 2011, the town faces an uncertain future. While the millions of dollars pumped into the nearby hospital, schools and university will ensure the town continues to thrive upon his legacy, long-term it remains to be seen whether devotees will continue to arrive en masse without the presence of the man himself.

# # SECUNDERABADMARREDPALLYHussainSagarSanjiraiahPark Parade Grounds SD Rd Sardar Patel (SP) Rd C l u b R d StMarysRd Rashtrapati Rd WestMarredpallyRd Necklace Rd W ellingtonRd BoyigudaRd Entrenc hmentRd Kavadigu d a RdSikhVillage Rd SarojiniDevi(SD)Rd MG Rd Park L a St No 16 S P R d MinisterRdSubha s h R d PicketRd Sanjiraiah ParkTrain Station James St Train Station Secunderabad Train Station American Consulate Jubilee Bus Station Mahankali Temple APTDC SpanishMosque 5 3 4 1 2 31CBC2312BAADD ANDHRA PRADESH

Tirupathi s bus station (%2289900) has buses to Chennai (deluxe/Volvo 70/155, four hours) and Hyderabad (deluxe/Volvo 408/717, 12/10 hours). Tonnes of APSRTC and KSTDC buses go to Bengaluru (deluxe/Volvo 153/365, six/five north carolina ferries hours), and seven buses go to Puttaparthi daily (express/deluxe 165/227, eight hours).