SUGGESTED PACKING LIST

ARRIVAL AND ACCOMMODATION
Please plan to arrive Prasanthi Nilayam by July 5^th evening. For your safety, we do not recommend travel from Bangalore Airport to Prasanthi Nilayam (and back) in the dark. A list of available Taxi Services is provided. The average cost of taxi from Bangalore airport to the ashram is in the range of Rs. 1800 – Rs. 2400.

If you are planning to stay in the ashram, you must enter ashram premises by 6:30 pm. Ashram gates are closed between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. Accommodation office is closed between 7:30 pm and 6:30 am. Per night room rate is about Rs. 250.

If your family has outside accommodations, you can stay outside the ashram, provided you will be in the ashram and with the group for all group activities during the day.

Upon arrival, please report at the Online Booking, Check-in Counter at the Accommodation Office (next to the N-9 block, behind North Indian Canteen). View map here. The office is open from 6.30.a.m. IST to 7.30.p.m IST.

Families will be accommodated in a room. Those traveling alone will be accommodated with other devotees from the USA based on gender. If you are a room donor, then you will have your own room. You do not need to make advance reservations for rooms inside the ashram. The pilgrimage planning team will block rooms and the accommodation office will have a pilgrimage attendee list.
 
You will need your
- Passport and
- Indian Visa or Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card

Non-Indian Passport Holders without OCI / PIO cards will need to submit attached Form C plus two passport size pictures. Please bring these items with you.  

We are unable to make arrangements for you to enter the ashram and get accommodation once the ashram gate/accommodation office is closed. 

WHAT TO BRING

The accommodation includes one room with 2 cots, 2 mattresses, and 2 pillows with an attached bath. Additional mattresses might be available in the accommodation office. Please bring your own linens, blankets. Rooms do not have AC and bathrooms do not come with tissue/toiletries. The ashram has only a few rooms with hot water geysers and those might be reserved for donor rooms.

Each building has a couple of designated individuals who provide laundry service. Generally, they wash the clothes and bring them back the next day. You can also opt to wash your own clothes. There are clothes lines available outside the room for drying them. 

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST

Personal Toiletries:   
Bath towel/wash cloth    
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap and Lotions
Sunscreen
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Room Slippers
Clothes detergent   
    
General Items:  
Comfortable Clothing and Shoes
Contact lens case/solution
Sneakers for outdoor grama seva
Mosquito repellent  
Other essential personal Items  
Personal medications
Umbrella/Rain Ponchos
Hand Fan 
Combination Lock
Printed Song Lyrics (attached to this email)
Hand Sanitizer (Needed during Grama Seva)

SSE Items
Water Bottle
Comfortable shoes for outdoor activities
Sun Hat
Sun Block
Books and Other Games  

"Follow My instructions and become soldiers in My army; I will lead you on to victory. When someone asks you, in great earnestness, where the Lord is to be found, do not try to dodge the question. Give them the answer that rises up to your tongue from your heart. Direct them. He is here in the Prasanthi Nilayam." SSS. Vol 2, Ch 47

Brothers and Sisters! With prayers to Bhagawan, USA national pilgrimage will take place from July 6th to July 10th (inclusive of these two dates). This pilgrimage is a spiritual homecoming where all pilgrims will journey inward in preparation for this milestone event and reach a crescendo at Prasanthi Nilayam.

Why go on a pilgrimage?

“A pilgrimage is for softening the heart, widening the outlook, expanding the circle of sympathy, and not for collecting curios or pictures or blessed food packets (prasadham) or idols and images. It is more a matter for the eye (nethra) than for the vessel (pathra). Pilgrimages should be as silent as the eyelids dropping on the eye… People may say that pilgrimages are a waste of time and money, but let Me tell you that it is the best way to spend time and money, provided one has real devotion.” (SSS 02:11)

Goals of National Pilgrimage

·         To experience the joy of spiritual homecoming

·         To re-energize and re-charge spiritual battery

·         To create a meaningful and memorable reunion

·         To unite in Prasanthi Nilayam as a nation

Activities in all three wings of the Sai Organization are being planned for this pilgrimage. YA participation is encouraged in all areas.

Devotion

·         Spiritual discipline – open to all devotees; strongly encouraged for those joining the pilgrimage

·         Leading devotional songs (Bhajans) in Sai Kulwant Hall

·         Offering of a musical program by SSE children, YAs and adults

·         Study Circles related to the pilgrimage theme

·         Talks by distinguished speakers

·         Visits to places of interest in Puttaparthi (museum, hospitals, birth place, etc.)

Service

·         Participation in service activities before the pilgrimage (part of Spiritual discipline)

·         Grama Seva and Service activities at the Ashram

·         Making Prasanthi Nilayam greener (environmental initiative)

Education

·         Experiential and immersive program for SSE children

·         Workshops by special guests

·         Joint session with Sai school children

·         Visit to places of interest in Puttaparthi (museum, hospitals, birth place, etc.)

Taxi Providers from Bangalore Airport to the Ashram

Taxi Providers from Bangalore Airport to the Ashram

Please note that this list was generated based on input from devotees who may have used taxi service in the past. The Pilgrimage Planning team has not verified the quality of providers. It is being provided as a service to the devotees.

Approximate taxi rate is Rs. 1800 (no air condition) to Rs. 2400 (with air condition). Rates can vary based on the size of the vehicle.

You may want to make reservation with one of the providers listed below before leaving USA. Dial +91 followed by the number below.

In Sai’s Service,

Pilgrimage Planning Team

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mani Taxi, 9845043996

Mr Ramesh Tour, 9440355709

Kota Travel,  Mr Narendra, 9346840305

Dhoni Travel, 9908303059

Mr. Ragava, 9704205026

Mr.Anji, 9441939028

Mr. Seshu, 9440751863

Mr Suri, 9908980443

Mr Suresh, 9440380304

Mr Chandrasekahr, 9951822614

Adi, 9959397008

Mr.Salaha, 9440440982

Narayan Taxi 9440201538