In this jet-era where one can plan a to-and-fro journey for a day to any part of the country, an exuberant group of 35 people from Bangalore will take a pilgrimage to Varanasi, Prayag-Triveni Sangam and Ayodhya, covering a distance of nearly 2,200 km by walk.
A majority of the group members that include women as well, led by 68-year-old K Hanumanthaiah aka Sri Swamidasa, are above 50. Before heading towards Varanasi, he told Deccan Herald that this pilgrimage was not a new thing for them. “We have gone 28 times by walk to Dharmasthala, 22 times to Tirupati and Mantralaya, four times to Sri Shailam and twice to Sabarimala and Thiruvallur. We have also visited Kanyakumari and Shirdi-Trayambakeshwara by walk,” he said. According to him, the pilgrimage may cost Rs 4 lakh. “Throughout the journey, a van with some cooks will accompany us, carrying tents, clothes, food materials and utensils, he said.