[Resolved]  Rajesh Travels — Tirupathi Package Tour From Bangalore

Address:

Karnataka

I took the tirupathi package tour from Bangalore on 2nd Jan 2011. My dad and my mom, who are above 60 years old were accompanying me. I had booked the bus tickets some 3 weeks ago to avoid the rush as I was to take my parents safely. At the time of booking there was naturally no seats booked. I was the first. I took a 2 seater and 1 window seat next to it so that three o[censored]s could stay close during the journey. I specifically told the agent that there should not be any confusion with seats at the day of journey. Rajesh travels always do this seat confusions. They will allot the same seat to 5 different customers and then let them fight with each other while they will raise their hands. The same crap incident happened with us at the day of journey. We boraded the bus from tin factory and at that time the bus was fully loaded with passengers. Only our seats (3 in number) were left and shockingly the 3 seats were at three different positions and all towards the back side. When I demanded my seats showing the tickets to the other passengers who by that time had captured our seats, they also showed me the ticket with the same seeat numbers. Another passenger seating next showed the same seat numebered ticket. I called the helper. Fought with the helper, the driver, their office guys (over phone) and finally with the passengers. But alas nothing was happening. Then I requested 2 young lads to kindly give their seats to my parents so that at least they can seat together through the journey. They thankfully agreed and we settled after cursing the driver and the helper who were saying that they can't do anything, they are not responsible for these stuffs. However the journey started. The bus was old enough and it took several hiccups. Most of the seats had bad push-backs. Either they will not move back or they will just fall back (Not at all comfortable). Thankfully the seats where my parents got to seat were good. The quilts were old and smelling rotten eggs. The AC was working. The outer side of the bus was not at all what they show you during booking. However, at 2am they suddenly stopped at a under-construction inn in a no-mans land and asked us to take bath and freshen up. We had to abide by their rules as they have taken the whole money for the trip hence were then the king and we were the slaves. After brushing our teeth we boarded the bus again. As promised that it will leave at 2:50 am, contrary to that they left at 3:15am. After 5 minutes they moved the bus through a narrow lane which was just as spacious as the bus needed to push through. At the end of the alley was a utterly smelling shop (i[censored] call it restaurant then it will be a disrespect to the beautiful French word). They ordered us to take the breakfast in 15 minutes and warned us that the breakfast was limited and that if we dare eat an extra ice-cold idly we will be charged. We barely took our brekfast at 3:30am (first and last time in my life). The journey started again and we reached a temple prior to Tirupathi where we ourselves stood in the Q and took tickets for entrance @ Rs. 25/- per head contrary to what the package promises. Anyways at 4:30am the temple was empty and the environment was awesome with mantra chants and an amazing smell. We saw the arati and then went up-close to Bhagwan's murty. The experience was fabulous. Then after about half - an -hr we went towards Tirupathi. In between we had to leave the Volvo and board a worn-out government line bus. We reached at 5:30am and then after keeping out chappals, mobiles, cameras etc. at a shop which Rajesh Travels personnel calimed to be their own, we went towards the special Rs. 300/- Q as per the package. The morning hussle free ambience brought in peace to the over-disturbed Rajesh journey. The Darshaan was verry good. Up-Close and what one wishes to have. Then after Darshaan we started our return journey. We went back to the same posh den for lunch and it turned out ot be the worst ever lunch I ever had in my life. Finally we left for bangalore and landed at around 5pm in the evebning.

OVERALL -- Darshaan was awesome. Rajesh travels was crap. Don't opt for this, look for other options.