How to reach Sri Rajarajeshwari temple in Rochester?

[Guest guest]

If you don't get an answer here, you can contact the

temple staff directly:

 

http://www.esrividya.org/contactus.aspx

 

They may be able to assist you with arranging to share a ride.

 

, " Sergio Knipe " <sergio.knipe wrote:

>

> I live in England but have been invited to a wedding in New York in early

> July. I was hoping to take the opportunity to visit the Rajarajeshwari

> temple in Rochester to get Her diksha [darshan?]. I've read about the temple

and it

> looks like a very unique place. Unfortunately though I will not have a car

> while in the U.S.: does anybody know if there is possible to reach the

> temple by public transport?

>

[Guest guest]

The answer is yes and no....New York is a big place, and I'm assuming

that your wedding is in the New York City area. We here in Rochester,

which is the nearest city to the temple, are about 300 miles away from

New York City. If this isn't a problem you can get here in a couple of

ways. There are a few trains every day (http://www.amtrak.com) and the

trip takes about seven hours from New York-Penn Station to Rochester.

You could also take a bus, but the train is nicer and the view up the

Hudson river (sit on the left-hand side of the train) is gorgeous.

 

There is air service, too, of course, and that's a lot faster. Several

airlines fly the route, and you might want to check out JetBlue

(http://www.jetblue.com) which has good rates. Public transportation

exists in New York City to JFK airport, where JetBlue flies, though it's

a bit of a trek.

 

Once you're in Rochester it gets less easy. There's no public transit

from the city to the temple area, which is semi-rural and about 20 miles

from the city itself. That said, there are a lot of us devotees in the

city itself and we drive back and forth. The temple has a house where

you can stay for a small sum and if you need a place to stay along the

way one of us might be able to help & drive you down there, etc.

(Contract me privately, please.)

 

The important thing, though, is to be there when Aiya is there. He's a

busy man, and matters of diksha need to be addressed to him. My

recommendation, as a devotee, is to call the temple at 585-533-1970 and

ask to speak to Mr. Selvam. He keeps Aiya's schedule and books the

temple house, too. Don't try to leave a message, even if you're fluent

in Tamil. Just keep trying.

 

Good luck. The Guru pournima festival is July 6 and Aiya will certainly

be here then--but so will lots of others. The temple is a magical and

powerful place. Let me know if I can help and I hope I'll get a chance

to meet you!

 

Michael Steinberg

Sergio Knipe wrote:

 

> I have a small practical query.

>

> I live in England but have been invited to a wedding in New York in early

> July. I was hoping to take the opportunity to visit the Rajarajeshwari

> temple in Rochester to get Her diksha. I've read about the temple and it

> looks like a very unique place. Unfortunately though I will not have a car

> while in the U.S.: does anybody know if there is possible to reach the

> temple by public transport?

[Guest guest]

Dear Michael,

 

Thank you so much for the prompt response and precious information. I had

no idea Rochester was so far from New York: being in Europe it's easy to

forget how big the U.S. are!

 

I just realised that in my eagerness to pose the question I must have

typed 'diksha' instead of 'darshan'! Now, diksha would be wonderful, of

course, but poor little me is just hoping to get a glance at beautiful

Rajarajeshwari... ;-)

 

If that is alright with you, I will contact you in private in the near

future. At this point, my plan would be to catch an early train from NY

and then spend one night in the area (the temple house?), provided I can

find someone to give me a lift. I would really love to visit the place, so

I hope I can sort something out.

 

Will get in touch soon. In the meanwhile, thanks again for all the kind help,

 

Sergio

 

P.S. " msbauju " : thank you too for the tip!

 

> The answer is yes and no....New York is a big place, and I'm assuming

> that your wedding is in the New York City area. We here in Rochester,

> which is the nearest city to the temple, are about 300 miles away from

> New York City. If this isn't a problem you can get here in a couple of

> ways. There are a few trains every day (http://www.amtrak.com) and the

> trip takes about seven hours from New York-Penn Station to Rochester.

> You could also take a bus, but the train is nicer and the view up the

> Hudson river (sit on the left-hand side of the train) is gorgeous.

>

> There is air service, too, of course, and that's a lot faster. Several

> airlines fly the route, and you might want to check out JetBlue

> (http://www.jetblue.com) which has good rates. Public transportation

> exists in New York City to JFK airport, where JetBlue flies, though it's

> a bit of a trek.

>

> Once you're in Rochester it gets less easy. There's no public transit

> from the city to the temple area, which is semi-rural and about 20 miles

> from the city itself. That said, there are a lot of us devotees in the

> city itself and we drive back and forth. The temple has a house where

> you can stay for a small sum and if you need a place to stay along the

> way one of us might be able to help & drive you down there, etc.

> (Contract me privately, please.)

>