Sep 04, 2012 07:37 PM
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On Saturday the 1st September, 2012 morning, I accompanied by my son visited Olivea’s Koramangala office for enquiring about the package for Tirumala/Tirupati darshans. The receptionist informed us that they run the buses only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and made us talk to Mr Vamsi(Tel No.09848022556) who confirmed the above package and told that we could make the payment on arrival at the Tirupati. Accordingly my son confirmed my going for Tirumala / Tirupati darshan on double sharing basis at a total cost of Rs. 5, 199/-. My son informed Mr Vamsi that the traveler(i.e. me is a senior citizen and needs special attention since I have arthritis and have problem in walking)
Later in the evening one Mr Murli called up to inform that in case there is no other person taking the package, the charges payable would be Rs. 5, 999/-. This logic is not understandable since a customer does not have any control over how many people are taking the package. Besides we were told about this barely 1-2 hours before the scheduled departure from Bangalore. Mr Murli mentioned that he is a person on ground in Tirupat and that somebody would contact the traveler at the hotel on arrival.
My experience with the package(detailed below) can best described as disgusting and unprofessional to say the least.
On Saturday I reached Olivea office at Koramangala and boarded the bus for Tirupati around 11.00 pm. En route I was offered food. I reached the Tirupati and was dropped at the hotel around 4.30 in the morning. The hotel staff were not aware of my coming but were hospitable enough to provide me accommodation after checking with somebody but they took almost one hour to provide me with a cup of tea.
At the time of arrival I was informed by the attendant of the bus that the guide would come at 5.30 am to take me for darshan . I was ready by 5.30 am but Mr Niranjan came at around 6.30 am.
We started for the travel to Tirumala immediately thereafter and reached at about 7.30 am and I went for shaving off my hair. Thereafter, I was made to wait for about 2 hours outside of the “free re-entry for photometric” since Mr Niranjan was waiting for somebody to take me for darshan without Seeghra darshan. Around 9.30 am he told me that I should go for darshan through the gate meant for “senior citizen and physically handicapped person” and I waited in the queue for about 1 hour after which the gate was closed and I had to go out of the queue( it was around 10.30 am). Then for about one hour he made me wait outside Banks’ ATM while he was trying to find somebody to take me for darshan without having to stand the queue and which he did around 11.30-11.45 am and I had darshan at around noon time.
Your contact person made a 65 year old person with severe arthritis in his knees stand and wait for 4 hours for Seeghra darshan that you promised as part of your package!
It took me almost four hours to have darshan through dubious means, whereas if Mr Niranjan had bought ticket for seeghra darshan, I would have had darshana in about 1-2 hours and would have avoided going from one location to another to another.
Subsequent to the above we came to Padmavathi temple for darshan and finally reached hotel at around 2.30 pm when I was offered cold lunch. Thereafter I could hardly take rest for less than one hour and had to board the bus for return journey to Bangalore.
This is to be clarified that I have been given the prasadam bought at Padmavathi temple and have paid the following amount:
Package cost Rs. 5999.00( the logic is non-understable)
Less: cost of VIP Darshan Rs. 300.00
Plus cost of hair shave Rs. 100.00
Plus Rs. 400.00(amount paid for darshan by Mr Niranjan)
Total Rs. 6200.00
During journey from Tirupati to Bangalore I was only offered a small pack of lay chips.
Package details and summary feedback:
Transport from Bangalore to Tirupati and back(including “gourmet” meals on board) – Plain meals were offered. No complain.
Free accommodation at hotel candy PLR – Hotel staff was unaware of my arrival and itinerary
Welcome drink at hotel on arrival – See above, Tea was served after 1 hr
Complimentary buffet breakfast and lunch – No breakfast, Lunch was cold
Special VIP darshan at Tirumala devasthanam(Seeghra Darshan) accompanied by local guide * - Please see the feedback above, I have elaborated on unprofessional conduct on your part to provide below par services and endanger health of a senior citizen with severe disability
Darshan at Padmavathi temple accompanied by local guide
Local transport included
Complimentary prasadam
At a cost of Rs. 5199/- on double sharing basis in the hotel
As a result of this horrendous experience, I would like to lodge this formal complaint with both Tirupati Tirumala Travels and Olivea. Also I don’t think I ll ever avail any services from either Olivea or Tirupati Tirumala Travels in future and would also strongly discourage others from doing so for their own benefit. I believe this package is exorbitantly priced, guide was extremely unprofessional and callous enough to endanger my health condition and overall services way below the par for even a package worth 1000 Rupees.
ashwani kumar
