Balaji Temple Near Pune

Went to the Balaji temple near Narayanpur, around 40 km from Pune, yesterday. Built a few years back as a replica of the Balaji temple in Tirupati, we'd heard a lot about it, but it was a disappointing anti-climax. The temple is crowded and noisy, with loud speakers blaring chants and slogans, the barren land, dusty parking and gravelled paths doing nothing to add to the ambience. Temples should be peaceful, allowing one to sit quietly and retrospect and feel at one with god and himself. This felt like being part of one and only one endeavour - make money from those who cannot go all the way to Tirupati. The "business" is expanding...