Tirupati

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Tirupati is regarded as one of the most sacred and highly visited pilgrimage destination in India. Lying at the foothills of Tirumalai Hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the shrine continues to attract thousands of devotees from all parts of the world.

Even world renowned pilgrim destinations like Jerusalem and Mecca are believed to receive lesser number of devotees than Tirupati. Some famous devotees at the shrine include great rulers like the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the kings & chieftains of Vijayanagar. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee managed by a Board of Trustees administers the shrine. The whole of Tirupati region sprawls over 10.33 sq. miles and lies 152 meters above sea level with a population of around 2, 00,000. Although visitors visit the shrine all through the year, the period from September to February is regarded as the ideal time to visit.

Famous Temples at Tirupati

Sri Venkateswara Temple dates back to 12th century and exhibit a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. The most sacred temple at Tirupati, it is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara –an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is located on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini on the seventh peak of the Tirupati Hill. According to Hindu texts, a pilgrimage to the temple results in various kinds of benefits.

Tituchanur- This is one of Tirupati’s most popular shrines amongst the devotees. Also known as Alamelumangapuram, it is situated at a distance of 5 km from Tirupati and is dedicated to Sri Padmavathi Devi or Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara. Sum other temples located here include Sri Sundara Rajaswamivari Temple, Sri Krishnaswamy Temple and Sri Suryanarayana Swamivari Temple. A visit to Tirupati is regarded as incomplete if one does not cover the Sri Padmavathi Devi temple.

Sri Kapileswarswami Temple: Situated at the bottoms of the Tirumala Hill about 3 km to the north of Tirupati, Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple stands amidst an attractive setting with a sacred waterfall called Alwar Teertham or Kapila Teertham not too far away. This is the only shrine in the town dedicated to Lord Siva.

Sri Kodanandaramaswami Temple: This temple is dedicated to Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. According to local belief, this temple was built to commemorate Lord Rama’s visit to Tirupati. Constructed in the tenth century AD, the shrine is situated at the heart of Tirupati with the temple of Anjaneyaswami as a sub-shrine.

Narayanavanam: A sacred site at Tirupati which according to legends was built to commemorate the wedding of Lord Venkateswara with Padmavathi Devi, the daughter of Akasa Raja.

Other attractions at Tirupati

Chandragiri Town: This historical town used to serve as the capital of the Vijayanagar rulers way back in AD 1600. Situated at a distance of about 11 km southwest of Tirupati, its main attraction is the famous Chandragiri Fort built on a 180-metre-high rock. Most of the fortifications, palaces and temple are still in well-preserved condition.

Hoesley Hills: This is a charming hill station located at an altitude of 1,265 meters above sea level and beautifully covered with teak, mango, sandalwood and eucalyptus plantations. Situated along the southwest border of Andhra Pradesh, it was named after the former collector of Chittoor and is today a fascinating tourist attraction.

Kailasakona Waterfalls: Kailasakona Waterfalls are known both for its naturally endowed beauty as well as the deep mythological legends associated with it. Situated in the Nagary Valley, its water is said to be rich in minerals and believed to possess curative powers.

Nagalapuram: A small town located about 65 km south-east of Tirupati, Nagalapuram is the abode of several mythological legends, historical ruins and sacred shrines. The most famous one amongst them is the Sri Vedanarayana Swamy Temple exhibiting a fine specimen of Vijayanagar architecture style. Built by Vijayanagar emperor Sri Krishna Devaraja, it houses an image of Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) incarnation accompanied by Sri Devi and the Bhu Devi on either side. The architectural design of the temple is such that the sun rays pass through its gopuram and fall on the idol for three days every year in the month of March.