Holyplaces

Services

State


		Introduction

		Transport

		Sightseeing
		Accommodation

State	Andhra Pradesh

City	Tirupati

Airports	Tirupati Airport

Distance from City Centre	35 Km/ 25 Mile

Railway Junctions	Tirumalai

Local Languages	Hindi

Tirupati Introduction

Amidst the thickly-wooded hills in Chittoor district lies the temple town of Tirumala with Tirupati at the foothills, the abode of Lord Venkateswara. The range of hills is said to resemble a snake with Tirumala forming the hood. Lord Venkateswara, the residing god, is known as ‘Lord of the Seven Hills’ and ‘Balaji’.

Tirupati and Tirumala today are modern destinations of pilgrim tourists. Not only the bliss of a divine 'darshan' but added attractions provided by nature make them the ideal pilgrimage-cum-holiday destination.

While Balaji remains the main draw, the beauties of nature and the serene surroundings have made Tirupati today a much visited town. A beautiful road leads up across the Seven Hills to Tirumala.

Tirupati is a world in itself, millions of pilgrims from all over India and abroad visit the temple of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati round the year. In addition to various shrines scattered all over Tirupati and beyond there are holy water falls, scared rivers and archaeological wonders. It is regarded as one of the most ancient temples which were mentioned in Puranas and Sastras.

The temple is patronized by the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Rulers and the later kings of Mysore. Hastakalaramam Papanasanam, Akasganga, Gogarbham, Shilathoranam, View Point, S.V. Museum are the other places worth seeing at Tirumala. Kapilatheetham, Hare Rama Hare Kishna Mandir, Regional Science Centre, S.V.Zoological Park, Srinivasa Mangapuram, Kalyani Dam, Chandragiri Fort, Tiruchanur, Govindaraja Swamy Temple are the other places worth seeing in and around Tirupathi.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is an independent trust which monitors the activities of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, and maintains maintains 12 temples and their sub-shrines in the Tirumala-Tirupati areai. The chairman of the board is nominated by the state government of Andhra Pradesh.

The TTD's stated goals include the restoration of Sanathana Dharma, reviving various failing temples of South India and running Vedic schools and Veda parishats.