 |
|
Location : 67-km From Chittoor, Chittoor
District, Andhra Pradesh
Tourist Attractions : Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple,
Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Padmavati Devi Temple, Sri
Kapileswaraswami Temple.
Festivals : Brahmotsavam, Vinayaka Chavithi, Maha Shivaratri,
Skhanda Shasthi and |
|
Annabhishekam.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Chandigiri fort, Sri Kalahasthi,
Agastyaswamy temple, Kailasakona waterfall, etc.
When to Visit : Through out the year
About Tirupati
Tirupati, located about 130 kms from Chennai, 704 kms
from Hyderabad, has one of the richest temples in the country. It is
the most revered Vaishnavite shrine of Lord Venkateswara. It was
ruled by the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Vijayanagar
kings. This temple is located in the southern Chittoor district of
Andhra Pradesh. 'Tiru' of the word Tirupati, means `Sri' in Tamil.
Hence Tirupati translates to Sripati or Sri Maha Vishnu.
Tirupati is a result of contributions made by kings during their
rule. Every ruler of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord
Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine of Tirupati. The Pallavas of
Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century
later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of
Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and
they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich
offerings and contributions.
The Brahmotsavam is the most important temple festival celebrated at
Tirupati-Balaji and is celebrated annually in September. This
festival is especially grand every third year when it is called
Navratri Brahmotsavam. On the third day of the Brahmotsavam, the
temple car festival called Rathotsavam is held. Both the temple
chariot and the Lord are beautifully decorated and taken around the
streets of Tirumala.
Thus, Tirupati along with its natural beauty and religious
significance attracts innumerable tourists.
Tourist Attractions in Tirupati
Tirupati Tirumala Balaji Temple
This ancient temple is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata
Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri
Swami Pushkarini.
Padmavati Devi Temple
In Tiruchanur, 5-km from Tirupati , is this large temple dedicated
to goddess Padmavati, the spouse of Lord Venkateswara or
Venkateshwara (Balaji). It is also known as "Alamelumangapuram" and
it is believed that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after
visiting the Sri Padmavati Devi temple.
Sri Govindarajaswami Temple
It is one of the very important temples in Tirupati , Sri
Govindarajaswami Temple was consecrated by Saint Ramanujacharya in
1130 AD and is located in the heart of the Tirupati.
Kodandaramaswami Temple
Located in the centre of the Tirupati town, the presiding deities
over here are Sita, Rama and Lakshmana. It was built by the Chola
during the 10th century AD. The temple of Anjaneyaswami, which is
directly opposite, is a sub-shrine of this temple.
Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple
Situated about 3-km to the north of Tirupati, at the foot of the
Tirumala Hills, is the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, in
Tirupati. The sacred waterfall called "Kapila Teertham " (also known
as "Alwar Teertham") is located here. It is also the venue of many
festivals.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple
This sacred temple is located 12-km to the west of Tirupati at
Srinivasa Mangapuram and it is believed that Lord Venkateswara
stayed here after his marriage with Sri Padmavati Devi, before
proceeding to Tirumala.
Getting There
Air : Direct flights to Tirupati are available from
Hyderabad and Chennai only.
Rail : Tirupati is the nearest railway station. There are trains
that travel via Renigunta or Gudur, but do not touch Tirupati. In
such cases, Renigunta or Gudur, are convenient points to alight.
From Renigunta / Gudur one can reach Tirupati by train, bus, or
taxi.
Road : Buses run from all the important places in the state and
between Tirupati and Tirumala. Buses also ply between Tirupati and
Tirumala, free of cost.
Accommodation
Tirupati has some good accommodation options in Tirupati that offer
a wide choice to the tourists. The hotels range from three star
hotels to budget hotels in Tirupati. There are plenty of dhramshalas
and guest houses in Tirupati offering comfortable stay at reasonable
rates, hence accommodation is not a problem here.
|
