Location : Andhra
Pradesh
Best time to Visit : October to March
Dedicated to : Lord Venkateshwara
Attractions Around : Sri Varahaswami Templ, Sri Bedi
Anjaneyaswami Temple
About Balaji Temple
The holy city of
Tirupati is
situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh in south India. The city is known
for the busiest pilgrimage centre in the world with an estimated 30,000
devotees having darshans every day. The Balaji temple, as it is known, is
also one of the few temples which allows non Hindus inside the holy sanctum
sanctorum. The abode of Lord Venkateshwara has been a historically important
place being frequented by kings of the Pallava, Chola, Pandya and Vijayagara
dynasty.
Temple Architecture
The temple construction style and the towering gopuram displays a unique
example of the Dravidian architecture. Different dynasties adorned the
structure with their offerings over the years bestowing the temple with
innumerable intricately carved mandapams and doorways. The idol of Lord
Venkateshwara is decorated with camphor and the devotees shave their heads
as offerings to the lord.
The early morning prayers, known as the Subhprabhatam, start at 3 AM and
continue throughout the day until the lord is laid to rest a little after
midnight. Festivities take place periodically when gifts are offered to the
lord in Hundi, which is also the main source of income for the temple
authorities. The nine day annual Brahmotsav festival is celebrated with
great festivities every year in the month of September.
Other Attractions in Tirupati
Sri Varahaswami Temple
Sri Varahaswami temple is located on the banks of Swami Pushakarni towards
the northern side of Sri Venkateshwara temple. According to legend, Tirumala
was originally the abode of Lord Varahaswami and it was with his permission
that allowed Lord Balaji to reside here. The Brahma Purana states the
importance of having darshan's at the Varahaswami temple before proceeding
to the Balaji temple.
Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple
The Anjaneyaswami temple is situated opposite the Balaji temple, the reason
being the importance of having Garuda or Anjaneya opposite the main temple,
according to Vaishnavite tradition. Anjaneya is a form of Hanuman, a devotee
of Lord Rama. The inner sanctum has a statue of Anjaneya with hands folded
where abhishekam is performed every Sunday and special offerings on the
occasion of Hanuman jayanti.
Silathoranam
A lesser known place of the city is Silathoranam, a natural rock formation
in the form of an arch, situated near the Chakra Tirtham. Geological studies
have estimated the formations as pre-cambrian dating back to several million
years, making it one of the only two such natural rock arches around the
world.
TTD Gardens
The sprawling gardens are spread in an area of over 460 acres and consists
of hundreds of variety of flowering trees and plant species. The flowers are
used for offerings to various temples and it is estimated that the Gardens
Department of TTD supplies nearly 500 Kg of flowers everyday.
Stay At
Free accommodation is available for devotees visiting the Balaji temple at
Sri Govindaraja Dharamsala and Sri Kodanda Rama Dharamsala situated south of
the Tirupati railway station. Other available accommodation options include
Sri Venkateswara Dharamsala (Opp. Railway Station), Sri Venkateswara Guest
House (north of Railway Station), Sri Padmavathi Guest House (Chittoor Road)
and TTD Alipiri Guest House (located at the foot of the seven hills).
Getting There
By Air : A domestic airport is located at Renigunta, just
15 km from Tirupati. Regular flights connect Tirupati with Hyderabad,
Bangalore, Chennai and Vijaywada.
By Rail : Triupati railway station is located in the
heart of the city with convenient rail links to and from Mumbai, Chennai,
Hyderabad and other major Indian cities. Trains are also available via
Renigunta, from where you can board a local bus or hire a taxi to reach
Tirupati.
By Road : Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation
operates regular buses from Tirupati to all the major cities in south India.
There are two bus stations in the city, Sri Venkateswara and Sri Padmavathy.
Distance from Major Cities
- Bangalore : 247 Km
- Chennai : 152 Km
- Mysore : 386 Km
- Pondicherry : 317 Km
- Vijaywada : 409 Km
