Tirupati Balaji- Andhra Pradesh: World’s Richest Temple

World’s richest temple Tirupati located in Tirumala; has millions of devotees who come to worship Lord Balaji; also known as Tirupati Venkateswara. This travel destination guide will answer all your travel related questions on Tirupati.

Tirupati, located at a distance of 130 kms from Chennai, is one of India’s most visited pilgrimage spots. Most known for the historic shrine of Sri Venkateswara, the Lord of Seven Hills, the trust that manages the Tirupati Tirumala Balaji temple is also the richest Hindu temple trust in the world.

According to the Puranas, the Tirumala hill range, which features seven prominent peaks, represents the body of the holy serpent Adisesha. Adisesha is Lord Vishnu’s (the protector of the world) resting place and is blessed with seven heads. Throughout history, the many empires and kingdoms of South India including the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Vijayanagar kings have patronised the historic shrine of Sri Venkateswara and the historical temple town of Tirupati, which is also one of the finer examples of Dravidian architecture.

PLACES to SEE- TIRUPATI TIRUMALA DESTINATIONS

  • The most important pilgrimage temple in the Indian temple town of Tirupati is the Tirupati Tirumala Balaji temple (commonly, the Tirupati temple), a very old temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara. This temple is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill and contains two main shrines.
  • After the main temple, the Padmavati Devi temple is perhaps the second-most important. Dedicated to goddess Padmavati, the consort of Lord Venkateswara or Balaji, it is said that any visit to Tirupati that does not include a darshan of the Padmavati Devi temple is incomplete. The Padmavati Devi temple is located 5 kms away from Tirupati in Tiruchanur.
  • Tirupati is also home to many other important temples. At the heart of this ancient temple town are located two famous temples: Kodandaramaswami temple and Sri Govindarajaswami temple. Kodandaramaswami temple is dedicated to Sita, Rama and Lakshmana. Built in the 10th century AD during the Chola reign, this ancient temple also has a sub-shrine, the temple of Anjaneyaswami, which is located directly opposite the Kodandaramaswami temple. The Sri Govindarajaswami temple is among the most important temples in Tirupati and was consecrated by Saint Ramanujacharya in 1130 AD.
  • Located about 3 kms from the centre of the temple town of Tirupati, at the foot of the Tirumala Hills, Sri Kapileswaraswami temple is the only temple in Tirupati dedicated to Lord Shiva.
  • The sacred waterfall of Tirupati, which is referred to as Kapila Teertham or Alwar Teertham, is also located here.
  • Another very famous Hindu pilgrimage temple is the Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami temple, which is believed to have been the place where Lord Venkateswara stayed after getting married to Sri Padmavati Devi and before he proceeded to Tirumala. The Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami temple is located 12 kms to the west of Tirupati.

Tirupati Hill Station- TRAVEL TIPS

  • Languages: Telugu and English are the widely spoken languages in the region. Hindi is less prevalent.
  • Cuisine: Cuisine is largely regional; you can expect South Indian food in all restaurants.

Tirupati is a must-stop for any temple tourism initiative or temple tour in south India.

BEST TIME to visit Tirupati

Tirupati can be visited any time of the year. However many devotees visit Tirupati in the month of 'Aipasi' (according to Hindu Calendar) to celebrate 'Kalyana Utsavam', wedding of Lord Balaji. Find Travel Agents suiting your travel on Tripraja.com

BEST WAY to reach Tirupati

  • By Air: The Tirupati airport is located 14 kms away from the sprawling temple complex. Flights to/from Chennai and Hyderabad are very frequent and convenient.
  • By Rail: Tirupati is a major railway terminus and is well connected to the major railheads in the region.
  • By Road: Tirupati is well connected to all the important cities in the region. Buses are plenty from all towns/cities in the region. Local transport in Tirupati comprises taxis, buses and auto rickshaws.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels and rooms are available to suit all budgets. One can obtain excellent discounts on accommodation via temple pilgrimage tours and temple tours.