Tirupati
Tirupati is one of the most important pilgrimage destination in India. The city is located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. The city is famous for the Sri Venkateshwara temple as draws thousands of tourists and devotees every year.
Significance
The city of Tirupati seems to derive its name from the hallowed Tirumala hills which are allegedly the second oldest rock mountains in the world and find a mention in pre Christian Tamil religious scriptures.
The city, if history is to be believed, was an established centre of Vaishnavism, an ancient Hindu sect and the temple rites were formalized by the Vaishnavite saint Ramanujacharya in the 11th century AD and the city has stood the test of time despite the Muslim invasions of South India.
Attractions
Sri Venkateshwara Temple: The Sri Venkateshwara temple is central to Tirupati’s rise to fame as a revered religious destinations. Though the exact origins of the temple are shrouded in antiquity, it is generally accepted that the temple was an ongoing piece of work undertaken by successive dynasties for several hundred years. The Sri Venkateshwara temple holds the record for being the most visited and the richest place of worship in the world. The temple is located on the famed Tirumala hills and is also known as the Temple of Seven Hills. The presiding deity is Sri Venkateshwara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is also sometimes referred to as ‘ Srinivasa’, the one in whom Sri or Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu’s consort, resides.
Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple: Is a magnificent piece of architecture, the white ornately carved ceiling is mounted on a brown base resplendent with delicately carved pillars. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ram, Sita and Ram’s brother, Lakshmana. A statue of Lord Hanuman, Lord Rama’s ardent and loyal follower sits besides Lord Rama’s feet.
Kapila Theertham: Is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. This temple, at the entrance to a mountain cave, is said to have been the place where saint Kapila Maharishi lived and meditated to Lord Shiva. Devotees and passerbys are greeted by a rock carving of the celestial bull, Nandi.
Lord Krishna Temple: The Lord Krishna temple is a unique work of architecture with the towers coloured in gold and white. The temple is adorned with glass paintings depicting the life of Lord Krishna and the ceilings are resplendent with colourful paintings resembling Tanjore art.
How to Reach
You can get to Tirupati by boarding a flight from Hyderabad and Chennai. Tirupati also has a train station though your best bet would be disembarking at Renigunta, about 10 km away. Renigunta is well connected by rail with other cities in India. If you would like to travel by road, Tirupati is well connected by road to other cities by buses and other modes of road transport.
