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City in Andhra Pradesh, India
Photo: Adityamadhav83, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tirupati (Telugu: తిరుపతి Tirupati, Tamil: திருபதி Tirupati) is the spiritual capital of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is most famous for its Sri Venkateswara Temple dedicated to Vishnu, also known as Balaji in Northern India and Govinda in Southern India. The temple is on top of Tirumala hills, while the town is in the foothills. The Tirumala hill has seven peaks ("Sapthagiri"), said to represent the seven hoods of Adisesha, the serpent under whose hood Vishnu resides in Vaikuntha.
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This fort was built in the 11th century. This site features stucco work and abundance natural light. The fort hosts a sound and light show twice a day in English and Telugu. There is a Hanuman Temple at the entrance of the fort.
This temple is a few blocks north from the Tirupati train station.
This is a holy waterfall with a temple dedicated to Venkateshwar near its base. To see the full glory of this waterfall, visit during the monsoon season when the falls are at their fullest. It can be a disappointing visit if there is not much water flowing over the falls.
Asia's second largest zoo, with an area of 5,500 acres. It is built on the concept of Hindu mythology and exhibits only animals that are mentioned in ancient epics.
ISKCON Temple
Srinivasa Mangapuram
Tiruchanur is the abode of Goddess Padmavathi Devi. It is 5 km from Tirupati.
This is Sri Agastheeswarar Swamy (Shiva) Temple along with Goddess Aanandavalli. It's near Kaloor village which is around 12 km from Tirupati.
SV Museum
The museum features a collection of temple architecture and historical artifacts, such as ancient weaponry, pooja items and idols. It has a photo gallery that gives insight into the region's culture and traditions. It also has a meditation center.
The highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh, with a 270-feet (82-m) fall. Near the falls is the Lord Siddheswara Swamy Temple.
Millions of pilgrims from all over India and abroad visit the temple of Venkateswara throughout the year. It is regarded as one of the most ancient temples. One can avail free meals at the Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam complex near to temple. The simple meal consists of rice, sambhar (heavily dal/lentil vegetarian soup), chutney, rasam (light soup), and vegetable curry. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, the temple has rich history, spiritual significance, and magnificent Dravidian architecture.
By train
Trains can also be boarded at nearby cities - Renigunta (10 km from Tirupati) and Gudur (100 km). Frequent bus service is available between Tirupati, Renigunta, and Gudur.
By road
National Highway NH 205 passes through Renigunta and hence is accessible from Chennai (3-4 hr), Bengaluru (at least 5 hours), Hyderabad (10-12 hours) and other nearby cities.
You can reach the main temple by walking. It is called Divya Darshan. Take a local bus to Alipiri. You can start the walk from there. The walk way is open all day. It consists of 3550 steps.
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Tirupati · International · TIR
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