TIRUPATI is the most sacred Vaishnavite temple of Andhra Desa. It has a reputation not only in Andhra but all over India and the presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is worshipped by North Indian pilgrims as ‘Balaji."
Tirupati, the holy city is located in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh, in Chittoor district. Known as the abode of the Hindu god 'Venkateshwara', Tirupati is famous for the Venkateswara temple in the sacred Tirumala hills at an elevation of 860m.
One of the most important pilgrimage centers in India, the temple draws millions of pilgrims and is believed to be the busiest pilgrimage centre in the world.
Tirupati town itself, has several temples and is famous for its red wooden toys, copper and brass idols.
History :
The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century AD) ,Cholas of Tanjore (10 century) , Pandyas of mathura and Vijayanagara pradhans (14th & 15th centuries) were committed devotees of Lord Venkateswara. The statues of Sri Krishna Devaraya and his spouse stand in the premises of the temple. After the decline of Vijayanagara Empire, kings from various states like the king of Mysore and Gadwal, worshiped the lord as pilgrims and gifted various ornaments and valuables to the temple. Raghoji Bhonsle, the Maharastrian commander visited the temple and made a permanent arrangement regarding the regular pujas to be done to the Lord. In 1843 the temple gave up administrative authority of Venkateswara Temple along with the temples in the village to the head of Hatthimji monastery in Tirumala. Till 1933 the administration of the temple had been wielded by the head of that monastery, Hathiram Mahantha. In 1933 the Madras government appointed a Commission to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam through a special statutory authority to run the administration of the temple. In 1951 another Hindu Religious and endowment Act was made which felicitated the appointment of an executive officer and Board of trustees and they run the administration. The executive officers of this institution in the South have been maintaining administration.
Cities of Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam, Warangal
Tourist Attraction of Tirupati :
Padmavati Temple, Akasa Ganga, Tirupati Town, Tirupati skyline, Tirumalai.
How to get there :
By Air :
The nearest airport is Madras
By Rail:
Direct rail connections to tirupati, Vijayawada, Madras, Tiruchirapalli, Puri and Delhi.
By Road :
Tirupati is very near to Chennai, which is 3 hours travel and 6 hours from Bangalore. There is a bus facility every 30 minutes or so from Bangalore.
