Tirupati City Guide – Tirupati Travel Attractions
Tirupati is a holy city located at the foothills of Tirumala in the Indian sate of Andhra Pradesh. The main attraction of the city is the Venkateswara temple located atop Seshachala hills also called as ‘Yaedu Kondalu’. The city got its name due to the deity of the famous temple in the city it means husband of Lakshmi (Thirumagal), a goddess of wealth in Hindu mythology. The city has a typical tropical climate with hot summers and rainy winters. The temperatures vary from 10 °C during the winters to about 45 °C in summer seasons. However, one can find a large number of tourists and pilgrims throughout the year. Apart from serving as a pilgrimage center, the city is also a tourist destination. Some places of interest in Tirupati are briefed in the following sections.
Tirumala Temple
This Vishnu temple is located on the Seshachala hills of the Eastern Ghats. It is an ancient temple that attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims throughout the year. It is one of the richest temples in India. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution, manages the affairs of the temple. Of late, even VIPs have to follow the queue in order to obtain a glimpse of the deity’s image present in the temple.Regional Science Center
The Central government of India has established this institution for the benefit of the general public and to create awareness about the importance of science to the humankind.This organization promotes science by conducting a wide range of programs throughout the year. It encourages the utilization of locally available resources to improve the economy of the city.Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park
One can find a variety of wild animals in vast, natural, and simulated enclosures in this zoo. This establishment is created and maintained by the forest department of Andhra Pradesh. This zoological park which covers an area of about 5,500 acres attracts every tourist and pilgrim visiting the city. It is only second to the Thirumala temple in attracting visitors in the city of Tirupati.Chandragiri Fort
About 12 km away from the city of Tirupati is located the famous fort of Chandragiri. Believed to be built in 1,000 AD, the fort exhibits the great architecture of Vijaya Nagar Empire. In Chandragiri, one can find the ruins of the palaces and temples within the wall of this fort and the two Mahals that were used by the members of the royal families.Other places worth seeing around Tirupati are Kapilatheertham, Govindaraja Temple, Sri Kondandarama Temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram, Tiruchanur, Kalyani Dam, Srikalahasti, Karvetinagar, Narayanavanam, Kailasanathakona, Nagalapuram, Talakona, Gurramkonda, Reddemmakonda, Sompalyam, Horsley Hills, Madanapalli, Boyakonda, Gudimallam, Kanipakam, Mogili, Ganganasirassu Waterfalls, Koundinaya Elephant Sanctuary, Kaigal Water Falls, Kangundi, Kuppam, Gudivanka and many more.
Transport and Stay
Renigunta is the nearest airport to Tirupati. It is about 15 km from the city center. Metros like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore are well connected by air to the holy city.
The Tirupati railway station has frequent trains to cities of Hubbi, Chennai, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Puri, Tiruchirapalli, and Varanasi in the neighboring states and also to cities like Hyderabad and Vijayawada within the state of Andhra Pradesh. Numerous buses ply between Tirupati and Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Kanyakumari, Hassan, Vijayawada, Srisailam, Hindupur, Guntur, Madanpalle, Kurnool, Cuddapah, Renigunta, Puttaparthi, and many other cities. Popular means of local transport within the city are city bus services, taxies, and rickshaws.
Hotels that provide first class accommodation in Tirupati include Fortune Kences and Temple Valley Resort. Medium range hotels in the city are as follows: Hotel Bliss, Hotel Kalyan Residency, Hotel Mayura, Hotel Sindhuri Park, and Ramee Guestline. Hotels like Bhima Deluxe Hotel, Hotel Bhima Paradise, and Hotel Mini Bhima offer economy class accommodation to the tourists and pilgrims.
Tirumala Temple is absolutely fantastic, i was enchanted by it’s beauty. It was like catching a glimpse of entire Hindu Culture. The energy this place is radiating is fantastic.