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To see and do in Tirupati

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Travel Guide » Asia » India » Tirupati
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Tirupati
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(Andhra Pradesh)


Lord Venkateshwara's Abode

India is the land of over a million temples and pantheons of gods and goddesses. No temple however evokes the sense of awe and grandeur that Tirupati does. The abode of Lord Venkateshwara, the avatar of Mahavishnu, Tirupati is the ultimate pilgrimage point for millions of people across India and the world. The atmosphere of intense spirituality on the hallowed hills of Tirumala is unrivalled. 19 million people throng this temple throughout the year. Most of them stand relentlessly for nearly 40 hours before getting a glimpse of the Lord. As their feet tremblingly make their way into the main shrine, anticipation and heart rending devotion is palpable in the air. In the background, one hears the continuous rendition of the sacred invocation Om Namo Narayana. As the deity finally comes into view, people literally keep their eyes pinned on him for those precious few seconds that they are allowed to stand before his image. Apart from the priceless crown and jewellery that adorns the Lord, you are compellingly drawn to notice his closed eyes. It is believed that ordinary mortals cannot withstand the brilliance and power of the Lord's gaze and hence his closed eyes.
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To See & Do
Must See, Must Do
  • In Tirupati your olfactory senses are overwhelmed by the big ladoos made of pure ghee. These delicious sweetmeats are distributed as prasadam. You can get extra ladoos for a payment of Rs 10 each, but the rush is so heavy that it is very difficult to get more than two per person.
  • Be a part of the Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival held in the month of October. The festival is a showcase for the art and cuisine of the Rayalaseema region of Chitoor District.
  • If you can get permission, then watch the hundi emptying and counting procedure. This is not loose change and a few big notes that we are talking about. People offer everything from diamond necklaces to solid gold biscuits.
  • Devotees who come here offer their hair as a thanks giving sacrifice to the Lord. You can watch the ceremony take place or offer your own hair at the many stations provided for the ritual.

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Natural Wonders
  Sila Thoranam This is a rare geographical arch and the only one of its kind in Asia. In fact there are only two other such arches in the world, the Rainbow Arch of Utah in USA and the Arch of Cut Through in England. It is a geological fault that is, hold your breath, a 1,500 million years and formed due to weathering and erosion of the rocks. Akasa Ganga About 3 km from the main temple is a stream that is said to be flowing from the feet of the deity. The water from here is used for the daily rituals conducted in the temple.

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Gardens and Parks
  TTD Garden After doing the rounds of the holy temples, you can rest at the TTD garden. The beautifully maintained garden is a visual treat with its rare flowers. Deer Park En route to Tirumala, it is also one of the resting points on the walk way up the hill. The common spotted deer are very friendly and come near the enclosure for a nibble. Carry plenty of fruits or vegetables on your person.

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Religious Places
  Venkateshwara Temple Located on Venkatachala Hill this is the famous Almighty! The temple follows the Dravidian style of architecture with the gopuram being the main highlight. The cupola, named Ananda Nilayam, placed over the sanctum sanctorum, is 24-carat gold plated. The day here begins at 3 am with the Suprabhatam (awakening of the Lord). Ekanta Seva, or putting the Lord to sleep, at around 1 am in the night, marks the end of the day. Daily or weekly prayers are offered here by devotees in the form of Sevas and Utsavams. You can pay homage to the Lord by having either of these two done in your name by paying the amount set for each at the TTD office. Given the crowd, you get barely 3 seconds to see the god before you are shooed away by the guards yelling -jaragandi jaragandi (move on). So focus and walk slowly. Padmavati Temple Some 5 km downhill from Tirupati in the town of Tiruchanur is a large temple dedicated to Goddess Padmavati, the consort of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji). If you want to earn the brownie points of visiting Tirupati, then make sure you mark attendance with Padamavati Devi, or your trip remains incomplete. Govindaraja Swami Temple Consecrated by the Vishnava saint Ramanujacharya in 1130 AD, the temple was built by the Nayaka kings. The outer gopuram of the temple is breathtakingly beautiful, amongst the best in South India. Lord Krishna and Vishnu are the main presiding deities here. The temple is in the heart of Tirupati. Kodandaramaswami Temple This Chola temple dates back to the 10th century AD and is dedicated to Sita, Rama and Lakshmana. Across Kodandaramaswami is the temple of Anjaneyaswami (Hanuman). It is a sub-shrine of the main temple. Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple About 3 km to the north of Tirupati, this is the only shrine in this area dedicated to Lord Shiva. A sacred waterfall, called Kapila Teertham (or Alwar Teertham) is hidden somewhere here. Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple located in Srinivasa Mangapuram is this sacred spot where Lord Venkateswara is said to have rested with his wife after their marriage, before proceeding to Tirumala. Kanipakam This Ganesha temple was constructed in the 11th century by King Kullottunga Chola and later expanded by the Vijayanagara kings. Strangely enough, the idol here keeps growing in size. Proof of this is the fact that the silver kawacham (armour) that was made 50 years ago no longer fits the God.

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Festivals
  Tirumala is host to festivities every single day. The most famous festival is the Brahmotsavam, celebrated annually in the month of September for a period of nine days. It is said that Brahma, the Creator, himself conducts the ceremony in honour of Lord Venkateswara. Every day of the festival sees the idol being carried out in processions. Tirupati also celebrates Kalyanotsavam or Marriage of the Lord. This is celebrated at the grand Kalyanamandapam. Another, albeit secular celebration is the Vijayanagar Festival, held for three days in October. Hosted in the Chandragiri Fort 10 km Tirupati, artists from all over the state come here to perform and be part of the celebrations.
 
 
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