Among the most popular global pilgrimage places, Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh, is a stopover for those seeking spirituality and sanctity. Situated at the foot of Tirumala Hills, this lively pilgrim place attracts devotees all year round. Tirupati Balaji or the Lord Venkatesha Temple is the main attraction here. Said to be one of the richest temples in the country, it sees an estimated footfall of 60,000 every day. Devotees donate their hair and various riches in the temple in order to please the god. Though the temple is an overwhelming presence in the town, Tirupati also houses one of the oldest and the rarest geological formations in the world – a natural stone arch. Lying in close proximity to the temple, the stone arch or Sila Thoranam (garland or festoon of rocks) has been categorised as Precambrian and is believed to be 1,500 million years old! Tirupati has been ruled by various kingdoms such as the Pallavas around the 9th century, Cholas in the 10th century, and Vijayanagara between the 14th and 15th centuries. It is believed that the rituals in this temple town were formulated by Shri Ramanujacharya, a Hindu theologian and philosopher, in the 11th century. The Tirumala Hills, which is a group of seven hills namely, Seshadri, Vedadri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri, add to the beauty of the town. When viewed from the top, these hills appear to be in the form of a coiled serpent. It is believed that they were once the resting place of Lord Vishnu. Akasa Ganga The blissful waterfalls of Akasa Ganga is one of the most sacred waterfronts in India and lies at the foothills of Venkatadri Tirumala. Visited by everyone who comes to seek the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara, the presiding deity of the city, the waterfall provides water for the Lord's bath as well. The place has been mentioned in the Vedas and it is believed that the falls originated from the holy feet of Lord Venkateshwara. It is said that in the earlier days, the priests of the temple carried water from here to the temple in the wee hours of the morning. This custom is still in play but restricted to special occasions only. Lately, water lines were laid into the temple to carry water from the Akasa Ganga. Devotees come to this waterfalls to bathe as they believe that their sins are washed away when they take a dip in the holy water. Another belief says that if childless parents tie a cradle to a tree near the falls, they will conceive shortly. Rainy season is the best time to visit as the place comes alive with fresh green beauty and gushing waters. Chandragiri Located 15 km west of Tirupati in the Chittoor district, the Chandragiri Fort is about 1,000 years old and was built by the Yadava Rayas in the 11th century. They ruled it for more than three centuries, however, it came into the pages of history when rulers of the Vijayanagar empire fled from Hampi and made this place their capital. In 1646, it was annexed by the sultans of Golconda and finally came under the kings of Mysore. At the end of the 18th century, the fort was abandoned. The architecture of the fort is stunning and its location is quite strategic. Perhaps that is why so many kings tried to hold it over centuries. The fort has been built on a 180-m-high rock and a 1.5-km-long walled enclosure offers it solid protection. It also houses a Rani Mahal (queen's palace) and a Raja Mahal (king's palace). The Raja Mahal has now been turned into a museum and houses artefacts of bronze and stone. The museum also contains models of the fort, the main temple etc. A walk through the lanes of the erstwhile fort will take one to many ancient temples. One of the paths known as Srivari Mettu is considered to be the private road that was meant for the royal family. Chittoor Located around 71.5 km from Tirupati, Chittoor is known for its many temples that offer a sense of tranquility to its visitors. The landscape is covered with huge igneous rocks and as per legend these rocks are said to have been left by giants who used to play with them. The prime attraction in Chittoor is the Shiva temple at Kalavagunta, which dates back to the 7th century. It is a peaceful place situated at the end of the village. Other temples in the area include the Mogileshwara Shiva Temple and the Rama Temple at Venkatagiri. The Rama Temple has jasmine trees in the courtyard, which bloom all year round. Apart from temples, the place has some ancient forts such as the Gurramkonda Fort, which dates back to 1714 AD. The Ragini Mahal is the best preserved part of the fort. Govindraja Swami Temple The Govindraja Swamy Temple is considered to be one of the most magnificent pieces of South Indian architecture. Moreover, it is one of the most prominent temples in the southern part of the country. It was sanctified by saint Ramanujacharya in 1130 AD. Legend has it that when South India was being invaded by Muslim rulers, the statue of Lord Govindraja Swamy, the presiding deity of Chidambaram town, was brought to Tirupati. Once the danger passed, the statue was returned to its original place. It is said that the saint had a dream in which Lord Govindaraja Swamy told him about his wish to stay in Tirupati. Thus, when he got to the place he had seen in his dream, he set up a statue of the lord there and advised the king to build a temple for the god. The temple boasts a seven-storeyed gopuram (gateway) with 11 kalasas (the pinnacle of a temple). The gopuram has handcrafted work depicting scenes from the Bhagvata, the Ramayana and Lord Venkateshwara's life. This main gopuram is followed by many small gopurams. The inner gopuram has a stunning courtyard and a huge hall made of stone. Tourists often come here to take some rest from the rush of the temple. The temple hosts many festivities, especially during the time of Vaisakha Festival (annual Brahmotsav). Horsley Hills Located about 127 km away from Tirupati, Horsley Hills are named after WH Horsley, who was the collector of Kapada, between 1863-1867. It is said that he was in awe of the place and made a summer bungalow, which is now called the Forest Bungalow. The house is a beautiful structure made with tiles imported from England. According to local folklore, the place was originally known as Yenugu Mallamma Konda after Mallamma, a saintly lady said to be raised by elephants 300 years ago. The hills stand at a height of 4,312 ft above sea level and cover lush green ranges of the southern part of the Eastern Ghats. The area is rich in a variety of flora and fauna. Eucalyptus, silver oak, mahogany, coffee, jacaranda, allamanda, gulmohar, red sanders and sandalwood are some of the trees found here. One can also spot fauna like panthers, sambars, wild boars, bears, four-horned antelopes, jungle-fowls, porcupine etc. The major attraction is the great Indian bustard, which is a fast disappearing species. The hills are also visited by migratory birds like the red-throated flycatcher, Montagu's harrier, blue-headed rock-thrush, ultramarine lycatcher etc. Lord Venkatesha Temple (Tirupati Balaji) One of the richest temples in the country and a major tourist spot in South India, Lord Venkatesha Temple is popularly recognised as Tirupati Balaji. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and its sacred shrine has been mentioned in holy scriptures such as the Garuda Purana, Brahma Purana and many others. The temple is situated at a height of 853 m above sea level and is positioned on Venkata Hill, which is one of the saptagiri (seven hills) of Tirumala Hills. These seven peaks are said to be the hoods of sheshnag (serpent god). The awe-inspiring sacred shrine of the temple is covered in pure gold and is a sight to behold. The temple is flooded with devotees all year round and the average time taken for a devotee to reach the main idol can range from three to five hours. However, one can book online tickets to avoid the long queues and visit the main shrine devoid of hassles. The temple follows the rituals prescribed by Saint Ramanujacharya in the 11th century. Prayers start at 3 am and end with Ekanta Seva (a ritual in which a priest sings lullabies to put the lord to sleep) at 1 am. A popular practice in the temple is the donation of hair and various riches in order to please the god. The architecture of the temple building is spectacular and reflects the Dravidian style. Three entrances lead to the sanctum sanctorum - the first is called Mahadwaram. A gopuram (gateway), measuring 50 ft, is placed in front of the entrance. There are two circumambulation (parikrama) paths. While the first one comprises many-pillared halls and flagstaffs, the second has many sub-shrines and other edifices along with the main kitchen. The main shrine houses a gold-plated tower that is called Ananda Nilayam, and a temple inside the tower houses the main deity. Devotees also visit a holy pond located on the northern side of the temple. Nellore Located around 136 km from Tirupati on the banks of River Penna, Nellore is best known for the Ranganatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ranganatha. The sanctum sanctorum houses a 10-ft-long idol of the lord reclining on Adisesha, along with his consorts, Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi. Another attraction is the Udayagiri Fort that is perched at a height of 3,000 ft. A series of steps lead one into this fort that echoes with its former grandeur. Tourists can also visit the Mypadu Beach, a pristine stretch of golden sand that invites visitors for its serene surroundings. Nellore is home to a famous rocket launching centre at Sriharikota. It also holds some appeal for spiritual travellers as it is dotted with many temples. Nellore was known as Vikrama Simhapuri until the 13th century. It is the capital of the Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district. The main occupation in the district is paddy cultivation and hence the name Nellore (Nelli in Tamil means rice). Initially a part of the erstwhile Madras, Nellore became a part of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. Padmavati Temple This beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Padmavati is situated in Tiruchanur, a small town near Tirupati. Also called as Alamelumangapuram, the temple is believed to be very significant for Hindus as Goddess Padmavati is said to be very benevolent and readily forgives her devotees. The temple has an inscription that expounds on the history of the place. According to it, there was a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara in Tiruchanur originally. Since it was quite cramped, it was difficult for priests to perform rituals and all activity was moved to another premise. Eventually, only two important rituals were performed at the original site. Over time, even this stopped and the place faded into insignificance. However, in the 12th century, it again came into the limelight when the Yadava kings built the Shri Krishna Balaram Temple here. Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the deity of Sundara Varadaraja was installed and a temple was built for Goddess Padmavati. Legend has it that the goddess was born in a lotus pond that is now a tank within the temple. Goddess Padmavati is said to be the consort of Lord Venkateshwara, the presiding deity of Tirupati. The idol in the temple features the goddess sitting in padmasana posture and holding two lotuses. Other idols that are housed are those of Lord Krishna, Lord Balram, Sundararaja Swami and Surya-narayana Swami. A flag that has been hoisted from the temple bears the image of an elephant, which is said to be the carrier of the goddess. The best time to visit the temple is during Navratri (a holy nine-day festival), Dussehra and Theppotsavam (boat festival) and during the month of Kartheeka, when the Lord is said to send gifts to Goddess Padmavati. Sila Thoranam Sila Thoranam is an important landmark in heritage and archaeology and the name literally translates into garland or festoon of rocks. It is a natural stone arch, about 3 m high and 8 m wide, that was found by archaeologists while excavating a geological fault. The rock dates back to the Precambrian era and is estimated to be about 2,500 million years old, while the arch is estimated to be about 1,500 million years old. Local legends consider this to be the place from where Lord Venkateswara entered Tirumala while other legends say that the rocks made up the Lord's conch. The rock is the only formation of its kind in the whole of Asia. Apart from this, there are only two more similar formations in the entire world; Rainbow Arch Bridge of Utah in the USA and the arch that cuts through the Dalradian Quartzite in the UK. Sri Venkateswara National Park With a total area of 353 sq km, Sri Venkateswara National Park houses abundant flora and fauna. The star attractions here are slender lorises and stump-tailed macaques. Other wildlife that one can spot includes tiger, civet, jackal, blackbuck, panther, spotted deer, ibex, sloth bear, bonnet monkey, and many more. There are more than 100 species of birds found here such as the crested serpent eagle, ashy crowned finch lark, Indian roller, kingfishers, white-bellied woodpecker etc. Apart from rich fauna, there are more than 1,500 vascular plants in the region. The place also houses some popular waterfalls in its campus. Since it is teeming with wildlife, the park is sometimes referred to as a small zoo that gives shelter to various animals, reptiles, birds. Srikalahasti Located around 37 km east of Tirupati, the sacred town of Srikalahasti is famous for the Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple and the ancient textile painting art of Kalamkari. Located on the banks of River Swarnamukhi, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of vayu linga. Constructed in the 11th century, it has been praised in the works of Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in the Tamil Sangam dynasty. As per legend, the deity was worshipped by a spider (sri) that spun a web over it while a snake (kala) placed a gem on the linga and an elephant (hasti) washed the linga with water. The vayu linga is believed to be representative of the wind and the temple stands at the place where Lord Shiva gave salvation to Kannappa, one of the 63 Saivite Nayanars. Talakona Situated 58 km from Tirupati, Talakona is home to Talakona Waterfalls, which is one of the highest falls in the country. The word 'talakona' originates from Telugu word 'tala' meaning head and 'kona' meaning hill. With milky white streams of water falling from a height of 270 ft, its magnificent and serene view puts one in awe of the beauty of nature. The water originates from the Seshachalam Hills and the falls serve as an ideal spot for photography and family picnics. There are many beliefs associated with the waterfalls. Many say that the waters have therapeutic properties as it passes through various herbs and medicinal plants. The waterfalls is located in Sri Venkateswara National Park, where one can spot fauna like tiger, civet, jackal, black buck, panther, spotted deer, ibex, sloth bear, bonnet monkey etc.
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