Tirupati - Oh! Lord Where Are Thou?

Tirupati is a temple town located in the Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most ancient and spectacular places of pilgrimage in India. Tirupati is one of the richest and most visited religious centres of India after Mecca and Vatican. The town owes its existence to the temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The temple has a history that dates back to over twelve centuries. The temple boasts of a colourful culture and reveals the grandness of the past.

Highlights Of The Temple
The Venkateshwara Temple is said to be the richest temple in India. People hold so strongly about this temple that they even climb up the hill to have a glimpse of Lord Venkateshwara.

It is said that people drop bags of diamonds at the feet of Sri Venkataswara. Devotees flock this temple in huge numbers. In fact there are two lines to enter the temple, one is a free line, where you don' t pay anything to get a view of the deity. But, for the second line, which takes less time to get a glance of the deity, you have to pay a minimum amount of Rs. 50.
Architectural Glory
The Venkateshwara temple is very ancient and follows the Dravidian style of architecture. The gopuram of this temple is its major highlight. The 'Vimana' or Cupola, named"the Ananda Nilayam" is placed over the sanctum sanctorum. It is completely veiled with gold plate.

There are three 'Prakarams' or enclosures in the temple, among them the outermost enclosure boasts of the 'Dhvajastambha' or the banner post. Apart form these, other highlights of the temple are the statues of Vijayanagara king, Krishnadevaraya and his spouse. There is also an idol of Todarmal, the minister of Akbar.

The image of the temple deity represents both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu is considered as the preserver whereas the Lord Shiva is considered as the destroyer in Hindu religion.

Scoop
Place -Andhra Pradesh
Area - 10.33 sq miles
Population -66.5 million
Altitude - 3200 ft above the sea level
Best Season To Visit - October to March.
Languages Spoken - Telugu, Urdu, Banjara, Hindi and English
Local Transport - Temple buses, State buses, taxis and auto rickshaws.
STD Code - 08574
Climate
Tirupati experiences Tropical climate and therefore remains hot all the year round. In summer temperatures may go up to 42 to 45 degrees Celsius,and in winter the minimum temperatures will be between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. Usually summer lasts from March to June.

Accommodation Options
Tirupati has all types of accommodation facilities ranging from star to budget to dormitory. To mention a few are:

• Hotel Fortune Kences
• Hotel Bliss
• Hotel Mayura
• Hotel Ramee Guest Line Days
• Bhimas Residency
• Bhimas Deluxe Hotel
• Kalyan Residency
• Hotel Sindhuri Park

Dining Delight
The food served in the temple town of Tirupati is tongue appealing and stomach teasing. The restaurants of Tirupati leave no stone unturned to satisfy the appetite of the pilgrims who hit the land.
Restaurants:

• Pongali Restaurant
• Pulse Multi Cuisine Restaurant
• Andhra Spice

Fast Food Centers:

• Deepam Food Plaza
• Manasa Fast Food Centre
• Sindhu Fast Food Centre
• Saravana Fast Food Centre

Shopper's Paradise
This temple land of Tirupati is not only a pilgrim's delight but also a paradise for all the shopping buffs. Tirupati is very famous for handicrafts like woodcarving and Kalamkari. The white wood toys are also a wannabe item of this holy land. Traditional Tanjore style Gold leaf Paintings which are done at Madanapalli town are also popular and available in shopping outlets in Tirupati. These paintings have mythological themes as motif.

Major Highlight
Brahmaotsavam Festival
This is an annual festival that draws tourists from all over the world. The Brahmotsavam festival lasts for nine days from 25th September to 03 October.

Tirupati Times
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1846839,0008.htm

Tirupati Map
http://www.aptourism.in/tmap.html
Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is at Renigunta(15 kms). Tirupati is connected by air with Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. From the airport you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw or you can take a bus to reach the temple.
By Rail : Tirupati temple is well connected by roads and proper transport services to the nearest railway station situated at Tirupati. This place is connected by rail with Hubbi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolhapur , Mumbai, Puri, Tiruchirapalli, Varanasi and Vijayawada.
By Road : To reach Tirupati temple, one should first reach Tirupati. It is linked with important cities like Hyderabad (617), Banglore(248), Chennai(151 km), Vijayawada(380 km) and Lepakshi (379 km) through good roadways.