Sila Thoranam

We generally would not associate Tirupati with anything other than temples which is why it is surprising to learn that there is one of the oldest and rarest geological formations in the world―a natural stone arch―that rests in proximity to the temple.
Sila Thoranam literally means ‘garland or festoon of rocks’. It is a natural stone arch, which was found by archeologists excavating a geological fault in the area. Located just around 1.5 km from the Venkateswara Temple, this arch is naturally compared to the divine serpent Adishesha. Legends have recently sprung up around the place, with comparisons made to the different rocks making up the arch and the Lord’s conch, discus etc, propagating the belief that this is where the Lord entered Tirumala! Thus are legends born!

However, the arch is much more interesting what legends describe it. The formation is categorised as pre-Cambrian that dates back to millions of years. The age of the rock itself has been estimated to be about 2500 million years, and the age of the arch is computed to be about 1500 million years!
There are various schools of thought about the origin of the arch. Some are of the view that it could be the effect of a wave action from oceanic transgression or intensified climatic settings and corrosion. Others opine that it might have been carved out of quartzite or simply by the weathering of the rock. However, no matter how the arch came into being, it is certainly unique for this is the only such formation in Asia. It is believed to have only two similar formations in the world―Rainbow Arch Bridge of Utah in the USA and the arch that cuts through the Dalradian Quartzite in the UK.

Today, the Sila Thoranam is not really a secret. The TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam) runs regular buses to this place, and autos are also available from the temple. A garden has been developed around, and it is good to see that this rare feature is getting the importance it deserves!

Additional information: The Sila Thoranam is about 1.5 km away from the temple