Tirupati

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Synopsis

10 lesser known attractions in and around Tirupati

Tirumala hills when viewed from the air appear to be coiled like a serpent with seven prominent peaks making it one of the best tourist places in Tirupati. This is what has probably led to the name― Seshachala―the mountain of Sesha―the divine serpent with seven hoods, also called Adisesha, on whom Lord Vishnu reclines. From time immemorial, these hills have been regarded as sacred as these were the abode of Lord Vishnu in his age. The seven peaks are named Seshadri, Vedadri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri. It is on the last one that the temple of Lord Venkateswara is located. There are many legends associated with the temple but the most popular is related to his marriage to Padmavati, and the loan taken for the purpose from Kubera, the Lord of Wealth. It is said that the Lord is still paying back the interest on the loan, and devotees throng the temple to help the Lord with their small contribution to his cause.

Tirupati is said to be the busiest pilgrimage center in the world, and thus, among the most crowded. There is no dearth of places to visit in Tirupati and information about the temple but what few people know are the many interesting things to do, and places to see in and around Tirupati. The next time you visit Tirupati on a pilgrimage, take some time out to go and visit some of these sites. They can only enhance your experience!

Sri Venkateswara Museum in Tirupati is one of the best places to visit here. The museum houses a huge and interesting collection of artifacts from the region. Not only this, it also features a little shrine and meditation hall. You’ll be amazed to see that almost everything here is about Tirumala and associated with its history. The museum is segregated into various sections and each one shows an aspect of Tirumala and at one place you can also see some broken idols and beautiful paintings of Tirumala. All these things have been collected over the years. The statues and painting that you see here are made using various materials and in one section, there is also a geological formation of Tirumala, which is quite interesting to see. There are paintings showing rising of mountains, which resembles the myth of Varaha lifting Bhudevi from the sea. So, this museum aptly makes for a must visit, withour any doubt and reason.

A prominent temple here is Nagalapuram, which is one of the most interesting religious centers here. The significance of this shrine is that this is probably the only temple dedicated to the Lord in his first avatar (incarnation) as Matsya, the great fish. Is it not interesting? People from all across come here to pay their respect and pray to the lord. The architecture is simply splendid and makes you think about the craftsmanship of the artists from the bygone era.

Note: For more information, visit the temple website. Online booking of rooms as well as darshan is possible.

Information: Tirupati is located in Andhra Pradesh, 120 Km from Chennai, 250 Km from Bengaluru and 550 Km from Hyderabad.

How to reach:

By Air: Nearest Airport is the Tirupati Airport, 15 Km from the city, connecting cities in India. The nearest International Airport is at Chennai.

By Rail: Nearest Railway station is Tirupati, but Renigunta (35 Km) has more connections.

By Road: Tirupati is well connected to Chennai, Bangalore, as well as Hyderabad. There are frequent buses from these, as well as other cities in South India.