Tirupati - Abode of Lord Venkateswara Swamy
One of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the world, Lord Venkateshwara Temple, is the reason Tirupati, in the Andhra Pradesh district of Chittoor, is known. Known by several names, including Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, and Tirupati Balaji Temple, it is also among the richest temples in the world. One of the seven hills of Tirupati, where the major temple is situated, is called Tirumala. The deity Govinda resides in the temple, which is thought to be the place where Lord Venkateshwara assumed the form of an idol. Numerous ancient Vedas and Puras reference Tirupati, one of the oldest cities in India.
The main town is Tirupati, and the Tirupati Balaji Temple is located in Tirumala Hills. It is devoted to Lord Venkateswara, who is thought to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu and who came to earth to rescue humanity from the kali yuga. The temple is also known as Sri Venkateshvara Swami Vaari Temple. With its Geographical indicator designation, the well-known Tirupati Laddoo—served as prasad at the temple—can only be prepared and sold there. Pilgrims adore it so much that they usually include it in the price of their paid darshan tickets, or they can purchase it from the laddoo counters inside the temple complex. In order to atone for their misdeeds and to shed their egos, many devotees also tonsure their heads as a gift to Lord Venkateswara Swamy when their wishes are granted. In Kalyanakatta buildings, it is done for free. Thulabaram, a famous rite at Tirupati Temple, involves a devotee sitting on one side of a weighted balance scale. On the other hand, the other side is heavier than the devotee due to items (such as cash, gold, sugar, jaggery, tulsi leaves, and banana). Most often, young children and babies are included in this ceremony.
Everything about the Sri Venkateshwara Temple is magnificent, including the ceaseless chanting of "Om Namo Venkatesaya," the crazed pilgrim rush, and the eight-foot-tall image of Lord Venkateshwara. Covering a distance of 26 kilometres, it receives close to 50,000 pilgrims every day. Located in Tiruchanoor, Tirupati town, the Padmavathi Temple honours Goddess Padmavati, consort of Lord Venkateswara. Many followers think that before seeing Lord Venkateswara Swamy in Tirumala, one should pay homage to Goddess Padmavati and ask for her blessings.
You can also visit other temples in Tirupati, such as the ISKCON temple, the Parashurameshwara Temple, the Kondandarama Temple, the Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, and the Sri Kalahasti Temple. You shouldn't miss this remarkable geological marvel located in Tirupati! A naturally occurring rock arch, the Silathoranam is situated in the Tirumala Hills.
How to Reach Tirupati
Tirupati has excellent air, train, and road connections to the nation's largest cities. The railway station is closer to the main city than the Tirupati airport, which is only 15 km distant. Additionally, Tirupati is connected to other cities by an extensive road network.The main connected railway connection is Chennai. Frequent and pleasant buses, both luxury and regular, connect Tirupati to surrounding sites.
Best time to visit Tirupati?
Although Tirupati is popular all year round, September through February are the best months to visit because of the reasonably warm weather and sporadic showers. Tirupati is not the best place to visit in the summer because of the oppressive heat and humidity.
The weather is nice during the winter, making it the perfect time of year to visit the temple and go sightseeing. By September, when Brahmotsavam, one of Tirupati's important festivals, begins, the town is packed. Winter is still the ideal time to visit temples because of October holidays like Navratri and Dussehra. It is best to avoid travelling to Tirupati in April and May because of the extreme heat.