About Tirupathi

Tirupati, situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, holds renown as the abode of Lord Venkateshwara Temple, a prominent pilgrimage center revered by millions worldwide. The temple is often referred to by various names, including Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, and Tirupati Balaji Temple. It stands as one of the world’s wealthiest temples. The primary temple is located on Tirumala, one of the seven hills of Tirupati. Tirupati is an ancient city mentioned in numerous ancient Vedas and Puranas.

Tirupati serves as the main town, while Tirumala Hills is home to the Tirupati Balaji Temple, also known as Sri Venkateshvara Swami Vaari Temple. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who descended to Earth to save humanity during the kali yuga, this temple holds great significance. The renowned Tirupati Laddoo, offered as prasad at the temple, carries a Geographical Indication tag, signifying that it can only be prepared and sold within the temple premises. Tonsuring one’s head is a common practice provided free of cost at the Kalyanakatta buildings. Another popular ritual at the Tirupati Temple is Thulabaram, where a devotee sits on one side of a weighing balance scale, and materials such as sugar, jaggery, tulsi leaves, banana, gold, and coins are placed on the other side, surpassing the weight of the devotee. This ritual is commonly performed with children and infants.

Other temples in Tirupati that are worth visiting include the Sri Kalahasti temple, Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Kondandarama Temple, Parashurameshwara Temple, and ISKCON temple. Tirupati also boasts a unique geological wonder called Silathoranam. This natural rock formation resembles an arch and is located in the Tirumala Hills, adding to the allure of the region.