Tirupathi

Venkateswara Temple :

The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared on the earth to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the deity here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple and Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple is run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which is under control of Andhra Pradesh Government. The head of TTD is appointed by Andhra Pradesh Government.

The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi – the daughter of Maharishi Bhrigu. The other four temples of the Pancha Kshethram are Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam, Oppiliappan temple, Nachiyar Koil and Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem.

Sri Venkateswara National Park :

Sri Venkateswara National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh, India. The total area of the park is 353 km2. The park is known for its many waterfalls, including the Talakona, Gundalakona and Gunjana. As the government of India declared the Seshachalam Hills as one of the biosphere reserves of India in 2010, this national park becomes the part of it. The National Park is located in Eastern Ghats spread over the Seshachalam hills of Annamaya district and Tirumala hills of Tirupati district. The elevation varies from 150 to 1,130 m. The terrain is undulating with forest covered valleys. Most of the rainfall is received from the northeast monsoon and a little from the southwest monsoon. The vegetation here is a mix of dry deciduous and moist deciduous types.

Average rainfall in the region is 900 mm. The average temperature of the region varies from 12 °C to 44 °C.

Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple :

Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple is located in Tirupati, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, and he is worshipped in the form of Sri Kapileswara Swamy. The temple is considered significant for devotees of Lord Shiva. It is associated with the mythological story of Lord Shiva taking the form of a sage (Kapila Muni) at this place. The temple is situated near the beautiful waterfall known as Kapila Teertham. Pilgrims often visit the temple and then take a dip in the holy waters of Kapila Teertham. The temple is part of the pilgrimage circuit in Tirupati, which includes various other temples and sacred sites. Like many temples in Tirupati, Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple celebrates various festivals with great enthusiasm. Maha Shivaratri, in particular, is a significant festival for Shiva devotees. Tirupati is well-connected by road and rail, and the temple is easily accessible for pilgrims and tourists. Kapila Theertham is a famous Saivite Temple and Theertham, located at Tirupati in the Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The idol is believed to be installed by Kapila Muni and hence Lord Siva here is referred to as Kapileswara.

The temple stands at the entrance to a mountain cave in one of the steep and vertical faces at the foot of the Tirumala hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills, where the waters of the mountain stream fall directly into Temple Pushkarini known as “Kapila Theertham”. A huge stone statue of a seated bull “Nandhi”, Shiva’s steed, greets devotees and passersby at the entrance to the temple.

Swami Pushkarini Lake :

Swami Pushkarini Lake, also known as Swami Pushkarini Tirtham, is a sacred water tank located in Tirumala, near the renowned Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Here are some details about Swami Pushkarini Lake: Swami Pushkarini Lake is situated in the temple town of Tirumala, at the foothills of the Tirumala Hills, where the Sri Venkateswara Temple is located. The lake holds great religious significance, and it is believed to be associated with various mythological stories related to Lord Vishnu and the Tirumala Temple. Devotees visiting the Sri Venkateswara Temple often take a holy dip in Swami Pushkarini before proceeding to the temple for darshan (sacred viewing). Taking a dip in the sacred waters of Swami Pushkarini is considered spiritually purifying, and it is believed to cleanse devotees of their sins. According to Hindu mythology, Swami Pushkarini is said to be a celestial pond brought to Tirumala by the divine bird Garuda, who is the mount of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the lake has divine properties. The lake is surrounded by lush greenery and provides a serene and tranquil environment for devotees to spend some quiet moments in prayer and reflection. The area around Swami Pushkarini is often used for various cultural and religious activities, and it adds to the overall spiritual atmosphere of Tirumala. There is a structure called Kalyani Potu near Swami Pushkarini, which is traditionally associated with the preparation of the holy food offered to the deity. Devotees visiting Tirumala often include a visit to Swami Pushkarini as part of their pilgrimage. The serene surroundings and the religious significance make it an integral part of the spiritual experience in Tirumala.

Vedadri Narasimha Swamy Temple :

Vedadri Narasimha Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Vedadri, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to the worship of Narasimha. This temple is a major pilgrimage site in Andhra, attracting thousands of devotees every year, and it is one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetras. The temple is located on the bank of the Krishna River. According to the temple’s historical tradition (sthalapurana), Vedadri represents the Vedas in the form of a hill. This mythological tradition relays that a demon named Somakasura stole the Vedas from Brahma and hid them in the ocean. The panicked gods are said to have prayed to Vishnu, who appeared in the form of Narasimha to rescue the Vedas by turning them into Vedadri on the river Krishna. The Vedadri Narasimha Temple is said to have gained prominence during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire.

Tirupathi-Horsley Hills :

Horsley Hills or Horsleykonda or Yenugulla Mallamma Konda is a series of hills in Andhra Pradesh in Madanapalle Taluka of Annamayya district and is about 9 miles from Madanapalle town. The local name of the hill was Yenugu Mallama Konda after a legend of a saintly old woman named Mallamma who lived at the top of the hill and was fed by elephants (yenugulu). W.D. Horsley, a British collector, built his home around 1870 after whom it is named. In contrast to the dry and hot surrounding, this area is well vegetated with cooler climate. This made it attractive as a hill station and a tourist spot. The native vegetation of the area has been replaced in some parts with dense growths of eucalyptus and plantations of exotic trees. In the past the area had more wildlife including Sambar deer (now reintroduced into the wild), wild boar and sloth bear. More than 133 species of birds have been recorded from the area and these include the endemic Yellow-throated bulbul, first recorded from the area in 1908. Other birds which are rare in the surrounding region include the black eagle and the white-rumped shama. The endemic toad Duttaphrynus hololius has been found here and a ground orchid Diplocentrum recurvum was rediscovered here after nearly a century. Several species of lichen have also been documented from the region.

Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple :

Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Padmavathi, the consort of Vishnu. It is located in Tiruchanur, a town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is one of the most important Vaishnavite pilgrimage sites in India.

The temple is believed to have been built by the Chola king Kulothunga Chola I in the 11th century. The temple complex is spread over a large area and includes a number of shrines, halls, and gardens. The main shrine houses the idol of Padmavathi, which is made of white marble. The idol is adorned with gold and jewels.

It is visited by millions of devotees every year. The most important festival celebrated at the temple is the Brahmotsavam, which takes place in the month of October. The festival lasts for 10 days and includes a number of religious rituals and processions.

The temple is also known for its association with the Ramayana. According to legend, Rama and Sita visited the temple after their exile from Ayodhya. The temple is also associated with the Mahabharata. According to legend, Krishna married Rukmini at the temple.The temple is a popular tourist destination and is known for its architecture and beauty. The temple complex is well maintained and is a sight to behold.

Sri Venkateswara Dhyana Vignan Mandiram :

Sri Venkateswara Dhyana Vignan Mandiram is a spiritual center located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Venkateswara, also known as Lord Balaji. The temple was founded in 2009 by Swami Paripoornananda, a spiritual leader from Andhra Pradesh.

The temple is located on a hilltop overlooking the city of Tirupati. The temple complex is spread over a large area and includes a number of shrines, halls, and gardens. The main shrine houses the idol of Venkateswara, which is made of white marble. The idol is adorned with gold and jewels.The temple is dedicated to the practice of meditation and yoga. The temple offers a variety of programs and workshops on meditation, yoga, and spirituality. The temple also has a library and a museum. It is is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. It is a place where people can come to seek spiritual guidance and enlightenment.

Papavinasanam :

Papavinasam Tirumala,is around 5 km from main temple and is a beautiful waterfall in the region.

It is believed that the holy waters of this place dissolve the sins of the devotees. Hence this place is known as Papavinasanam . It is believed that this water comes from the feet of the Lord. This was a natural waterfall, but the water is arranged to flow from the mouth of Lions. . There are separate dressing rooms at this site for men and women, where they can change their dresses . A reservoir is constructed here, which supplies water to the whole of Tirumala

The reservoir near the dam restricts the water flow in this theertham.The best time for visiting Papavinasanam Tirumala is during the rainy season, this place looks even more beautiful with greenery around and with white water gushing out of the rocks.

A bath in papa vinasanam thirta frees the devotee from the consequence of the sins of core previous births. A salagrama stone can be donated here.