Tirupati Tour

Tirupati Balaji Temple

A scenic road from Tirupati leads you to the sprawling complex of Balaji Temple located on the seventh hill of Tirumala. A spiritual ambiance takes over as you enter the complex and drenches you in the glory of Lord Venkateswara and his two consorts, Goddesses Srilakshmi & Padmavati. Spread over an area of around 2.2 acres, with gold-plated Gopurams, the temple houses an 8ft tall, black idol of Lord Venkateswara, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, and fondly called Balaji. The temple is shrouded in layers of mystery & mystique. It is believed that the hair on Balaji’s idol is real and always remains silky and smooth. All the stuff required for the worship at the temple, including flowers, milk, ghee, etc is delivered from an unnamed village, never seen or visited by an outsider. Many more such legends & lore are associated with this beautiful realm of Lord Balaji.

Padmavathi Devi Temple

This beautiful temple in Tirupati is dedicated to Goddess Padmavati, a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi. According to the legend, the Goddess emerged on a golden lotus in the temple tank. She later married Lord Balaji.

Sri Kapileswara Swami Temple

This lone Shiva temple in the realm of Lord Vishnu is located at a picturesque spot near a cave. The pilgrims bathe in its holy lake- Kapila Teertham, before going uphill to Lord Balaji’s temple. It is believed that on the auspicious full moon day of the Karthika month, all the tirthas( holy water springs) of heaven, earth, and underworld converge in this sacred lake. 

Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami Temple

This Vaishnavite shrine is believed to be the place where the newlywed Lord Balaji and Goddess Padmavati stayed for 6 months before moving up to Tirumala Hills. Thus, It is believed to be propitious for newlyweds to offer their first prayers here. 

Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple

The tall Gopuram of Sri Govindraja temple looms over the skyline of Tirupati. One of the largest & the oldest temples of the city, its huge complex is home to many smaller shrines. 

Kodanda Rama Swami Temple

Dedicated to Lord Rama, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu or Balaji, the temple is believed to be built at the location where Lord Rama, his wife, and brother, rested for a few days on their way to Ayodhya after the battle of Ramayana.

Other Attractions of Tirupati

• Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swami Temple- Lord Balaji’s ultimate blessing posture known as Abhaya Hasta
• Sri Vari Museum- Showcasing figurines, artifacts, pictures, and scriptures illustrating the history of Sri Balaji Temple.
• Talakona Waterfalls
• Deer Park- Picturesque landscapes and a range of animals

Fairs and Festivals in Tirupati

• Brahmotsavam Festival- Temple festival celebrated in September or October as per the lunar calendar.

Tirupati Prasadam

Tirupati Prasadam generally includes sweetmeats called Laddus & a savory known as Tirupati Vada that is offered to the Lord and then given to the devotees as a blessing from God. These Laddus are fist-sized balls of gram flour and dry fruits & nuts mixed with clarified butter and are quite delicious.

Best Time to Visit Tirupati

Lord Balaji’s devotees converge here round-the-year. However, the time to enjoy a visit to Tirupati would be in winter from September to March.  

How to Reach Tirupati

By Air: Tirupati International Airport, Renigunta, around 15kms away, connects Tirupati to the major cities in India. 

By Rail: Tirupati Railway Station connects the temple town to the major cities in south India. 

By Road: A well-maintained network of roads & highways connects Tirupati with cities in the region.