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Lying at the bottom
of the Tirumalai Hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra
Pradesh, Tirupati is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage
spots in India. The town is at a distance of about 137 km
from Chennai, 258 km from Bangalore, and 562 km from Hyderabad.
The main attraction here is the world famous Sri Venkateswara
temple which is believed to receive more pilgrims than even
Jerusalem and Mecca.
All the great dynasties of the southern peninsula, including
the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the kings and chieftains
of Vijayanagar, were believed to have been the devotees of
this shrine. Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his
consorts installed at the portals of the temple. Even today,
these statues can be seen there.
The shrine at present is under the administration of the
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee which is managed
by a Board of Trustees.
Summers at Tirupati are generally hot and humid with the
temperature reaching as high as 40°C. Winters are warm
and pleasant and are the best time to visit Tirupati. |
