A) TIRUPATI TOUR: You should visit some of the most well-known tourist attractions in Tirupati, such as
1. SRI PADMAVATHI AMMAVARI TEMPLE, TIRUCHANOOR
Tiruchanoor is one of the oldest pilgrim towns, located 5 km away from Tirupati, and is the abode of Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi, the beloved consort of Lord Venkateshwara. This pilgrim center is popularly known as “Alarmelmangapuram” (Alar-Lotus, Mel-top, Manga-Goddess, Puram-town) or Alimelumangapuram. According to temple legend, Goddess Mahalakshmi emerged on the golden lotus as Padmavathi Devi, located at the centre of Padmasarovaram—the temple tank. This place became famous by the name “Alarmelmangapuram.” Pilgrims have a strong belief that they should visit Padmavathi and seek her divine blessings before visiting Lord Venkateswara as Tirumala during their pilgrimage.
Transportation Options: To reach Tiruchanoor from Tirupati, many buses, cabs, and autos are available.
DARSHAN TIMINGS
Opening time: 5:30 a.m.
Closing time: 9:30 p.m.
2. SRI KALYANA VENKATESWAA SWAMYVARI TEMPLE, SRINIVASA MANGAPURAM
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy’s ancient temple is located in Srinivasa Mangapuram, approximately 12 km from West Tirupati in Chittoor district. Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple, located next to Tirumala temple, is considered sacred today. Those who are unable to make it to Tirumala can have Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy’s darshan fulfill their wish. As the name indicates, this temple carries significance for newlywed couples. In this temple, newlyweds offer prayers first, as this is the place where Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy and Goddess Padmavathi Devi stayed for six months, just after their wedding. At this temple, we issue and tie Kalyana Kankanam (the knot for marriage) tickets for Kalyanam. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m., and tickets are available one hour in advance.
Transportation Options: Many buses, cabs, and autos are available from Tirupati to reach Srinivasa Mangapuram.
DARSHAN TIMINGS
Opening time: 5:30 a.m.
Closing time: 9:30 p.m.
3. SRI KAPILESWRASWAMYVARI TEMPLE, KAPILATHEERTHAM, TIRUPATI
Kapila Theertham is the most sacred Shiva temple in Tirupati. One of the 108 sacred teerthas on Tirumala Hills is also believed to be Kapila Theertham. The lingam is believed to be self-manifested. A huge stone statue of a seated bull, Nandhi, greets devotees at the entrance to the temple.
At a distance of 4 km from Tirupati Railway Station, Kapila Theertham, a famous waterfall situated inside Kapileswara Swamy Temple at the foot of Sheshadri Hills in Tirupati. This is a unique waterfall where the water from the streams of the Tirumala Hills descends from a height of over 100 feet into the temple of Pushkarini. It is one of Tirupati’s must-visit tourist attractions and is considered an important pilgrimage in Shaivism. The temple legend claims that Saint Kapila Maharishi lived here, worshipped, and performed tapasya in the cave before Lord Shiva’s idol; hence, the place bears the saint’s name, Kapila Theertham. Lord Shiva is said to have blessed Sage Kapila with a manifestation of himself and his consort. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, this temple received very good support from the Kings of Vijayanagara, especially Krishna Devaraya.
Transportation Options: Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
DARSHAN TIMINGS
The Kapila Theertham Temple is open from morning 5:00 AM to evening 9:00 PM. The morning puja, or Suprabhatam, starts at 5:00 AM and ends at 5:30 AM, followed by the Abhishekam until 6:30 AM.
4. SRI GOVINDARAJA SWAMYVARI TEMPLE, TIRUPATI
This temple is located at a distance of 1 km from Tirupati Railway Station and 22 km from Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple is one of the most important and ancient temples, located in the heart of the temple city of Tirupati. Sri Govindaraja Swamy, the presiding deity, lies on Ananta. He is regarded as Lord Venkateswara’s brother. Govindaraja Swamy was the custodian of massive wealth borrowed from King Kubera for Lord Venkateswara’s marriage ceremony with Padmavathi Devi. He efficiently used this wealth to conduct one of mythology’s most glorious marriages. Hence, Govindaraja Swamy is considered to be the god who helps you elevate your wealth and efficiently manage the wealth acquired. This is the biggest temple in Tirupati town and attracts lakhs of pilgrims.
Transportation Options: Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
DARSHAN TIMINGS
Every day, the temple opens at 5 a.m. with Suprabhata Seva and closes at 9 p.m. with Ekantha Seva.
5. SRI VENKATESWARA ZOOLOGICAL PARK
Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park is situated in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, and covers a sprawling area of 5532 acres. Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park is about 12 km from the bus stand and just 6 km between Tirupati Railway Station and Tirupati Zoo Park.
Established to conserve and promote the flora and fauna specific to the Eastern Ghats and the tropical dry deciduous ecosystems, it stands as one of Asia’s largest zoo parks. The park is named after Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity of Tirupati Temple. Its biodiversity is impressive, with an array of animals including tigers, lions, primates, birds, and various species of deer and antelopes. The zoo emphasizes endangered species conservation and is actively involved in breeding programs. The educational experience is enhanced by the thematic sections, such as prehistoric animals, Gondwanaland times, and Asia and Australasia regions. The serenity and natural ambiance of Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park make it a fantastic place for wildlife enthusiasts and families alike to learn about and appreciate nature’s wonders. The ideal time to visit the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is during the cooler months of the year, which stretch from November to February.
Transportation Options: Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
TIMINGS:
All days 09:00 AM–05:00 PM
6. SRI VENKATESWARA MUSEUM
The Sri Venkateswara Museum is a good place to understand the history and architecture of Tirumala temple.
It is located 1 km from Tirumala Bus Station and close to Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. It is near Vaikunta Queue Complex 2 of Lord Venkateshwara Temple. It is one of the most popular attractions in Tirumala. Established in 1980, the museum wing houses numerous religious artefacts, including pooja utensils, along with time-honoured art and architecture. This location features meditation halls where worshippers can engage in peaceful meditation. The museum showcases an array of artefacts, including ancient scriptures, sculptures, photographs, and temple architecture, revealing the blend of history and devotion that has shaped this region. The exhibits highlight the temple’s religious practices, daily rituals, and the yearly celebrations that are central to the worship of Lord Venkateswara. It’s a unique confluence of historical treasures and devout sentiments, imparted through detailed presentations and informative displays.
Different galleries in the S.V. Museum host and display its acquisitions, donations, and offerings inherited from the unknown past. The Vahanams gallery presents an array of Srivari Vahanams used during Brahmotsavams. Original copper plates of Annamayya’s compositions enthral the visitors. Pilgrims can have a look at the Varahaswamy Copper Inscription, a cherished treasure of Tirumala.
Sri Krishnadevaraya (16th century AD) of the Vijayanagara Empire has personally visited Tirumala seven times and offered tens of valuable ornaments made of jewels, diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. In Tirumala, the museum displays Dhupa-Ganta donated by Sri Krishnadeva Raya to a priest. You can witness this very precious item in the museum.
The picture gallery on the third floor showcases rare images of temple history, lord ornaments, and some contemporary art depicting Srinivasa and Tirumala.
It houses a library with books in Telugu, English, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi on religion, history, heritage, temple arts, and architecture. It caters to curious pilgrims and research scholars studying Tirumala history. Harini, the auditorium in the S.V. Museum, is now planning to show interesting programmes, documentaries, and films on Tirumala and heritage every day.
The armoury section displays a variety of ancient weapons like swords, shields, battle axes, guns, etc. used or possessed by the rulers in the mediaeval and colonial periods.
Transportation Options:Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
Visit times are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7.CHANDRAGIRI FORT
Chandragiri Fort is a historical fort located in the Chandragiri suburb of Tirupati. It is situated at a distance of 15 km from Tirupati and 33 km from Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Chandragiri is now famous for its historical fort, built in the 11th century by the Yadava Ruler, who ruled it for over three centuries. Later, the Vijaynagara kingdom and the Mysore rulers captured the fort. The fort encircles eight ruined temples of the Saivite and Vaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal, and other ruined structures. The Raja Mahal Palace is now an archaeological museum.
Transportation Options: Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
TIMINGS: Visits are conducted from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. every day (except Friday).
Price: Entry fee is Rs. 20 per person for adults (sound and light show) and Rs. 10 for children (sound and light show).
8.TALAKONA WATERFALLS
Talakona is situated 58 km from Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. To visit Talakona from Tirupati, we must travel to Bhakarapeta. Bhakarapeta is 32 km from Tirupati. From Bhakarapeta, buses and autos are available to reach Talakona. It is a resort with waterfalls, dense forests, and wildlife. The word ‘talakona’ originates from the Telugu words ‘tala’, which means ‘head’, and ‘kona’, which means ‘hill’. Its magnificent and serene view, with milky white streams of water falling from a height of 270 feet, puts one in awe of the beauty of nature. The water originates from the Seshachalam Hills, and the falls serve as an ideal spot for photography and family picnics. Numerous beliefs are associated with the waterfalls. Many say that the waters have therapeutic properties as they pass through various herbs and medicinal plants. Talakona is also known for the Lord Siddheswara Swamy Temple, which is located close to the waterfall. The Talakona Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting a wide range of flora and fauna, medicinal plants, and wildlife. The forest covers an area of about 450 sq km and is part of the Eastern Ghats, one of the oldest mountain ranges in India. The forest is home to more than 100 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, 12 species of reptiles, and 8 species of amphibians. The Indian giant squirrel, the golden gecko, the slender loris, the mouse deer, the pangolin, and the leopard are among the rare and endangered animals spotted in the forest.
The best time to visit Talakona Waterfalls is from September to January. Despite the year-round pleasant climate in the region surrounding the falls,
Transportation Options: Buses and autos are available.
VISIT TIMINGS: 6 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
B)TIRUMALA TOURS – Top Places to visit
The famous Hindu temple, Lord Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, is located in the hills of Tirumala in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It holds the distinction of being the second-largest temple globally. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared on earth to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Therefore, we refer to the place as Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the deity as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names, such as Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple, or Temple of Seven Hills. The seven hills of Tirumala, also known as Sapthagiri or Seshachalam, are Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The hills are 853 meters above sea level and cover 10.33 square miles. The hills represent Adisesha’s seven heads, or Saptarishi’s seven sages. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is situated on Venkatadri, the seventh peak.
Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The Andhra Pradesh government controls Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the temple.
The distance between Tirupati and Tirumala is 21 km.
After reaching Tirupati, one can easily travel to Tirumala by road or on foot. By road, Tirumala has direct bus services from Tirupati, with a bus frequency of every 2 minutes. It also has direct buses from Chennai, Bengaluru, Vellore, and all other places.
There are two ways to reach Tirumala by walk. One is from Alipiri. Alipiri is one of two ways to reach Tirumala on foot, and it was until recently the only one in modern times. The original route, Srivari Mettu, approximately 20 km from Tirupati, underwent renovations and reopened for use in 2008. Alipiri is the longer route, with 3550 steps; Srivari Mettu is the shorter route, with 2388 steps.
The Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, darshan timings may change during special occasions and rituals.
Types of Darshans in Tirumala Tirupati
1. Sarva Darshan Without Ticket
This is a free darshan where the pilgrims can enter the line and have darshan without any tickets. The timings for Sarva Darshan vary depending on the day, with 18 hours allotted on normal days and 20 hours on peak days. The Vaikuntam Queue Complex is the entry point for Tirupati Sarva Darshan. The pilgrims who are waiting receive Annaprasadam, milk, tea, and coffee at 3-hour intervals.
2. Slotted Sarva Darshan
Time-slotted sarva darshan is where the pilgrims have darshan of Sri Venkateshwara Swamy without waiting in line and free of charge in a given time slot. One of the 109 SSD ticket counters in Tirupati must issue the tokens for this darshan in advance. The counters open at 5:00 a.m. and issue tokens for the same day. To get the Darshan token, the Aadhaar card is required.
3. Special Entry Darshan (Rs 300 Darshan)
Specia Entry Darshan is the most popular and in-demand darshan ticket for Tirupati. There are no offline counters for booking this darshan. We issue all tickets online and require booking 2-3 months in advance. Every month, a specific day marks the opening of the booking slots for the upcoming months, which fill up quickly. The cost of special entry darshan is Rs 300 per pilgrim, plus one free laddoo. You can make advance bookings through Tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in and Indian Post Offices. You can also check Tirupati’s official Twitter account for regular updates about the booking slot’s opening.
4. VIP Break Darshan
VIP Break Darshan is available in Tirumala, which facilitates darshan without any pushing or going through huge crowds. This category allots one hour, allowing pilgrims to complete the darshan in 45–50 minutes. The devotees also go near the Moola Virat of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy (till Kuladekhara Padi) and stay there for a few minutes. There are 3 ways to book a VIP Darshan.
Darshan under Package Tours
Government Package Tours for Tirumala are offered by APTDC, IRCTC, TTDC (from Tricky, Bangalore, and Chennai), TSRTC, and flight packages from Hyderabad. You can book these on the respective government tourism websites.
The seven hills that Tirumala must visit are home to the most well-known tourist pilgrim locations.
Pushkarni
Sri Varahaswami Temple
Sila Thoranam
Papavinasam Theertham
Akasa Ganga
Sesha Theertham
Kumaradhara Theertham
Gogarbam Dam
Silathoranam Zoo
Mamandur Water Falls
Nature View Point
Chakra Theertham
Srivari Paadalu
Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple
Tumburu Theertham
Transportation Options: Tirupati bus station offers many buses, cabs, and autos.
DARSHAN TIMINGS:
Tirumala temple opens at 3 a.m., with the Alipri Tollgate providing access until 11.30 p.m.
The counter timings are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the queue line often starts at 2 a.m., especially on weekends.
The timings for VIP Break Darshan start at 6 a.m. every day, but it can get busy on Saturdays and Sundays.
The traditional dress code is mandatory for Darshan.
C)SRIKALAHASTI TOUR
Srikalahasti, a sacred town, is famous for the Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple.
Srikalahasteeswara temple is located around 37 km east of Tirupati, and the Srikalahasti Railway Station is just 2 kilometres from the Srikalahasti Temple, while the Tirupati International Airport is about 26 kilometres from the temple. The temple attracts Kalamkari’s ancient textile painting art, which is located on the banks of the River Swarnamukhi. Lord Shiva, in the form of a vayu linga, is the focus of worship at the temple. Sri Kalahasti is named after Lord Shiva’s staunch devotees. They were the spider (Sri), the serpent (Kala), and the elephant (Hasti). Appeased with their unflinching devotion, Lord Shiva gave them a boon that their names would be merged with the Vayulinga and called Sri Kalahasteeswara.
This temple is famous for the Rahu-Kethu pooja. It is believed that performing this pooja will protect people from Rahu and Kethu’s astrological effects. These celestial entities are considered shadow planets and are believed to influence one’s life significantly. Hindu legend claims that Brahma worshipped Kalahatiswara at this location during all four Yugas. Following the pooja, one receives darshan. Inside the temple premises, a couple can sit together and perform the pooja for Rs 750. If you’re not married, you can perform the pooja alone, but you can allow another person to sit behind you. Every Sunday, Full Moon Day, New Moon Day, Lunar Eclipse, and Solar Eclipse are considered ideal for performing Rahu Ketu Puja.
The Puja price includes the number of people performing at the venue.
150 rupees can be found in the hall outside the temple.
300 rupees for one puja hall near the north side of the temple
One Puja Hall outside the temple costs 700 rupees.
The A/C hall outside the temple costs 1500 rupees.
2500 Rupees Two couples are permitted, and the puja is performed near Dwajasthambam.
The temple Mandapam, close to Utsava Murthy, charges 5000 rupees.
The tourist sites in Srikalahasti that you must visit include
Swarnamukhi River
Pathala Vinayaka Temple
Bharadwaja Tirtham
Kannappa Temple
Veyilingala Kona Waterfalls
Varadaraja Swami Temple
Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple
Transportation Options: Many buses and trains are available from Tirupati.
DARSHAN TIMINGS: Lord Shiva any day of the week between 05:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 09:30 p.m.
D)KANIPAKAM TOUR -Best Places to Visit
Kanipakam is home to the popular Hindu temple of Lord Ganesha, which is 11 km from Chittoor and 68 km from Tirupati. Here, Lord Ganesha is named Swamybu Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy. The Chola Emperor Kulottunga I constructed this temple in the early 11th century CE, and the Emperors of Vijayanagara further expanded it in 1336. The river beside Kanipakam temple is now known as the ‘Bahuda River’. To reach Kanipakam via Tirupati, there are so many buses available to Chittoor or from Chittoor Railway Station, which is the nearest railway station at a distance of 12 kilometres from the temple site. Flights, bus routes, and train routes from different places are available to reach Kanipakam.
Incredible facts about Kaniapakam
1. An unbelievable truth about the divine image of Lord Vinayak of Kanipakam is that the idol is reportedly growing in size with the passage of time. Currently, only the knees and abdomen of the idol are visible. The testimony to this fact is the silver kavacham (armour) offered to the idol by one of the ardent devotees about fifty years ago, which does not fit the idol today!
2. The self-manifested idol of Ganpati of Kanipakam is the lord of justice himself. Interestingly, several people have been visiting the temple for a long time to resolve mutual strife by taking a dip in the sacred waters of the temple tank and swearing before the deity’s idol. There have been cases where the sinner accepts his faults immediately after taking the holy dip, even before stepping into the “court of justice” or the inner chambers of the temple. Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka possesses such power, and his glory is deserving of praise around the world.
Temples surrounding Kanipakam to visit are:
Manikanta Swamy Temple
Varadaraja Swamy Temple
Transportation Options: Many buses, cabs, and trains are available from Tirupati and Chittoor.
DARSHAN TIMINGS: The Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple is open every day of the week between 04:00 a.m. and 08:00 p.m.
E) GOLDEN TEMPLE TOUR – Best Places to Visit
Description: Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple, Ripuram
Sri Sakthi Amma stays at the Sri Narayani Peedam, an institution that sits at the edge of a mountain named Kailasha Giri. It is located in Thirumalaikodi (or Malaikodi), a small village near Vellore in south India. Mountains and lush, scenic beauty surround it. Thirumalaikodi is located 150 km from Chennai and is equidistant from the two other very well-known pilgrimage towns of Tirupathi and Tiruvannamalai. It is 120 km from Tirupati, 160 km from Pondicherry, 200 km from Bengaluru, and about 8 kilometres away from Vellore city, 43 km from Chittoor. The Vellore-based charitable trust, Sri Narayani Peedam, under the spiritual leadership of Sri Sakthi Amma, also known as ‘Narayani Amma’, constructed the temple on 100 acres of land. Artisans specialising in temple art using gold have intricately crafted the temple, adorned with a 1500 kg gold covering. The artisans manually created every single detail, including converting the gold bars into gold foils and mounting the foils on copper. We have mounted gold foil, ranging from 9 to 10 layers, onto the etched copper plates. Every single detail in the temple art has significance from the Vedas.
Because Goddess Lakshmi is also known as ‘Sri,’ her abode here has come to be known as Sri Puram. Hence, this unique place of worship is popularly known as both the Vellore Golden Temple and the Sri Puram Golden Temple.
Every morning and evening, the Golden Temple performs the Sahasra Deepam ritual, which involves lighting one thousand and eight lamps. The devotees offer Abishekam (sacred wash) and vastras (clothes) to the deity. At midday and at night, the temple feeds all devotees.
The tourist attractions located near the Golden Temple are
Archaeology Survey of India Museum,
Ratnagiri Murugan Temple,
Vellore Fort,
Amirthi Zoological Park,
Sri Jalakandeswarar Temple
TRAVELS: There are many buses and trains available from Tirupati, Chittoor, Chennai and Vellore.
DARSHAN TIMINGS:
Abishekam (sacred wash) is performed daily between 04.00 a.m. and 08.00 a.m. at the temple.
Devotees can have darshan (sacred view) between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. In the evenings, the Aarthi Seva takes place between 06.00 p.m. and 07.00 p.m.
F)KANCHIPURAM TOUR – Best Places to visit
Kanchipuram, or Kānchi or Kāncheepuram, is a famous temple city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It served as the Pallava Kingdom’s capital city. It is also referred to by its former names, Kanchiampathi and Conjeevaram, as well as the nickname “The City of Thousand Temples.” It now serves as the administrative headquarters for Kanchipuram district. Kanchipuram is located 72 kilometres from Chennai, the capital or temple city of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, and 108 kilometres from Tirupati. Buses and trains are available from Chennai and Tirupati to reach Kanchipuram. The Kamakshi Amman Temple, also known as Kamakoti Nayaki Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, one of the highest aspects of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess in Shaktism. It is located in Kanchipuram. The temple is one of the most important Shaktism centers in Tamil Nadu. Primarily dedicated to Kamakshi, the temple also houses a shrine honoring Vishnu in his Varaha form. The temple is also the centre for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Kanchipuram is known for its temple architecture, 1000-pillared halls, huge temple towers, and silk saris. Kanchipuram serves as one of the most important tourist destinations in India. Kanchipuram has also become a popular destination for foreign tourists.
Here are some of the tourist places you must visit in Kanchipuram:
Ekambareswarar Temple
Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple
Kanchi Kamakshi Amman Temple
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple
Trilokinath Temple
Chitragupta Swamy Temple
Sathyanatheswarar Temple
Ashtabujakaram Temple
Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham
Transportation Options: There are many buses and trains available from Tirupati, Chittoor, and Chennai.
DARSHAN TIMINGS:
This temple is open for darshan on all days, and the times are 5.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
