Religious Tourism | TIRUPATI DISTRICT, Government of Andhra Pradesh (2024)

Sri Vari Temple, Tirumala

Tirumala is the riches pilgrimage centre in the world. It is the abode of Lord Venkateswara located atop Seshachalam Hills often called as Seven Hills. The temple of Lord Venkateswara was built by Thondaman King and reformed periodically by Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagar. The Temple rites were formalized by Ramanujacharya in the 11th Century A.D. These hills are 980 meters above the sea level and is about 10.33 square miles in area. Tirumala temple is next to Vatican city in Rome in terms of income.

Vakula Matha Temple, Peruru Village

Mukkoti Agastheeshwara Temple, Chandragiri

Mukkoti Agastheeshwara Temple is located near Tirumala hill. This is a famous Shiva temple which is situated near the River Kalyani.
Shatla puranam says that after marriage of Srinivasa.Rishi Agasthya asks Srinivasa to stay in his Ashram. Srinivasa agreed to Agasthya’s request, and decides that, he and Padmavathi will stay for 6 months. We can see Footprints of Bhagwan near riverside next to Agasthya munis ashram.
Agastya performed Nityapoojas to Shiva in this place, and did Tapasya here. Prathishta of Mahadeva was done by Agathyamuni, so the name Agastheeswara Lingam. Inside the prakaram, Parvati Devi as Vallimata has Sannidhi.
During Agastya Muni’s Tapasya to Mahadeva, he created the River Swarnamukhi.

Gudimallam Temple, Yerpedu

Gudimallam is seven miles away from Renigunta. Historically, this village is very important because it has a beautiful siva (Parasurameswara) Temple. The Linga in the temple is supposed to be the earliest Linga (3^rd or 2^nd Century B.C.) discovered so far in India.

Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Narayanavanam

Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy and Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru, daughter of Akasha Raju were married here. As the marriage took place in Narayanavaram, Padmavathi’s brother build two Temples; one is here, another in Tirumala to commemorate this occasion. It is one of the few temples where we can see both Venkateswara Swamy along with Padmavathi Devi in one complex. This Temple has four small shrines of Sri Padmavathi, Andal, Sri Prayaga Madhava swami and Sri Varadaraja Swami. At the entrance in front of the Sanctum is the small Garudalwar Sannidhi. In addition to these, there are five more temples to the main one. These are dedicated to Sri Parasareswara Swami, Sri Veerabadhra Swami, Sri Sakthi Vinayaka Swami, Sri Agatheeswara Swami and Sri Avanakshamma.

Sri Vedanarayana Swamy Temple, Nagalapuram

Vijayanagara King Srikrishna Devaraya constructed the Sri Vedanarayana Swamy Temple at Nagalapuram. The sun rays enter the Garbhagriha on 25^th,26^th, 27^th of March of every year.

Pallikondeswara Temple, Surutupalle

Pallikondeswara Temple (Also Pradosha Kshetram) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Surutupalle village in Tirupati District. The presiding deity Pallikondeswara, unlike other Shiva temples, is sported in reclining posture lying on the lap of his consort Parvati. Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Somavaram, Thiruvadhirai during the month of Margazhi and Annabhishekam during the Tamil month of Aippasi are the major festivals celebrated in the temple.

Chengalamma Temple, Sullurpet

Goddess Chengalamma Parameswari manifested Herself in the village of Sullurupet which lies 94 Km. away from Tirupati (Tirupati District) on the Kolkata-Chennai highway and the temple for Her was built on the bank of the Kalangi river. History tells us that it was established during the fourth and fifth centuries. People also refer to her as the village goddess “Tekkali”. With the passage of time, she is being worshipped regularly by devotees as Chengalamma. Devotees turn up in large number to witness “Chengalamma Jatara” (fair). The Village goddess who was called Tankali gained reputation as Sullurupet Chengalamma Thalli and her idol in the temple faces the sea. Devotees from different parts of the State visit the place and fulfil their vows, referring the goddess as the mother who grants boons liberally. The naturally – formed image of the goddess adorning the hanging roots (Vooda) of the banyan tress is really an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Kodandaramesvara Swamy Temple( Adityeswara Temple), Bokkasampalem

Bokkasampalem is situated at a distance of 2 km. away from Tondamanadu in Sri Kalahasti Mandal. The village contains a temple dedicated to Siva under the name Kodandaramesvara alias Adityesvara. The Adityesvara temple is said to be a pallipadai built in honour of Chola king Aditya I by his son Parantaka I in or before A.D.940-41. The shrine for Devi seems to have been built some time during the 12th century A.D.

Thirthas & Waterfalls

There are many Thirthas at the sacred place of Tirumala. Among these, the most important are Gogarbham, Akasa Ganga, Papavinasanam Theertham, Japali Theertham, Vaikuntam Theertham, Chakra Theertham, Ramakrishna Theertham, Kumaradhara Theertham, Thumbura Theertham, Sri Narasimha Pushkarini etc.

The most attractive water falls in the district are Talakona, Kailasakona, Sadasiva Kona, Veyilingala Kona, Saddhi Madugu, Siddalaya Kandriga, Kalyani River.

Ashramams & Mattas

The important spiritual centres of the district are Vyasasramam, Suka Bramhasramam, Kalki, Ramakrishna, Hathiramji Mutt, Ramakrishna Mutt, Sankarayacharya, Brahmin Mutt and Iscon Temple.

Silathoranam, Tirumala

Natural Arch, Tirumala hills, a notifiedNational Geo-heritage Monument,is a distinctive geological feature 1km (0.6mi) north of theTirumalahills temple, near the Chakra Teertham in the state ofAndhra Pradesh,India. The arch is also calledSilathoranam in the local language (Telugu language:Silameans ‘rock’ andthoranammeans a garland strung over a threshold, connecting two vertical columns or an ‘arch’ as in this case). The arch measures 8m (26.2ft) in width and 3m (9.8ft) in height, and is naturally formed in thequartzitesofCuddapahSupergroup of Middle to UpperProterozoic(1600 to 570 Ma) due to natural erosive forces.

Chandragiri was under the rule Vijayanagara empire for about three centuries and came under the control of the Vijayanagarayadava rulers in 1367. It came into prominence during 1560s during the reign of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya. Later, the most famous Vijayanagara emperor Srikrishna Devaraya, was kept in this fort as a prince, till his coronation at Penukonda. It is also said that he met his future queen Chinna Devi at this fort. Chandragiri was the 4th capital of Vijayanagara Empire, Rayas shifted their capital to here when the Golconda sultans attacked Penukonda. In 1646 the fort was annexed to the Golkonda territory and subsequently came under Kingdom of Mysore rule. It went into oblivion from 1792 onward. The Raja Mahal Palace is now an archaeological museum. The palace is an example of Indo-Sarcen architecture of Vijayanagara period. The crowning towers represents the Hindu architectural elements. The palace was constructed using stone, brick, lime mortar and devoid of timber. Some of important kavyas or epic poems are written in this fort under the patronage of Vijayanagara kings. Inside the fort are eight temples, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures. Inside the fort are Raja Mahal and Rani Mahal which are quite well maintained for more than 300 years and Raja Mahal is converted as Archeological Museum by Arechological Survey of India. The museum holds models of fort, main temple and other structures of surrounding area. Both of these building were constructed without using wood and only lime, brick and morter was used. Rani Mahal has flat roof and at base level it has stable and epigraphical evidence says that this building was also used as commanders quarters. The fort is the place where the pact of granting lands for Fort St. George to the British was signed by Vijayanagara King Sri Rangaraya during August 1639.

Sri Kalyana Venkateswara swamy Temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram

Sri Kalyana Venkateswara swamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple at Srinivasamangapuram in Tirupati. It is located in Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu and is referred to as Kalyana Venkateswara. The temple is categorised as an Ancient monument of National importance by Archaeological survey of India. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.The ancient temple of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy is located in Srinivasa Mangapuram, about 10 km in the west part of Tirupati city. This ancient temple which is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is maintained by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams since 1967 and utsavams and rituals in this temple are being performed since 1981.Today, Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy temple is considered sacred, next to Tirumala temple. Those who are unable to make it to Tirumala can have darshan of Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy to fulfill their wish. As the name indicates, this temple carries significance for newlywed couples. Newlyweds offer prayers first in this temple as this is the place where Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy with Goddess Padmavathi Devi stayed for six months, just after their wedding.

Srivari Mettu, Srinivasa Mangapuram

Srivari Mettu is the alternate walk way along with Alipiri Mettu that passes through the seven hills and reaches to the main part Tirumala. As per the legends, Lord Venkateswara and Annamayya travelled via this path to reach the Tirumala hills from Srinivasa Mangapuram. Every day hundreds of devotees and the visitors choose this path to reach the Tirumala temple as it is very well developed, short and easy to climb. This route consist of 2388 steps and it will take around 2 hrs. As the people comes here so much the path is token free and free transport of luggage is also available to reach the temple. Tokens for Divya Darshanam and Laddus are provided to devotee who come on foot.

The path is so beautifully maintained as per the devotee’s convenience in dense forest. To facilitate devotee in way, water, parking, luggage counter, benches and toilet can be found in the middle of the path. There are many local shops and vendors which provide you the Prasad and the foods for all the visitors going to Tirumala. So many devotees covers this path by lightning Diya, which shows how they are god secure. The path is only open from 6:00am to 5:00pm. There is a dense forest all around the path. So, there is the chances of leopards and the other wild animals can harm the visitors.

How to reach Srivari Mettu : Pilgrim can reach here from Tirupati easily by bus or private vehicle. Free bus service is also available from Tirupati. Tirupati is well connected with roads. You can hire a taxi/cab or even private vehicles to reach the temple. The nearest Railway Station is Tirupati Railway Station at a distance of 26 kms. The nearest Flight connectivity is near Renigunta at a distance of 36 kms.