Tirupati Temple is located in Chittoor District of ANdhra Pradesh. The main deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu. The Temple houses the god Vishnu in its form as Balaji, giving riches and peace to its believers. It is believed that God Balaji gifts much more than that you five to the temple as offerings or poojas or srivaris. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntham and Lord here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam.
The way to Tirumala Temple by climb It is a 3600 steps, 8 km long climb, with the steps not uniformly distributed. The initial stageis a 2000 step climb, in a space of 1km. Following that is a 7 km long walk, with a few steps in-between here and there and a 2km long walk along the road included, and then a 500 step climb after that. And then u reach the top. Average time is about 3 and ahalf to 4 hours (if elders are there).
The Tirumala Temple shrine is the richest shrine in india. Other than crores as income from poojaas, hundies and offerings, even from sale of the hair which devotees submit to the god fetches crores in every year. It is said that the auction of human hair made as offering by devotees in the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara has fetched Rs. 17.82 crore in July and August 2016.
Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a landmark Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. The Temple is constructed in Dravidian architecture and is believed to be constructed over a period of time starting from 300 AD. It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily, while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.
The daily sevas in Temple(in order of occurrence) include Suprabhata Seva, Thomala Seva, Archana, Kalyanotsavam, Dolotsavam (Unjal Seva), Arjita Brahmotsavam, Arjita Vasantotsavam, Sahasra Dipalankarana Seva, Ekanta Seva
Weekly sevas of the Temple include Vishesha Pooja on Monday, Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana on Tuesday, Sahasra Kalasabhishekam on Wednesday, Tiruppavada Seva on Thursday, Abhishekam and Nijapada Darshanam on Friday. There are no weekly sevas on Saturday and Sunday.
Sri Venkateswara Brahmotsavams, a nine-day event, which is celebrated every year during month of October, is the major event of Sri Venkateswara Temple.
The world famous "Tirupati Laddu" is given at Tirumala Temple as prasadam. Tirupati Laddu had got Geographical indication tag which entitles only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to make or sell it.
Many devotees have their head tonsured as "Mokku", an offering to God. The daily amount of hair collected is over a ton. The hair thus gathered is sold by the temple organisation a few times a year by public auction to international buyers for use as hair extensions and in cosmetics, bringing over $ 6 million to the temple's treasury. This is the second highest income generating activity in the temple next to the Hundi Collection.
Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam is the first and pre-dawn seva performed to Lord Venkateswara at Sayana Mandapam inside sanctum sanctorum of Tirumala Temple. 'Suprabhatam' is a Sanskrit term which literally means ‘Good Morning’ and is meant to wake up the Lord from His celestial sleep.
There are many ancient temples nearby Tirumala. Sri Padamavathi Temple is temple dedicated to Padmavathi, the wife of Venkateswara, situated at Tiruchanur which is 5 km from Tirupati. Srikalahasteeswara Temple is the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which represents "Vayu"(air) form of elements of Nature, is situated at Srikalahasti which is 38 km from Tirupati.
Step by Step procedure to visit Tirupathi Temple
Ordinary Darshan does not provide any advance booking. Those who wish to have ordinary darshan have to present themselves at the temple premises, register themselves standing in que which takes many hours, depending on the day's rush. Otherwise, we can proceed to pre-book for visit on a particular day in advance, which is called "Sheekra Darshan". Sheekra Darshan or Pre-booked darshan only opens in website of Tirumala temple before 30 days. That is booking for Sheekra Darshan on February 1st opens only on January First.
Steps :
1. Book rail / Flight tickets for a day prior to your intended darshan day , or the day on which you intend to have darshan.
2. Exactly 30 days prior to the Darshan date, the Sheekhra Darshan booking opens in website of Tirupati Tirumala Devasthaanam. For booking Darshan, first upload your photograph & Adhar card . If more persons are accompanting you, their age, ID number, name etc also to be added into the website. A person can add upto 6 persons for a darshan. If the group is more than 6 in number, add another person also and six more persons can be added.
Accommodation :
For accommodation in Tirumala at subsidized rates, pilgrims may contact the CENTRAL RECEPTION OFFICE near Bus stand in Tirumala. Phone : 0877-2263922
Other Accommodation provided by Temple :
Srinivasam Complex, Opposite RTC Bus Stand – Tel : 0877-2264541
A/C Deluxe Rooms : Rs. 600/-
A/C Rooms : Rs. 400/-
Non-A/C Rooms : Rs. 200/-
Sri Venkateswara Dharmasala, Opposite Tirupati Railway Station – Tel : 0877-2225144
Four Bed non-A/C – Rs. 100/-
Single Bed non – A/C – Rs. 50/-
Double Bed non – A/C – Rs. 100/-
Sri Venkateswara Guest House, North side of Tirupati Railway Station. Tel : 0877-2264507
Non-A/C rooms : Rs. 150/-
Vishnu NIvasam. Tel : 0877-2264462
A/C/ suites : Rs. 1300/-
A/C/ Rooms : Rs. 800/-
Non-A/C/ Suites : Rs. 500/-
Non-A/C Rooms : Rs. 300/-
Tirumala has direct bus services from Tirupati with a frequency of a bus in every 2 minutes. It also has direct buses from Chennai, Bengaluru and Vellore. Paid taxis and private bus operators also ply buses from nearby cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakapatnam and Bangalore to Tirupati.
Automobile Clinic - In case of vehicle breakdowns on the ghat roads, TTD offers service through its automobile clinic levying certain charges on case to case basis. The pilgrims can either report at Toll Gates of Alipiri or GNC in Tirumala or contact 0877-2263636 for immediate help. A mechanic will be sent in a mobile van equipped with spares, to attend to the problem by TTD transport department.
Buses and other transport are banned on ghat road from Tirupati to Tirumala between 12 AM and 3 AM.
For more details regarding advance booking for darshan, different types of darshan, etc., please log in to : http://www.tirumala.org/Home.aspx
Tirumala Devasthanam Contact Numbers :
1800 4251 11 111 (toll Free)
+91-877-2233333
+91-877-2277777
Website : http://www.tirumala.org/