Tirupati Travel Guide – Visit The Holy City
Tirupati is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in South India. It is located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and is famous for its Venkateswara Swamy shrine. This sanctuary is situated at a distance of 20 kilometers northwest of the Tirumala Hills. Millions of pilgrims visit this place from many parts of the world. It is not only a pilgrimage center but also an economic and educational center in Andhra Pradesh.
The Tirumala Hills are considered to be the second oldest rocky mountains in the world. It is one of the most protected sanctuaries in the world due to its wealth. If you want to go to Tirupati, the ideal time would be to go there in the winter season when the weather will be moderate. It has extremes of weather and in summer the mercury level touches as high as 45 degrees Celsius.
The city is well connected by road and the central bus terminal here is one of the largest in the state. It has direct bus services to the main cities, so there is no need to worry about entering the city by road. The buses are operated by APSRTC and other private operators. Well-planned road networks with effective traffic control help tourists a lot. It has an important train station with ten platforms and three escalators. There are regular trains to all major cities in India. There is also an airport at Tirupati which caters to the domestic needs.
Entering Tirupati at the festive season will be a source of joy for pilgrims. Festivals like Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama Navami and Janmashtami are celebrated in great splendor. During Brahmotsavam, millions of devotees gather here and celebrate in style. Apart from the main temple, there are also many other temples located here like Alamelu Mangamma Shrine, Padmavati Temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram etc.
Other tourist attractions in Tirupati are the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park and the Regional Science Centre. The zoo is the second largest in Asia with a lion safari consisting of 30 lions and home to many rare species of plants and animals. The Regional Science Center also has a planetarium inside.
Although millions of people visit Tirupati, there is no shortage of hotels to stay. The temple authority has built many free dharmashalas or chatrams and any devotee can stay here for free. There are also many budget hotels and high class hotels located around the temple and in the main city. Due to the large influx of tourists, these hotels are always crowded and reservations must be made in advance.
Restaurants in Tirupati serve Andhra cuisine and South Indian cuisine. In general, Andhra cuisine is said to be spicy with extravagant use of chili. There are many multi cuisine restaurants that would satisfy the taste buds of people from different parts. So when you are planning your trip, check out the right Tirupati travel guide that will help you to find the good Tirupati hotels and restaurants.