Tirupati – The Abode of Venkateshwara   by Mathan Mohan

in Travel    (submitted 2012-02-21)

Tirupati is a pilgrimage and Cultural City located in the Chittoor district in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Located at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats, Tirupati is one of the major pilgrim spots in India, thronged by millions of devotees. Tirupati is famous for the Tirupati Temple, which is located in the hills of Tirumala. The Tirupati temple is one of the most visited pilgrim centres of the world.
The Venkateswara Swamy temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Lord Vishnu) is the focal point of attraction in Tirupati. Located on the banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini River about 20 kilometres to the north-west of Tirupati town in the Tirumala hills, the Venkateshwara temple is perched at an altitude of 853 metres. Tirupati is also the busiest pilgrim centre in the world.
Though there are no concrete sources of the origin of the name Tirupati, it is believed that the word Tirupati is derived from the two words - Thiru and Pati. The name Tirupati means 'The Lord of Lakshmi' (Thiru means Shree - Goddess Lakshmi and pati means Husband - Lord Vishnu). The name Tirupati would have been the appropriate name for the village on the Venkata Hill, the abode of the Lord. But, it is generally used as the name of the Municipal town located at the foot of the Hill, and the village around the Hill near the temple is called Tirumala (Sacred Hill).
Tirupati is home to several other temples like the Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swami Temple, Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple, Sri Veda Narayanaswami Temple, Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple, the Padmavati Temple, the Govindaraja Temple, Sri Chennakesava Swamy Temple and Sri Annapurna Sameta Kasi Visweswaraswami Temple among others.
The hills of Tirumala near Tirupati are the second oldest rock mountains of the world. There are no substantial proofs to show when the Tirupati temple was built or who built it. But the Tirupati temple was continuously patronized by the successive rulers of the area since 4th century. Tirupati is also one of the rarest temples that successfully withstood the Muslim invasion of South India during the 14th and 15th centuries.
Other attractions in Tirupati are the Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Park (which shelters various species of birds and animals), Vari Museum, TTD Gardens and Pandava Theertham, Swami Pushkarini Lake, Akasha Ganga Theertham, Papavinasam Theertham ,Srinivasa Mangapuram and Shilatoranam (a rock garden), to name a few.
Tirupati is renowned for its red wooden toys, copper and brass idols among others. A major economical and educational hub of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is also home to industrial units like the Railway Carriage Repair Shop, Amararaja Power Systems and Lanco Industries.
Tirupati experiences extreme climatic conditions. Tirupati is well-connected by rail, road and air.

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