Tirupathi Balaji Temple

Online Darshan Ticket Counter

2008-09-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. N.Srikanth joint executive officer of TTD said that online darshan ticket counters will be opened with in couple of months in Srirangam, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Mr. Srikanth told reporters that there was encouraging response to the sale of such tickets. Out of about 7,500 online tickets priced at Rs. 50 for Sudarshan Darshan, over 200 tickets are sold in Erode alone. Similarly, over 1,500 are sold at other centres.

“At present in Tirumala, the TTD has buildings to accommodate over 6,000 pilgrims a day. Following heavy rush additional rooms to accommodate 1,000 more pilgrims will be constructed and the work will be completed before 2009,” Mr. Srikanth said.

On the conduct of Thiru Kalaya Utsavam in rural areas by the Devasthanams, he said: “If people wanted to conduct it, the TTD is ready to arrange the Utsavam.”

He also said investigation was in progress in the case of missing jewels. All security arrangements in and around the temple had been strengthened.

Sri Vari Seva Trust managing trustee R. Umapathy said the trust had decided to construct a Mandapam in Erode to conduct atavism for Lord Venkateswara and an online counter would also be opened in the Mandapam.

Mr. Umapathy said a minimum of 200 devotees from Erode were visiting Tirupati every day. He appealed to the Andhra Pradesh State Transport Corporation and also Andhra Pradesh tourism department to operate more buses from the trust office to Tirumala. He said already representations had been made with the Railway Ministry to operate a daily train service either from Coimbatore or from Erode to Tirupati.

Tirumala

2008-09-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

Tirumala possibly has the most elaborate arrangement in India to sequence and guide visiting devotees through the holy shrine. Individual devotees are required to register at any of the many offices situated near the main shrine, at the local rail and bus stations in Tirumala and Tirupati as well as at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams offices in other key cities like Hyderabad and Chennai. On registration, devotees are provided with a bar-coded wristband with the expected time and date of entry into the Vaikuntam Queue Complex. Typically, devotees spend between 70 to 190 minutes going through the Queue complex, depending on the season. The delay increases during weekends, festival periods and special temple puja periods.

Real Gold Tirumala Temple

Tirupati

Tirupati is 170km northwest of Chennai (Madras), in Andhra Pradesh near the Tamil Nadu border. In Tirupati there is the important Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple, Kothanda Rama Swami Temple and the famous Kapileswara Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Siva. In Tiruchanur, five km from Tirupati, is the Padmavathi Temple, dedicated to the consort of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji). The temple of Sri Venkateswara or Tirupati Balaji is situated above the actual city of Tirupati in the hilltop town of Tirumala. There is a steep staircase up the hill to Tirumala, used by pilgrims wishing to show their devotion by making the climb...

Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple

This temple is one of the most important Vishnu temples in India and is also the richest. It is the most visited temple in India and is one of the most visited religious places in the world. This magnificent temple is located 20km up a hill from Tirupati. It is a very peaceful place and coming to this temple is a very awe-inspiring and devotional experience. On a spiritual tour of South India it is an absolute must. On an average over 25,000 people visit daily, and on festival days over 100,000 visit. In 1989, over eleven and a half million people made their pilgrimage here.

Many pilgrims walk the 16km (24km by bus) up the hill. The path begins at the bottom of the hill. You can't miss the beginning, as there is a huge gopuram (tower) with bright lights and a big statue of Hanuman. It is best to go in the early morning to beat the sun and crowds. Almost the entire way there is an overhead shelter with lights so you can walk at night or in the rain.
You pass nice forests, gardens and a zoo.

Tirumala is where the Venkateswara (Sri Balaji) Temple is located. Tirumala is located on Vyenkata Hill at an altitude of 840m (2,800 ft). Vyenkateswara means "the Lord of Vyenkatachala." Vyenkatachala is a chain of hills.
The temple is situated on the top of seven adjoining hills, also called Seshachalam Hills, which are said to be an incarnation of Ananta Sesa...

Natural in Tirupathi

Tirupathi Balaji Temple

2008-09-22T05:02:00.000-07:00

The historic and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak of the Tirupati Hill. The temple of Sri Venkateswara fondly known as Balaji temple has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage to Tirupathi Balaji are mentioned in the Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas. In these epics, Sri Venkateswara is described as the great bestower of boons.

Bollywood Actress in Tirupathi Balaji Temple

There are several legends associated with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala. According to the tradition this temple has a self manifested idol of Vishnu and it is believed that Vishnu will reside on earth for the entire kaliyugam on tirumala hills. For this reason it attracts Hindus from across the world and is the most visited religious place in the world.
All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram, the Cholas of Thanjavur, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord. It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is an independent trust which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple now. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam was established in 1932 as a result of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Act of 1932. According to the act, administration of the temple was vested to a committee of seven members and overseen by a paid commissioner as appointed by the Madras Government.
The temple is the world's richest in terms of the wealth of offerings and gifts given by visiting pilgrims. On average around 60,000 pilgrims per day visit the temple, and on special occasions up to 3,00,000 per day.

After Darshan this is Exit Gate