TIRUPATI - Andhra Pradesh

"TIRUPATI is the most sacred Vaishnavite temple of Andhra Desa. It has a reputation not only in Andhra but all over India and the presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is worshipped by North Indian pilgrims as ‘Balaji."

Tirupati lies in the midst of the Seshachalam Hills at a distance of seven miles from the Tirupati East Railway Station. To reach it, one has to branch off at Gudur, which is the last but one main station before Madras on the Delhi Madras route, and take a train to Renigunta and Tirupati and then go by road from the foot to the top of the Tirupati Hill, which is called Tirumalai. Direct buses from Madras and other centuries also ply to Tirumalai. Till ten years ago, the pilgrims had to walk up to the top of the hill, by means of steps, but now a regular ghat road has been laid round the hills, and one can reach the top of the hill directly by road.

The Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam is one of the richest Devasthanam of Andhra, as Lord Venkateswara, who is the presiding deity of the shrine at the top, attracts thousands of pilgrims, who pay large sums to the deity as their offering. Any number of Chatrams and Choultries are available, both at the foot of the hill and on the top of the hill, for the convenience of the passengers. In addition the Devasthanam authorities also encourage the construction of self-contained cottages on the top of the hill, so that people who seek solitude may live in complete solitude and in peace. If any devotee contributes six thousand rupees, the Devasthanam will pay an equal amount and a cottage consisting of three rooms with a bathroom and kitchen is constructed in the name of the devotee. When the devotees do not reside in them, they are available for rent for others. There are nearly five hundred such cottages, on the top of the hill, and these are available at a daily rent of four rupees or so per day. There are also Government guesthouse’s as well as Devasthanam Guest Houses both on the top as well as at the foot of the hill, where distinguished visitors can come and stay.
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