Venkateswara Temple, located in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. It is believed that Venkateswara appeared here to protect mankind from the challenges of Kali Yuga. The temple is also known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntha, and the deity is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. Managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), under the control of the Andhra Pradesh Government, the temple’s revenue contributes to the state’s funds.
Tirumala Hills, part of the Seshachalam Hills range, rise 853 meters (2,799 ft) above sea level and consist of seven peaks symbolizing the seven heads of Adisesha. The temple is situated on the seventh peak, Venkatadri, overlooking Sri Swami Pushkarini, a sacred water tank, earning it the nickname “Temple of Seven Hills.” The town of Tirumala covers an area of about 10.33 sq mi (26.75 km2).
Constructed in Dravidian architecture, the temple is believed to have been built gradually starting from 300 AD. The main deity, Venkateswara, stands in the Garbagruha (Sanctum Sanctorum) facing east. Following the Vaikhanasa Agama tradition of worship, the temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras and is recognized as the 106th and final earthly Divya Desam. The temple complex includes modern Queue buildings, an Annaprasadam complex for free meals, facilities for hair tonsure, and various lodging options for pilgrims.
Trasnport
By Road: Tirumala can be accessed by road from Alipiri. The distance is 23 kilometres (14 mi). There are two roads from Alipiri to Tirumala, one each dedicated to up and down traffic. The state government-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates frequent Saptagiri and Saptagiri Express buses from Tirupati and Alipiri and also from nearby places. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) runs free buses for transit within Tirumala.
By Train: The nearest railway station is at Tirupati, about 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Tirumala. Tirupati Main is one of the major railway station in the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways, providing rail connectivity to major parts of India. It is under the jurisdiction of Guntakal railway division.[28] Renigunta Junction is another important railway station which lies on the Chennai – Mumbai rail corridor is 38 kilometres (24 mi) away from Tirumala.
By Air:The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Tirumala. It is a domestic airport with direct flights to Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and New Delhi. The nearest major airport is the Chennai International Airport, located about 162 kilometres (101 mi) from Tirumala.