One Day Tirupati Local Sightseeing Trip by Cab
Tirupati is located in its southern district of Chittoor. The name ‘Tirupati’ literally translates to ‘house of Lakshmi’, Lakshmi being the goddess of wealth and prosperity according to Hindu mythology.
The city is particularly famous because of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, one of the highest footfall-clocking heritage temples in India. Apart from various Hindu pilgrimage sites, the natural relief of the surrounding hills of Tirumala is a good reason to pay this place a visit. There are also a couple of popular waterfalls which are believed to be holy.
What to Expect
The cab trip for Tirumala Tirupati Balaji sightseeing will begin early in the morning and cover various points of interest below. You will be picked up from your home or hotel and dropped back to your place of accommodation.
After breakfast, the very first sight is the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple – the richest temple in the world in terms of the amount of gold that decks the idols and the premises. The journey will take about an hour to the hill-town of Tirumala as the distance is 23 km.
The next spot is a 10-minute drive to Shila Thoranam. This National Geo-heritage Monument is a natural arch in the hills of Tirumala, barely a couple of kilometres from the temple.
From here, we’ll move on to Srivari Padalu. According to Hindu legends, it is here that Lord Vishnu first set his foot when he visited the Narayanagiri Hills (part of the Tirumala Range).
You will get to visit Sri Venu Gopala Swamy Temple before breaking for lunch. This temple was built to pay homage to the Hindu deity Krishna, and his statue is seen playing a flute.
After a hearty meal, you will go deeper into the forest to see the Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple. This temple is dedicated to the monkey god – Hanuman. You will find a lot of devotees bathing in the pond near this temple as they believe that will wash their sins away.
A few hundred metres from there, you will see the beautiful Akasha Ganga waterfalls. The idol of Lord Venkateshwara from the Balaji Temple is washed with this water every day as it is believed to be holy. There is another theertham site here – a pool where worshippers take a dip.
Your final stop is Papavinasam which literally means ‘destruction of sins’. Papavinasam is a waterfall surrounded by a dam and a reservoir which controls the flow of water. This dam is the major source of water for the Tirumala region.
Places to Visit on this One Day Tirupati Sightseeing Trip by Car
1. Sri Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple
Arguably one of the most opulent temples in the world, Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple (or Balaji Temple) is located in the Seshachalam Ranges of Tirumala. Spread over 16 acres of land, the temple has three grand entry gates to it.
The main entrance is called the ‘Maha Dwaram’ and is 50 feet in height. Next to it is the brass gate, then the silver gate, and ultimately, the golden entrance. Couples often visit here to pray that they conceive children. A common practice by parents who have children after their first visit here is to offer coins or silver worth the weight of their children.
2۔ Shila Thoranam
Start your journey with the visit to Shila Thoranam, a natural arch, located at a distance of 4 km from Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The intrinsic geological rock formation is 8 meters wide and 3 meters in height. Formed approximately 1.5 billion years ago as a result of weathering and erosion of quartzite, it is the third of its kind in the world.
The other two are the Rainbow Arch Bridge and the Dalradian Quartzite. The word Shila means rock in Telugu and Thoranam means garland. Legends state that it resembles the shape of a serpent’s hood, conch and discus. It is also believed that the height of the rock is the same as the height of the main deity of the Tirumala temple. Recognised as a national monument it is maintained by the state government.
3۔ Srivari Padalu
Journey to another key religious site called Srivari Padalu with our one day Tirupati local sightseeing trip in a private cab. The term Srivari Padalu means foot of Lord Venkateshwara. Travellers would be mesmerized with the magical aura of spirituality and the jaw-dropping landscape surrounding the place.
Perched on the Narayanadri hill ranges, it is just ten minutes walk from Sila Thoranam. Legends state that this was the place where Lord Venkateshwara the incarnation of Lord Vishnu has put his first steps on earth.
4. Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple
Head out to an intriguing Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple with our exciting one day Tirupati local sightseeing trip. This glorious temple enshrining the incarnation of Lord Krishna namely Sri Venugopal Swamy was built by the famous king of the Venkataraja dynasty, King Venkataperumal.
The main shrine holds the idol of Lord Venugopal Swamy along with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama. Devotees can also seek the blessings of Parathasarthy, Renuka Parameshwari, and ‘Avanakshamma. The holy pond of the temple is the Skanda Pushkarini.
5. Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple
The next attraction to witness with our one day Tirupati Local Sightseeing Tour is Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple. A lesser known quaint place is sure to entice its visitors with its tranquillity and divinity. It is located near the Japali Theertham. It is said that sage Japali did penance at this place and Lord Hanuman bestowed him with his appearance.
6. Akasha Ganga
The next stop of our exciting one day Tirupati Local Sightseeing trip is a highly photographed and attractive sight, Akasha Ganga Waterfalls. Plunging over several rocks, the spectacular waterfalls are four kms from Tirumala Venkateswara Temple on the way to Papavinasam.
Legends state that these waterfalls rise from the Lotus feet of Lord Venkateshwara. People who visit the historical landmark and take a dip in the holy waters of the waterfalls are believed to get relieved from evil affects and get good fortunes.
7. Papavinasam
Another auspicious Theertham is Papavinasam, located at a distance of five kilometres from the glorious temple of Lord Venkateshwara. It is believed that bathing in the holy waters relieves the devotees from their sins. It is a significant Theertham mentioned in the Skanda Purana. The path leading to Papavinasam itself is highly invigorating