Tirupati is one of the important pilgrimage centers in South India. It is located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and is famous for its shrine of Venkateswara Swamy. This shrine is situated at a distance of 20 kilometers in the northwest in Tirumala Hills. Millions of pilgrims visit this place from many parts of the world. It is not only a pilgrimage center but also an economical and educational center in Andhra Pradesh.
Tirumala hills is considered to be the second oldest rock mountains in the world. It is one of the most protected shrines in the world due to its richness. If you want to go to Tirupati then the ideal time would be to go there in winter season when the climate will be moderate. It has extremes of climate and in summer the mercury level touches as much as 45 degree Celsius.
The city is well connected by road and the central bus terminus here is one of the largest in the state. It has direct bus services to all major cities and so there no need to worry about entering the city by road. The buses are operated by APSRTC and other private operators. Well planned road networks with effective traffic control helps the tourists a lot. It has a major railway station with ten platforms and three escalators. There are regular trains to all the major cities of India. There is also an airport in Tirupati which serves the domestic needs.
Getting into Tirupati during festival times will be a source of joy for pilgrims. Festivals like Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama Navami and Janmashtami are celebrated with great splendor. During Brahmotsavam, millions of devotees gather here and celebrate that in a grand manner. Apart from the main temple there are also many other temples located here namely Alamelu Mangamma Shrine, Padmavati Temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram, etc.
Other tourist attractions in Tirupati are Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park and Regional Science Center. The zoological park is the second largest in Asia with a lion safari consisting of 30 lions and houses many rare species of plants and animals. Regional Science Center also has a planetarium within it.
Though millions of people visit Tirupati there is no dearth of hotels to stay. Many dharmashalas or free chatrams have been built by the temple authority and any devotee could stay here for free. There are also many budget hotels and high class hotels located around the temple and in the main city. Because of the high influx of tourists these hotels are always crowded and you have to make prior booking.
The restaurants in Tirupati serve Andhra cuisine and South Indian cuisine. Andhra cuisine is generally said to be hot with extravagant usage of chili. There are many multi-cuisine restaurants that would satisfy the taste buds of people from different parts. So when you are planning for your travel refer the right Tirupati travel guide that will help you to find out the good Tirupati hotels and Tirupati restaurants.