Tirupathi
is considered to be one among the several cities in the world where more number
of visitors are paying a visit to have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. Of
course, people who are willing to visit the city should have pre hand knowledge
about the city and important places in and around the city. The following are
the some places which the pilgrims should know invariably:
Tirupathi
Railway station: More and more number of devotees arriving
from different parts of the country namely; India and other countries are
regarding the railway station as a temple. They can get into Tirupathi town
through the main entrance.
Sri
Govinda Raja Swami Temple: This is a great temple near
Tirupathi Railway Station. Sri Govinda Raja Swami, who is said to be the elder
brother of Venkatachalapathi, the Tirumalaswara, got tired of measuring and
measuring the treasure his younger brother got through the offering box with a
measure (a vessel measuring for paddy or rice). In this temple the idol of Sri
Govinda Raja Swami can be found lying in a resting posture having his head put
on the measure. According to the legend, the place which is called as Tirupathi
at present was earlier known as Govinda Raja Town.
Devasthanam
Administrative office: This is the administrative office of
Tirumala Tirupathi Devasom Board where about twentyfive thousand officers are
working and five thousand employees are employed in the office alone.
Maha
Nandi: Devotees going to Tirumala circumambulate and salute
Nandeeswara the vehicle of Kapileswara, wash themselves in the holy water in
the temple and proceed after bowing down to Sri Kapileswara.
Kapila
Theertham:
It is an ancient temple
installed and consecrated by Kapila Muni. He performed poojas and vazhipad here
and it is believed that great Rishis like Athri bathe in the temple tank and
bow down to Lord Siva and then reach Tirumala and then reach Tirumala through
the cave and awaken Sri Venkatachalapathi by singing suprabhatha. Kapila
Theertha is situated on the way to Tirumala three kilometers from the bus
stand.
Alipiri
Bus Stand Guest House:
The devotees arriving from
different parts of the country and other places to pay obeisance to Srhi
Venkatachalapathi take rest at Alipiri Guest House and go to Tirumala by bus
from the bus stand opposite to the guest house.
Garudan
toll gate arch:
This gate way known as
Alipiri is said to be under the leadership of Garuda who greets the devotees
arriving in millions with folded hands
to bow down to Sri Mahavishnu, standing as the leader of Tirumala temple.
Requesting Garuda the vehicle of Vishnu to permit them for Vishnu darshan the
devotees proceed to Tirumala by vehicles remitting the toll fee here and the
path to ascend the hill on feet also begins from this place. If the devotees
who want to climb the hill on foot can entrust their luggage like suitcase,
shoes etc. with the transport office free of charges and they can comfortably
reach the top of the hill safely and securely.
Adivaram:
The devotees who offered to climb up Tirumala on foot, mount the hill from
Adivaram and the fixed time and date recorded by the computer for free darshan
of Tirumala Bhagavan is given from here and the hand belt obtainable after
payment of cash to worship the Lord is given from the Sudarsana ticket counter.
Ganapathi
temple:
Devotees climbing upto
Tirumala are blessed by Maha Ganapathi at Mala Vizhi temple. Devotees coming by
the vehicles halt here, offer gifts and proceed after taking water required for
their vehicles.
Tirumala
Mukhadwara: This is the entrance to Tirumala, said to be the
Kaliyuga Vaigunta of devotees by which the devotees who reach the hill top from
Adivara by vehicles traversing several curves enter. The pious persons who get
in proceed after bowing down to the Dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya who stand
blessing them.
Geethopadesam:
As soon as the devotees get in Tirumala they can see near the entrance the
sight of Sree Krishna the incarnation of Mahavishnu exhorting and advising the
Geetha to Arjuna in the battle field of Kurukshetra.
Enquiry
Office/Reception office:
The enquiry office called
as the Vicharna Kendra solves the doubts of the devotees arriving at Tirumala
by lakhs by giving them necessary information.
This is the reception
office which gives rented cottages and rent free rooms to the devotees for the
purpose of staying.
Kalyanakkatta
(place for shaving head):
This is the main centre,
known as kalyanakkatta where the pilgrims can offer their hair which is
considered to be one among the most important offerings at Tirumala. About
20000 devotees offer their hair here each day. It is said that there is no
other temple in Asia where hair is given as offering each day like this. As
there is not enough space for the devotees arriving here, the administration is
constructing one more spacious building which is expected to be commenced
shortly.
Dining
hall: In Tirupathi, there is a dining hall which distributes
apt food to the devotees coming after paying their obeisance to Sri
Venkatachalapathi. About twenty five thousand devotees are given free food here
from early morning till evening on daily basis. In the kitchen here, food is
prepared in steam with the help of ultra modern gadgets which cannot be seen
anywhere in Asia.
Vaikunta
Thoranam: This is the main entrance through which the devotees
get into the temple after giving their hair as offering and it is also known as
Vaikunta Thoranam.
Vaikuntam
Mukhadwaram:
Lakhs and lakhs of
devotees arriving for the vision of Tirumala Bhagavan enter the temple by the
Vaikunta gate and all those have come for the darshan of Bhagvan, whether they
are very important persons or those who have got tickets, can get at the
Sreekovil only by Vaikunta gate.
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