Tirupati City is located in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh State. It lies about 152-km northwest of Chennai in the Palkonda Hills. Tirupati is known as the abode of the Hindu god Venkateshvara (also spelt as 'Venkatesvara'), "Lord of Seven Hills". About 10-km northwest of Tirupati, at an elevation of 750m, is the sacred hill of Tirumala, which was considered so holy that before 1870 non-Hindus were not permitted to ascend it.

Tirupati was developed mainly by the contributions made by kings during their rule. Almost all the kings from great dynasties of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine of Tirupati. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

Lord Venkateswara Temple : Sri Venkateshwara temple, the abode of Lord Venkateshwara or Lord Balaji is located at Tirumala, 18 kms. northwest of Tirupati. Within the sanctum is the majestic "Swayambhu" or naturally formed image of the Lord.

Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple : At the foot of Tirumala Hills, Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord Siva, in Tirupati. Annual Brahmotsavams and festivals like vinayaka Chavithi, Maha sivaratri and Annabhishekam are performed in a grand scale.

Sri Veda Narayanaswami Temple : This temple is located in Nagalapuram 70 kms. south-east of Tirupati housing an image of the Matsya form of Vishnu, with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side. It is believed that Lord Vishnu, in the form of Matsya, killed the rakshasa (demon) Somakudu here, retrieving the Vedas from the latter.

Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple : Tiruchanoor, also known as Alamelumangapuram is about 5 kms. from Tirupati housing this large temple dedicated to goddess Padmavathi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara. It is said that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after visiting this temple.

How to get there

Air : Tirupati airport is about 15 kms. from the city. There are direct flights from Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bangalore and Chennai.

Rail : Tirupati is the nearest railway station. The city is well connected to all the cities of India.

Road : There are regular bus services from important cities of India. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs a regular bus service between the twin locales. One can travel from Tirupati to Tirumala by road, or climb the hills on foot.