Tirupati, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, is situated at the foot of the Tirumala Hills. It is an ancient town associated with the Vaishnava preceptor, Sri Ramanuja.
Sri Ramanuja. the greatest Vaishnava preceptor, founded Govindaraja Swamy temple in 1130 A. D. and started a small settlement round it and named it Tirupati. Several new shrines. like Kodandarama Swamy temple, Narasimha Swamy Shrine and Kapileswara Swamy Temple were also built in different parts of Tirupati.
SRI GOVINDARAJASWAMI TEMPLE:
According to legends, this shrine was consecrated by the great Vaishnava preceptor, Sri Ramanuja. The Deity is in a reclining pose. There are shrines of Sri Andal, Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Venkateswara in the Temple. Ph. 2222443.
SRI KODANDARAMASWAMI TEMPLE:
This Temple dedicated to Sri Rama is situated within a distance of about a kilometre from Tirupati railway station. The temple was built to commemorate the visit of Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita to Tirupati, while returning from Lanka. Ph. 2220124
SRI KAPILESWARASWAMY TEMPLE:
This shrine for Lord Siva is located at about three kilometres from Tirupati town. As Kapila Maharshi installed the Sivalinga here, the deity is called Kapileswara and the tirtham is known as 'Kapilatirtham'. Ph.0877- 2264587.
ALAMELUMANGAPURAM (TIRUCHANUR) :
Tiruchanur, also known as Alamelumangapuram, located about 5 kms from Tirupati is also an ancient sacred place. The Temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara is situated in this place. It is said that the visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after a visit to Sri Padmavathi Devi Temple at Tiruchanur. Therefore, after visiting the tempels at Tirumala and Tirupati, the pilgrims proceed to Tiruchanur to worship Goddess Padmavathi Devi. The sacred tank adjoining the Padmavathi Devi Temple is called Padma Sarovar. The legend is that the Goddess revealed Her self on a lotus in this sacred tank. Ph. 0877 – 2264585,2264586
SRINIVASA MANGAPURAM :
Srinivasa Mangapuram, a small village, is 12 kms. to the west of Tirupati. Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Temple is located south-east of this village. Legends say that Lord Venkateswara after his marriage with Padmavathi Devi stayed here for sometime before proceeding to Tirumala. Ph. 0877 - 2264588
NARAYANAVANAM :
Narayanavanam is a small town about 22 kms. south east of Tirupati. A shrine dedicated to Kalyana Venkateswara is located here. Puranas and legends claim that Lord Venkateswara married Padmavathi Devi, the daughter of Akasa Raja, at this hallowed place and that to commemorate this great event, Akasa Raja built the temple.
NAGALAPURAM:
The sacred temple dedicated to Lord Veda Narayanaswamy is situated here. The place is about 65 kms. south east ofTirupati. However, its centre of attraction is the Temple of Sri Vedanarayana Swamy which is a fine specimen of the Vijayanagar style. The sanctum sanctorum houses an image of the Matsyavatara form of Vishnu accompanied by Sri Oevi and Bhu Oevi on either side.
Sun worship is an important aspect at this temple. Every year in the month of March the rays of the Sun pass through the Gopuram entrance for three days and fall on the idol in the sanctum and this is considered as an act of adoration by the Sun. The temple is said to have been constructed by Sri Krishna Oevaraya, the Vijayanagar emperor at the behest of his mother.Ph. 08576 -265282
APPALAYAGUNTA:
The temple of Lord Prasanna Venkateswaraswami is located at Appalayagunta, 15 kilometres from Tirupati. Festivals like Brahmotsavam and Teppotsavam are being celebrated on a grand scale. The idols of Goddess Padmavathi and Sri Andal are also seen in this ancient temple. The temple constructed by the Rajas of Karvetinagar consists of a shrine for Anjaneya. The imposing mammoth image of the wind-god is worshipped by the devotees for relief from 'chronic diseases'.
KARVETINAGARAM :
This temple, situated near Puttur at a distance of 58 kilometres from Tirupati, is dedicated to Lord Venugopalaswami with Rukmini and Satyabhama. This was maintained by the Narayanavanam rulers in the olden days. It also houses a shrine with monolithic idols of Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Anjaneya
VAYALPADU:
The ancient Temple dedicated to Lord Sri Rama is located here. Vayalpadu is about 100 kms. from Tirupati.
TTD PACKAGE TOURS
LOCAL TEMPLES BUS (DAILY) :
Fare: Adult: Rs. 50/- Child: Rs. 30/- Pick up point: Central Reception Office, Tirupati. Timings: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m.
Temples Covered are
Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Tiruchanur, Sri Kodandaramaswamyvari Temple, Tirupati, Sri Govindaraja-swamyvari Temple, Tirupati, Sri Kapileswaraswamyvari Temple, Tirupati, Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mandir, Tirupati, Sri Kalyana Venkateswara SwamivariTemple,SrinivasaMangapuram, Sri I Agasteeswara Swamyvari Temple, Thondavada and Regional Science Centre, Tirupati.,
II. PACKAGE TOUR BUS (DAILY) City Outside Temples:
Fare: Adult: Rs. 150/-
Child: Rs. 75-
Timings: 8 am & 9 am Two busses from Srinivasam complex, Tirupati
TEMPLES COVERED ARE:
1. Sri Venugopalaswamyvari Temple, Karvetinagaram,
2. Sri Vedanarayanaswamyvari Temple, Nagalapuram,
3. Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswamyvari Temple, Narayanavanam,
4. Pallikondeswara swami Temple, Surutupalli.
5. Bugga Gudi,Nagari
6. Kariya manikya swami Temple ,Nagari.