By road
~130 km from Chennai
South India · Andhra Pradesh
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
The world's most visited temple hill · ~130 km from Chennai
Getting there
By rail
Tirupati Main, in the city; Renigunta Junction (~15-20 km), on the Chennai-Mumbai line, has broader connections
By air
Tirupati (Renigunta) Airport, ~15-39 km
Best time to visit
September to February; darshan bookings ahead always
Don't miss
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Sri Padmavathi Temple
Talakona Falls
Chandragiri Fort
Things to do
Tirumala darshan
Kapila Theertham waterfall temple
Chandragiri fort evening show
Where to eat
Sources: wikimedia, Photo: Nikhilb239 · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Modest wear, patience for queues, laddu-carrying bag
A quieter corner
The ancient footpath climb through Alipiri gate — pilgrims' original route
Before you go
One of the busiest places of worship on earth; darshan tokens (free or Special Entry) are booked on the TTD website and sell out -- book weeks ahead. Brahmotsavam (Sept-Oct) is the peak. Alcohol and non-veg are not available on the Tirumala hill.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get darshan at Tirumala?
Tokens, free or Special Entry, are booked on the TTD website and sell out — book weeks ahead.
When should I visit Tirupati?
September to February. Brahmotsavam, in September and October, is the peak.
What should I know before going up the hill?
Alcohol and non-vegetarian food are not available on the Tirumala hill. Bring modest wear, patience for the queues, and a bag for the laddu.
Is there a way to arrive on foot?
Yes — the ancient footpath climb through Alipiri gate, which is the pilgrims' original route.
What else is worth seeing?
Sri Padmavathi Temple at Tiruchanur, Kapila Theertham, Chandragiri Fort in the evening, and Srikalahasti about 35 km away.
About Tirupati
- Hills
Where it is
Tirupati is a city in southern Andhra Pradesh at the foot of the Seshachalam hills of the Eastern Ghats, below the temple town of Tirumala and about 150 km north-west of Chennai.
History
The Venkateswara Temple on the Tirumala hills carries inscriptions from the Pallava, Chola and Pandya eras and flourished under the Vijayanagara emperors, including Krishnadevaraya, who made rich gifts to it in the 16th century. Since 1932 the temple has been run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust, and Tirupati grew up below it as the pilgrims' gateway.
People
Telugu is Tirupati's main language, with Tamil and Urdu also spoken, and much of the city's life revolves around the temple and its pilgrims. The region is also known for Kalamkari, hand-painted cotton textiles made at nearby Srikalahasti.
Known for
- The Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala
- The Tirupati laddu
- Hair offerings by pilgrims
- The Brahmotsavam festival
- The footpath climb from Alipiri
Did you know?
The Tirupati laddu, the sweet given to pilgrims as a sacred offering at Tirumala, carries a Geographical Indication tag that protects its name.
Shrines and sites
- Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala
- Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple at Tiruchanur
- Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple
- Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.