Perched atop the Tirumala hills, this temple's core shrine dates back over a thousand years, with major expansions under the Pallavas, Cholas and Vijayanagara kings. It is regarded as one of the richest and most visited pilgrimage sites on earth.
Devotees believe a darshan of Lord Venkateswara here clears debts and grants prosperity; the temple's hundi (donation) offerings fund one of the world's largest charitable trusts, the TTD.
Nearest airport: Tirupati Airport (~15 km). Nearest railway station: Tirupati Railway Station, well connected to Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru. From Tirupati town, TTD buses and taxis climb the ghat road to Tirumala.
TTD operates a large network of guesthouses (Srinivasam, Vishnu Nivasam and others) plus free/paid choultries; advance online booking is strongly recommended during peak season.
Official site: tirumala.org (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams)
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