At just about 150 km away from the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Tirumala is one of the most revered cities according to Hindu mythology. The famous Tirupati or the Swamy Venkateshwara Temple is located in the city where millions of people come to pay homage. Besides the primary temple, other places in the city such as the Chakra Theertham, Srivari Padalu, Akasa Ganga, Shilatoranam, Papavinasam, and so on. In this article, we'll learn more about Tirumala.

Tirupati is a place that must be visited at least once in your lifetime. If you are planning a trip to this city, the first thing that we going to talk about is the options to reach Tirumala. The city can be reached by all three possible means of transport: trains, buses, and flights. As far as convenience is concerned, trains are the best option as they are not only cheap but also drop you to the city center. Flights will help you reach Tirumala quickly but you'll have to shell out more. Let's discuss these options in detail.

By Rail:

The main railway station in the city is the Tirupati railway station. The city is so religiously important that it has excellent connectivity with other cities in Andhra and India. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Vizag, Chennai, Bengaluru have direct connectivity with the Tirupati railway station. So getting here by train is not only simple but also very convenient. Visit the IRCTC website for more details and book your tickets.

By Road:

Roads offer yet another convenient mode of transportation. Privately managed buses are available from your source city directly or indirectly to Tirumala. AC, non-AC, Sleeper and other types of buses can be booked easily. Besides, state transport also runs regular buses from almost every corner of the state to Tirumala. A lot of people prefer a self-drive especially those who live in and around Chennai. So there are various options to choose from. The roads are pretty smooth so you're going to have a comfortable ride.

By Air:

Tirupati has its own dedicated airport. Although the airport has direct connectivity with major cities in the south of India you might be unable to find a direct flight to Tirupati if you are from the north or west of India. For such travelers, Chennai International Airport is the best option. You can reach Chennai from almost anywhere in the world. Then, book a cab and a drive of 3 hours will get you directly to your hotel in Tirupati or Tirumala. So check online for the flight availability and book your tickets. 

Getting Around:

Getting around the city is not difficult. The city is one of the developed cities in Andhra so there are numerous options to choose from. Local public transport, in the form of buses, is available frequently. But it is suggested to avoid using them in the morning and evening as you'll find a lot of rush during these two times. Secondly, you can make use of auto-rickshaw for quick hops within the city. If you're planning to visit places in the neighboring region, a private cab is the best option. Negotiate with them and book a cab for a day or two and move around freely without worrying about transportation.

The weather of Tirumala is pretty tropical in nature. That means the temperature remains between 18 and 38 degrees all through the year with slight variations according to the season. Just like any other city in India, Tirumala also has three different seasons as discussed below. From traveling point-of-view, summer is a difficult time whereas winter is the best time to visit Tirumala. Let's discuss the weather condition in more detail.  

Summer (March - June):

The summer season begins from the month of March and remains active until the arrival of the monsoon season by the end of June. The temperature in the summer season can get really hot and can reach up to 40° C. What makes traveling more difficult is the high humidity. Therefore, summer is not the recommended time to visit Tirumala. But still, if you do, carry cotton clothes to avoid any discomfort. The maximum temperature during this time on average remains around 38° C with a minimum of 28° C.

Monsoon (July - October):

The tough time of summer ends with the arrival of the monsoon. The season generally begins from June and lasts until the end of September and at times, the start of October. The showers help in getting the temperature down considerably but the humidity remains. It rains quite heavily between July and August. Otherwise, the season is pretty favorable for traveling. The max temperature during the monsoon time is 31° C with a minimum of 25° C.

Winter (November - February):

The end of monsoon marks the beginning of the most favorable time of the year, the winter season. The temperature at this time is not that cold even in the night and remains pretty pleasant even during the peak day-time. This helps travelers to visit the places of interest quite comfortably. The max temperature in the winter season remains around the 28° C mark and the minimum temperature lingers around 20° C, which is just about perfect.

Tirumala is a famous city in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. This fascinating town is a part of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) of Tirupati in the Tirupati Mandal. This popular hill town is world-famous for the Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple which is a dedication to Lord Vishnu is located right in the heart of the city. Besides the temple visit, there are several other things to do in the city. Let's discuss some of the most popular things to do in Tirumala.

Visit at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple:

The first thing to do in Tirumala is to visit the world-renowned Tirupati Balaji Temple also known as the temple of Swamy Venkateshwara. This temple is a dedication to Lord Vishnu as per the Hindu mythology. It is located right in the heart of the city just 1 km from the Tirupati bus station. It is the most visited and the richest temple in the world. This most celebrated pilgrimage center in India attracts millions of devotees every year. So be one of them and pay your respect at the most magnificent and remarkable religious site.

Take a Holy Dip in Akasa Ganga Waterfalls :

At just about 2 km from Tirumala Bus Station lies one of the most sacred waterfalls known by the name Akasa Ganga. It is located on the foothill of Venkatadri Tirumala. This holy place has found it's rendering in the Vedas. As per the mythology, it's believed that Akasa Ganga Teertham originated from the lotus feet of Swamy Venkateswara. Back in the historic days, the main temple priests used to carry the water from this waterfall all the way to the temple where it is presently located. You can take a holy dip in the waterfall as it's believed that the water washes away the evil and brings good fortune.

Experience the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary:

One of the best things to do during your Tirumala visit is to get engaged with excitement at the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary. It's located at a distance of 14 km from the Tirumala city center and spread around Tirumala Hills. This sanctuary was endowed in 1989 and considered a heaven for anyone who loves nature with enigmatic valleys and fascinating waterfalls, surrounded by Seshachalam and Tirumala Hills. You get a perfect opportunity to spot a wide range of fauna including the mighty Tiger, Panther, Rare Golden Gecko, Civet, Black Buck, Jackal, Fox, Leopard, Hyena amongst others along with different species of birds.

Spend Amazing Time at Talakona Waterfalls:

The beautiful Talakona Waterfalls are located at a distance of 60 km from the Tirumala city center. These gorgeous waterfalls look amazing when the waterfalls from 270 feet high deep into a valley. Because of the depth, it is considered as the highest waterfall in the entire state of Andhra Pradesh. Spending time with your loved ones here is indeed one of the top things to be done during a Tirumala visit. As this waterfall is located within the Venkateswara Wildlife Park you also get to see different animals as we discussed above. A 240 m long canopy rope walk is all set to give you a thrilling experience as it is about 35-40 feet in height. Watch monkeys, huge trees, and other birds as you take a canopy walk.

After getting proper accommodation at the place of a visit, the next thing that bothers us is the food options. But being in an Andhra city, you don't have to worry about the food. Like any other place in Andhra Pradesh, the type of food that you'll get in Tirumala is primarily spicy. There are several restaurants in the city that offer authentic South Indian food. The likes of which include Saarangi Fine Dine Restaurant, Woodside Restaurant, Annamaya Restaurant, Vanam Restaurant, Rainbow Pure Veg Restaurant, Zodia, and Sri Lakshmi Narayana Bhavan. All these restaurants serve not only serve good quality food but most of them are also quite affordable. Besides, you can try the street food but ensure that you have properly gauged the hygiene and food quality before consuming any roadside eateries.