The holy city of Tirupati, located in southeast Andhra Pradesh, is well-known for the "Kaliyuga" deity Lord Venkateswara. Tirupati is also known as the "Spiritual Capital of Andhra Pradesh". The district's name originates from Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy of Tirumala Hills and Tirupati serves as its administrative center. The city has six railway stations and is well connected to other major cities via national, state, and local roadways. Several other temples can be found throughout the area, and the verdant countryside is dotted with waterfalls.

Nearest Railway Station: Tirupati Main Railway Station

Nearest Airport: Tirupati International Airport

Top places to visit in Tirupati

Sri Venkateswara Temple

With an estimated 50,000 pilgrims visiting each day, the 12th-century temple is regarded as one of the richest and holiest in the entire world. Within the temple's grounds are several complexes devoted to Lord Venkateswara, also known as Vishnu or Balaji, the ruling deity of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. The temple performs hair tonsuring, prasadam, hundi, tulabharam, and arjitha seva in addition to other activities.

Timing: No fixed timing. Special puja timing is 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM.

Entry Fee: No entry fee

TTD Gardens

A collection of landscaped and decorative gardens spanning 460 acres, is believed to have been founded in the fourteenth century by Sri Ramanuja and Sri Anandalwar. TTD Gardens, a haven of flowers and waterbodies, provides the Sri Venkateswara Temple with more than 500 kg of flowers per day. Additionally, it holds yearly flower exhibitions and Pushpa Yagnam, featuring rare and exotic flower varieties for public display

Timing: 6 AM- 6 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Kapila Theertham

A magnificent waterfall at the foot of the Seshadri Hills is only 4 km away from Tirupati. Witness the breathtaking sight of shimmering white rivers cascading down 100 meters to form a pool within the boundaries of the Kapileshwar Temple. The temple has elaborate sculptures and carvings all over it, and it is home to a unique Shiva Linga that is said to have been installed by the sage Kapila.

Timing: 5 AM - 8:15 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Chandragiri Fort

Nestled amidst abundant foliage in the Chittoor area, this location presents an excellent trekking opportunity for those seeking adventure. The Raja Mahal and Rani Mahal are two of the fort's enormous palaces. One of the fort's distinctive features is that it was built entirely of stone, brick, and lime mortar—no timber was used in its construction.

Timing: 10 AM - 8:45 PM (except Friday)

Entry Fee: Rs. 20 per person for adults, Rs. 10 for children and Rs. 100 for family.

ISKCON Tirupati

The temple is a centre for spirituality and culture and is a part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It is situated at the base of the Tirumala Hills, and has magnificent architecture with well-carved pillars and exquisite murals that show Lord krishna's life and activities. The temple also provides a variety of spiritual and cultural activities, including yoga lessons, meditation sessions, and spiritual lectures.

Timing: 4:15 AM - 9:00 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Regional Science Centre

Renowned for the planetarium equipped with cutting-edge digital technologies. The six permanent exhibition galleries include Fun Science, Our Senses, Popular Science, Illusion and Emerging Technology, and Our Universe. Additionally, a five-acre outdoor science park featuring an animal area, a prehistoric life park, exhibition buildings, and an herbal garden.

Timing: 10 AM - 6 PM

Entry Fee: Rs.25 (Science Centre), Rs.10 (shows), Rs.25 (3D film shows) and Rs.30(Planetarium)

Rock Garden

The city's Rock Garden, also called Silathoranam, is an arch-shaped natural stone formation. It is the sole known pre-Cambrian natural formation on the continent. The park has well-kept lawns, colourful flowerbeds, lovely water features, and several sculptures, rock formations, and kid[1]friendly play spaces, making it the perfect family outing destination.

Timing: 10 AM - 6PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Tirumala Deer Park Reserve

The Deer Park is located along the Tirumala Road. It is a tourist-friendly area that offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and amicable interactions with the deer as they even accept hand feedings from guests. The park is home to a huge population of deer and other regional flora and fauna.

Timing: 10 AM- 5:00 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Sri Venkateswara National Park

It is a bioreserve that covers an area of more than 350 square kilometres in India's Eastern Ghats. With more than 175 species of birds, it is home to a vast range of flora and animals, as well as forested valleys. You can go hiking to the adjacent Seshachalam Hill if you're seeking some adventure during your trip. A notable feature of Sri Venkateswara National Park is the abundance of waterfalls.

Timing: 8 AM- 6 PM (during summer) and 9 AM- 5 PM (during winter)

Entry Fee: Rs. 50 for adults, Rs 10 for children

Prakasam Park

The only major park in Tirupati with state-of-the-art facilities that is managed by the local government is Prakasam Park. A well-kept green area, a kid's play area, cosy seating areas, a water feature, a nighttime laser display, a sound and light system, selfie spots, pathways, fountains, and cafeteria amenities combine to make this park one of the top attractions in Tirupati.

Timing: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (in summer) and 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM (in winter). Closed on Tuesdays.

Entry Fee: Rs. 10 per person & Rs. 5 parking fees

Papavinasanam Dam

It is situated close to the Papavinasanam waterfall, just a short distance from the main temple. Encircled by a park and gardens, Papavinasanam owns nine lion-faced water outlets for bathing. Anybody who bathes in this sacred water is purified of their sins, or "paapa." The location is therefore known as Papavinasanam.

Timing: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee

Sri Vari Museum

The Hall of Antiques, also known as the Sri Vari Museum, is a highly recommended destination in Tirupati that provides an insight into the city's architectural and religious past. The 1.25 lakh square foot Museum building is situated amid the immaculate Tirumala Hills. It's close to the Govindarajaswami Temple, across from the Vaikuntam Queue complex. More than 6000 artefacts from antiquity to the current day are kept there.

Timing: 10 AM - 6 PM

Entry Fee: No entry fee