Tirumala

Tirumala is a spiritual place in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the neighbourhoods of the Tirupati city. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (urban) mandal of Tirupati revenue division. It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, a popular shrine of Vishnu. The town is strictly vegetarian.

Etymology
The word Tirumala is of Tamil origin. The term “Tiru”, means sacred or holy and “Mala”, means mountain or hill.

Geography
Tirumala is located 3200 ft above sea level and covers an area of approximately 10.33 sqmi. Surrounding the hills are seven peaks of Seshachalam range, Eastern Ghats namely Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The temple of Venkateswara is on the seventh peak (Venkatadri).

At the 12 km (7.5 mi) point on the Tirupati – Tirumala Ghat road, there is a major discontinuity of stratigraphic significance that represents a period of remarkable serenity in the geological history of the Earth. This is referred to as the Eparchaean Unconformity. This unconformity separates the Nagari Quartzite of the Proterozoic from the granite of the Archean, representing a time gap of 800 Mya. In 2001, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the Eparchaean Unconformity to be one of the 26 "Geological Monuments of India".

Silathoranam, a natural arch and a distinctive geological wonder is located in Tirumala Hills at a distance of 1 km from Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The arch measures 8 m in width and 3 m metres in height and is eroded out of quartizite of Cuddapah Supergroup of Middle to Upper Proterozoic (1600 to 570 Mya) by weathering agents such as water and wind.

Climate
Tirumala has a humid subtropical climate designated Cwa, with dry winters under the Köppen climate classification. As the hill shrine is situated amidst the hills, the temperature will go below 10 degrees in winter. Summers are not as hot here, especially compared to Tirupati. The southwest monsoon season starts from June, but rains are not heavy. Occasionally, thunderstorms form and downpours may persist for hours. Pertaining to orographic relief, the northeast monsoon remains active over the region for 2 months. It causes flooding. The highest 24-hour rainfall on record was 459 mm on 23 November 2005, followed by 307 mm on 9 November 2015.

Legend
In ancient literature, Tirupati is mentioned as Adi Varaha Kshetra. The Puranas associate the site with Varaha, one of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. In the Varaha Purana, Venkatadri is believed to be a part of Mount Meru, which was brought on to the earth from Vishnu's abode Vaikuntham by his mount Garuda. The seven peaks represent the seven heads of Adishesha.

Demographics
India census, Tirumala had a population of 7,741. Males constitute 52 percent of the population and females 48 percent. Tirumala had an average literacy rate of 72.8 percent, higher than the national average of 59.5 percent. The male literacy rate was 57.1 percent and the female rate was 42.9 percent. In Tirumala, 11 percent of the population was under six years of age. Telugu is the major language. Hinduism is the only religion in Tirumala.

Culture
The town of Tirumala is strictly vegetarian. Consumption of non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and tobacco products is strictly prohibited in Tirumala, and smuggling any of these is considered a serious offence. Dhotis and Sarees are the traditional popular attire. The practices of tonsure and using tilaka are popular among devotees of Venkateswara.

Festivals

Srivari Brahmotsavams is the most important festival in Tirumala that is celebrated every year during September/October and receives lakhs of devotees over a short span of a nine days. The city celebrates all major Hindu festivals including Sankranti, Ugadi etc. Vaikuntha Ekadashi, the day on which it is believed that Vaikuntha Dvarams will be opened, is celebrated in Tirumala. Rathasapthami is another festival, celebrated during February, when Venkateswara processional deity, (Malayappa) is taken in a procession around the temple on seven different vahanas from early morning to late night.

Cuisine

Tirupati is known for the Tirupati laddu. It is the prasadam at the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. Only the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams manufactures and sells this product.

Arts, crafts and architecture

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams established Sri Venkateswara Museum, one at Tirumala and the other at Tirupati. It has a wonderful collection of Tirupati temple architecture and historical artefacts, such as ancient weaponry, pooja items and idols. It has a comprehensive photo gallery that gives a unique insight into the Tirupati region's culture and traditions. It also boasts a meditation centre.

Landmarks


Venkateswara Temple is an abode of Venkateswara situated in Tirumala. It is also known as Tirumala Temple. Natural Arch is located north of the temple, which measures 8 m wide and 3 m high and was naturally formed from the quartz. Srivari Padamulu (the footprints of Lord) are believed to be the footprints of Venkateswara formed when he first stood on Tirumala Hills. Papavinasanam is a waterfall flowing from a tributary of the Swarnamukhi River. It also has a temple where seven lion-headed channels open from a height for deities to bathe below them. A temple dedicated to goddess Ganga is located near the enclosure. Akaasa Ganga is another natural waterfall in Tirumala.

Transport
Foot Steps

There are two paths to travel on foot from Tirupati to Tirumala. These paths are called Sopanamargas. Devotees ritually take this path to reach Tirumala on foot from Tirupati. Both the paths are completely roofed and passes through seven hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills.


 * Alipiri Mettu – The first and Ancient path starts from Alipiri and consists of a total 3550 Steps which makes a distance of 11 km. At Alipiri there is a temple dedicated to Venkateswara called Padalamandapam. There are Four Gopurams(Temple Towers) on the way.
 * Srivari Mettu – It originates at Srinivasa Mangapuram, about 15 km from Tirupati. It is 2.1 km long. This trail has 2388 steps and is shorter than Alipiri Metlu path.

Road

Tirumala can be accessed by road from Alipiri. The distance is 23 km. There are two roads from Alipiri to Tirumala, one each dedicated to up and down traffic. The state government-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates frequent Saptagiri and Saptagiri Express buses from Tirupati and Alipiri and also from nearby places. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) runs free buses for transit within Tirumala.

Rail

The nearest railway station is at Tirupati, about 26 km from Tirumala. Tirupati Main railway station is one of the major railway station in the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways, providing rail connectivity to major parts of India. It is under the jurisdiction of Guntakal railway division. Renigunta Junction is another important railway station which lies on the Chennai – Mumbai rail corridor is 38 km away from Tirumala.

Airport

The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, about 40 km from Tirumala. It is a domestic and International airport with direct flights to Visakhapatnam and New Delhi. The nearest major airport is the Chennai International Airport, located about 162 km from Tirumala.