Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

The temple stands at about 850 metres on the seventh hill of Tirumala, and its scale of visitation is the striking fact: tens of thousands arrive daily, rising far higher at festivals, which places it among the most visited religious sites in the world. Its income from offerings, dropped into the hundi, is among the largest of any temple anywhere. Many pilgrims tonsure their heads as an offering, and the hair collected is auctioned by the temple trust and exported for wigs. Free food is served continuously. Some walk up the hill on a stepped path of around three and a half thousand steps rather than taking the road.

History

The temple is mentioned in the Cilappatikaram, one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature, and the first recorded endowment was made in 966 CE by the Pallava queen Samavai, who gave jewels and two parcels of land to pay for the major festivals. It gained most of its present wealth and size under the Vijayanagara Empire, the philosopher Ramanujacharya visited Tirupati three times in the 11th and 12th centuries, and between 1320 and 1369 the idols of the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam were kept here for safety (Wikipedia, Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala).

What's there

• The queue system - hours in caged waiting halls before a few seconds of darshan.
• The tonsure halls - pilgrims having their heads shaved as an offering.
• The hundi - the offering vessel that makes the temple among the wealthiest.
• The stepped path - around 3,500 steps climbed by walking pilgrims.

When to go

October to March; Brahmotsavam in September or October brings the largest crowds. Waiting times run from a few hours to well over twenty at peak, and booking a timed slot in advance is essential.

Before you go

Darshan lasts seconds after many hours of queuing in enclosed halls. Non-Hindus are asked to sign a declaration of faith to enter. Phones and cameras are prohibited. Free queues can take a full day.

Nearby

Tirupati lies below; Chennai is southeast.

Key facts