Tirupati facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tirupati
City
Venkateshwara Temple, Alipiri Garuda Circle, Sri Venkateswara University entrance, View of Tirupati International Airport, View of Tirumala hills, Tirupati City night view, FOXLINK Facility at APIIC EMC Tirupati
Nickname(s):  Spiritual Capital of Andhra Pradesh,Heritage City,"City Of Devotion"
Tirupati Location in Andhra Pradesh Show map of Andhra Pradesh Tirupati Location in India Show map of India Tirupati Location in Asia Show map of Asia
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
Region	Rayalaseema
District	Tirupati
Founded	24 February 1130
Incorporated (municipality)	1 April 1886
Incorporated (corporation)	2 March 2007
Named for	Venkateswara
Wards	50
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Tirupati Municipal Corporation, Tirupati Urban Development Authority(TUDA)
Area
• City	30.01 km2 (11.59 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• City	295,323
• Rank	9th in Andhra Pradesh
• Density	9,840.8/km2 (25,488/sq mi)
• Metro	461,900
Demonym(s)	Tirupatian,Tirupatollu
Literacy
• Literates	229,730
• Effective literacy rate	87.55%
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	517501 (Tirupati city)
Area code(s)	+91–0877
Geocode	UN/LOCODE IN TIR
Vehicle registration	Old:AP-03,AP-39,New:AP-40 (from 2023)
Currency	Indian Rupee, INR
International Airport	Tirupati International Airport
Domestic Airport	Tirupati Airport
Railway Station	Tirupati Main Railway station
Police	Tirupati district Police

Tirupati is a famous city in the Andhra Pradesh state of India. It is the main city of the Tirupati district. This city is home to the very important Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple. Many other old temples are also found here.

Tirupati is about 150 km from Chennai and 250 km from Bangalore. It is one of the eight special temples dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. These temples are believed to have appeared on their own. Tirupati is a large city with its own local government. It was named the "Best Heritage City" by India's Ministry of Tourism in 2012–2013. It is also chosen to become a smart city.

What Does Tirupati Mean?

The name Tirupati comes from old Dravidian languages. The word tiru means sacred, honorable, or refers to the goddess Lakshmi. The word pati means home, residence, or husband. So, Tirupati means a sacred home.

A Look at Tirupati's Past

Ancient Stories and Legends

According to old stories called Puranas, Sri Rama lived here with Sita and Lakshmana. This was when he returned from Lankapuri.

Another story says that the god Balaji borrowed a lot of gold coins from Kubera. This was for his wedding to Padmavathi. To help him pay back this loan, people from all over India visit the temple. They donate money to the temple.

How Tirupati Grew Over Time

Pallava Kings helped Tirupati grow from the 6th century onwards. In the 11th century, it became a big center for the Vaishnava religion. This was thanks to Ramanujacharya.

During the early 1300s, when Muslim armies invaded South India, the idol from a temple in Srirangam was brought to Tirupati for safety. Tirupati managed to survive these invasions.

The city was part of the Vijayanagara Empire for many years. Rulers like Krishna Deva Raya gave a lot of money and resources to the temples. The Venkateshvara Temple has 1,150 old writings carved on it. These writings are in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. They tell us about the gifts given by different kingdoms.

In the 15th century, a poet named Tallapaka Annamacharya sang many songs about Tirupati. He called it a divine place, like heaven on Earth. He said even the rocks, streams, and trees were holy.

For a long time, there was no town at the lower part of Tirupati. A small village called "kotturu" started around 1500. It later moved near the Govindarajaswamy Temple. This temple was built around 1130 CE. This village grew into the city we see today.

Tirupati in Modern Times

In 1932, the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was given to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to manage. TTD is a special trust that looks after the temple.

In 2006, TTD and the Tirupati Urban Development Authority held "Tirupati Utsavam." This event showed the history of the city and the kings who helped the temple. Tirupati has also hosted big events like the fourth World Telugu Conference in 2012. In 2017, the 104th Indian Science Congress meeting was held here.

Where is Tirupati Located?

Tirupati is in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. It sits at the bottom of the Seshachalam Hills. These hills are part of the Eastern Ghats. One of its areas, Tirumala, where the famous Sri Venkateshvara Temple is, is located within these hills.

The Swarnamukhi river starts in the Chandragiri Hills. It flows through Tirupati before reaching Srikalahasti in the east.

Unique Geological Features

A board in Tirumala hills explaining the Eparchaean Unconformity

On the road to Tirumala, there's a special spot called the Eparchaean Unconformity. It shows a very old break in the Earth's rock layers. This break tells us about a long, calm period in Earth's history. In 2001, it was named one of India's "Geological Monuments."

Silathoranam, a natural arch in the Seshachalam Hills

Another amazing natural feature is Silathoranam. It's a natural rock arch in the Tirumala Hills. This arch is 8 meters wide and 3 meters high. It was formed by wind and water wearing away the rock over millions of years.

Plants and Animals of Tirupati

Sri Venkateshvara National Park is a large protected area here. It is part of the Seshachalam hills. This park is home to about 1,500 types of plants. Some rare plants like red sanders and sandalwood grow here. Cycas beddomei, a special type of palm-like plant, is found only in the Tirumala Hills.

The park also has many birds, about 178 different kinds. These include the yellow-throated bulbul and the grey-fronted green pigeon. You can also find animals like leopards and wild dogs. Interesting reptiles like the gliding lizard and the golden gecko live here too.

Sri Venkateshvara Zoological Park is a large zoo in Tirupati. It is one of Asia's biggest zoos, covering 5500 acres. The zoo is designed based on Hindu mythology. It shows animals mentioned in ancient stories like Ramayana and Mahabharatha. You can see deer, monkeys, lions, tigers, elephants, and more here.

There is also a special place called Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala. It is a home for cattle that people donate. This place helps care for the cows. The milk from these cows is used for daily rituals at the Sri Venkateshvara Temple.

Tirupati's Weather

Tirupati has a tropical climate. This means it has a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season is from January to May. During this time, temperatures are warm.

The rainy season starts in June and lasts until December. The city gets a lot of rain in November. Sometimes, cyclones hit the coast nearby, bringing heavy rain to Tirupati.

People of Tirupati

In 2011, Tirupati city had a population of 287,035 people. There were slightly more males than females. About 24,643 children were aged 0–6 years. The city had a high literacy rate of 87.55%. This means most people aged 7 and above could read and write.

Languages of Tirupati (2011)      Telugu (87.98%)     Urdu (5.50%)     Tamil (3.40%)     Hindi (1.01%)     Others (2.11%)

Telugu is the main language spoken in Tirupati. About 88% of people speak Telugu. Other languages like Urdu, Tamil, and Hindi are also spoken by smaller groups.

How Tirupati is Governed

Tirupati has its own local government called the Tirupati Municipal Corporation. It helps manage the city's services. Tirupati became a municipality in 1886 and a municipal corporation in 2007. The city is also part of the Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA). TUDA plans how the city will grow.

Tirupati is known for being a clean city. It was ranked among the top ten cleanest cities in India in 2022. The city also works to separate household waste for recycling.

Keeping Tirupati Safe

Sapthagiri Security Zone at Alipiri-Tirupati

Tirupati has its own police force with 25 police stations. Special commandos called "Octopus" are deployed to protect the Tirupati temple. They are trained in special combat techniques.

At Alipiri, there is a security zone to check vehicles and people entering Tirumala. This helps keep the hills safe. The city also has over 3000 CCTV cameras. These cameras watch over the temple and city 24/7 from a control center.

City Services

Wind Turbines on the hills of Tirumala

The city gets its electricity from a company called APSPDCL. Tirupati mostly uses groundwater for its water needs. It also gets water from the Telugu Ganga canal and Kalyani dam. There are several dams in the nearby Tirumala Hills. These dams supply water to Tirumala and the Venkateshvara Temple.

Tirupati has good phone and internet services. BSNL is planning to set up many Wi-Fi hotspots in the city. There is also a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) here. This office helps people apply for passports.

Tirupati's Economy

How Tirupati Makes Money

FOXLINK Facility at APIIC Park Tpty

Tourism is the biggest industry in Tirupati. The city's economy largely depends on the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). TTD manages the Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple and other temples. It also does many social activities.

Because so many tourists visit, the hospitality industry is also very important. There are many hotels and lodges in the city. Large companies for cars, clothes, and electronics have stores here.

Taj Group of Hotel Tirupati

There are industrial parks near Tirupati. Factories like Amara Raja and Lanco cement are located here. Many people in the city work for TTD.

Technology and Electronics in Tirupati

DIXON Facility at APIIC EMC Tpty

Munoth Lithium Ion Cell Manufacturing Facility First of its kind in India

CELKON Manufacturing plant at Tirupati

Tirupati has a special area for making mobile phones and electronics. It is called the Sri Venkateshwara Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Hub. Companies like Celkon, Micromax, Karbonn, and Lava have factories here. Dixon Technologies also has a factory that makes Smart TVs for Xiaomi.

Tourism: A Key Industry

Tourism is very important for Tirupati. This is because of the Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple and other temples. Many tourists visit, which brings money to the state. Tirumala is one of the most visited religious places in the world. The Tirupati Temple holds a Guinness World Record for being the most visited temple.

Culture and Traditions

Festivals and Celebrations

The city celebrates all major Hindu festivals. These include Sankranti, Ugadi, Deepavali, and Maha Shivaratri.

Srivari Brahmotsavam is a big nine-day festival. It happens in September or October. Millions of devotees visit the Tirumala temple during this time. The main deity, Malayappa swami, is carried in a procession around the temple on different vehicles.

Tirupati also celebrates a carnival called Tirupati Ganga Jatara in May. This is a week-long festival where the goddess Gangamma is worshipped. On the last day of the Padmavathi Brahmotsavams, many devotees take a dip in the holy waters of Padma Pushkarini.

Vaikunta Ekadasi is another very important festival. It is believed that on this day, the gates to heaven open. It is celebrated with great joy in Tirumala and Tirupati. Rathasapthami is celebrated in February. On this day, Venkateshvara's deity is carried in a procession on seven different vehicles.

Sri Krishna Janmastami is also celebrated with great enthusiasm. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple is lit up. Prayers are offered to Sri Krishna.

Tirupati Laddu offered to Venkateshvara at Tirupati Temple

Famous Food

The city is famous for its Tirupati Laddu. This sweet is offered as prasadam at the Venkateshvara Temple, Tirumala. Tirupati Laddu has a special tag called Geographical indication. This means only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams can make or sell it.

Art, Crafts, and Buildings

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has two museums called Sri Venkateshvara Museum. One is in Tirumala and the other in Tirupati. They have amazing collections of temple architecture and old items. You can see ancient weapons, prayer items, and idols. There is also a photo gallery showing Tirupati's culture.

The Archaeological Survey of India also has a museum at the Chandragiri fort. It displays old stone and metal sculptures of Hindu gods. It also has medieval weapons, coins, and old documents.

Places to See in Tirupati

Temples to Visit

Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple is the most famous temple. It is known as one of the richest Vaishnavite temples in the world. Besides this, Tirupati has many other old temples. These include Padmavathi Temple at Tiruchanur, Govindaraja Temple, and Kapileswara Temple at Kapila Theertham. The Thathayyaguntta Gangamma Temple is dedicated to the goddess Gangamma, who is the local deity of Tirupati.

• Hindu Temples in Tirupati
• 

  Venkateshvara Temple

• 

  Govindaraja Temple

• 

  Padmavathi Temple

• 

  Kodandarama Temple

• 

  Kapila Theertham

Other Interesting Places

Divyaramam View

Talakona falls view

Beyond the temples, Tirupati has other places to visit. Chandragiri Fort is an old fort built in the 11th century. It also has an Archaeological Museum.

Sri Venkateshvara Zoological Park is a huge zoo in Tirupati. It is the largest zoo park in Asia. Tirupati also has a Regional Science Centre. It includes a digital Planetarium, which is the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh.

• Other Places of interest in Tirupati
• 

  Chandragiri Fort

• 

  Regional Science Centre, Tirupati

Getting Around Tirupati

Tirupati Ghat Road

Sapthagiri Express bus of APSRTC

Roads and Highways

Srinivasa Sethu Flyover View

Veterinary University Road

NH 140 near Tirupati

Tirupati is well connected to other major cities by national and state highways. National Highway 71 and National Highway 140 pass through the city. There are also two special roads called ghat roads that connect Tirupati to Tirumala. These roads are used by vehicles going up the hills.

Public Transportation

The state-owned APSRTC runs buses from the Tirupati bus station complex to many places. The bus station has three smaller stations for different directions. Buses to Tirumala are called Sapthagiri Express. They are also free buses from the railway station to Alipiri for pilgrims.

Buses from other states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also come to Tirupati. Private transport services are also available.

Walking Paths to Tirumala

There are two walking paths from Tirupati to Tirumala. These paths are called Sopanamargas and are mostly used by pilgrims. The first path starts from Alipiri and has 3550 steps, covering 11 km. The other path, Sri Vari Mettu, is 6 km long. Both paths are covered and go through seven hills.

Train Travel

Tirupati has six railway stations. Tirupati Main is a very important station. Tirupati West Halt and Tiruchanur are smaller stations that help manage train traffic. Other stations include Chandragiri, Yerpedu, and Renigunta Junction.

Air Travel

Tirupati Airport View

Tirupati Airport is 15 km from the city center. It has daily flights to many Indian cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore. The airport is being upgraded to an international airport. The closest international airport is Chennai International Airport, which is 130 km away.

Education in Tirupati

ICI Tirupati

Tirupati has many schools run by the government and private organizations. Many of them are named after the gods Venkateshvara and Padmavati.

SVU Admin Building

S V Agricultural College Tirupati

The city is home to several universities and colleges. These include Sri Venkateswara University, which was started in 1954. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam is a university just for women. There are also medical colleges like Sri Venkateshvara Medical College.

Sri Venkateswara Vedic University focuses on old Vedic teachings. Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha is a university for learning Sanskrit. Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University teaches about animal science. Sri Venkateshvara Institute of Traditional Sculpture and Architecture (SVITSA) teaches traditional sculpture and architecture. The Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati is the first culinary institute in India.

Tirupati also has important national institutes like the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) and IIT Tirupati. These institutes offer courses in science, engineering, and humanities.

Research and Innovation

Institute Of Agri Business Management, Tirupati

The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) is a research institute near Tirupati. It studies the atmosphere.

Sri Venkateswara Medical College has research units for medical studies. The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati (IISER) promotes scientific learning and research. The Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (IIT Tirupati) offers many engineering and science programs.

A research center for local cows was set up by TTD. It aims to protect rare cow breeds. The center has special breeds like Ongole cows. It also tries to get other rare breeds from different parts of India.

Media and Communication

Sri Venkateshvara Bhakti Channel (SVBC) is a 24-hour TV channel. It broadcasts Hindu religious programs from Tirupati.

Sapthagiri is a spiritual magazine published monthly. It is available in Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, Tamil, and Kannada. Both SVBC and Sapthagiri are run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Many newspapers are available in Tirupati. These include Telugu newspapers like Eenadu and Saakshi. English newspapers like The Hindu and Times of India are also available. Some of these newspapers have their printing offices in Tirupati.

Tirupati also has an All India Radio station. It is served by FM radio stations like 92.7 Big FM and 93.5 Red FM.

See also

In Spanish: Tirupati para niños