City-information for Tirumala

Temples Accomodation Travel City Information Map

Population 17,000
Tirumala is where the Venkateawara (Sri Balaji) temple is located. Tirumala is located on Vyenkata Hill at an altitude of 2,800 feet. Vyenkateswara means "the Lord of Vyenkatachala." Vyenkatachala is a chain of hills. The temple is situated on the top of seven adjoining hills, also called Seshachalam Hills, which are said to be an incarnation of Ananta Sesa. Once Vayu and Sesa entered into a disagreement over who was stronger. Sesa wrapped his long body around Mount Meru and challenged Vayu to move it. Vayu tried but failed. Vayu pretended to be exhausted and stopped blowing. Then Sesa opened his mouth to breathe. At that moment, Vayu blew off part of the hill. After the hill had traveled a great distance, Mount Meru asked Vayu to leave it there. Ashamed of his defeat, Sesa did penance, meditating on Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu appeared and offered a boon, Sesa assumed the shape of the hill and requested the Lord to stay on his head. This hill is called Sesachalam. It is said that when Ramanuja visited here, he walked up the hill on his knees to avoid stepping on Sesa Naga.

The Lord's appearance in Tirumala is mentioned in about 12 different Puranas. According to the BrahmaPurana, Lord Vishnu wanted a change from Vaikuntha, so He inquired from Narada Muni about a place on earth for diversion and sport. Narada suggested Sesachala (the head of Ananta Sesa).

All the property at the top of the hill at Tirumala belongs to the TirumalaTirupati Devasthanam (TTD), well known for its excellent management even with crowds that can run to hundreds of thousands on special festival days. The TTD is recycling much of its wealth to such humanitarian works as schools, orphanages, and hospitals.

Tirumala is an unusual place for India in that the streets are totally clean of trash. Also beggars are totally banned from on top of the hill.