Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati

Located in a small district called Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, the temple of Tirupati Balaji is situated in the city of Tirupati. This temple is one of the richest temple in India. After the Vatican, Tirupati pilgrimage is one of the most visited shrine in the world. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara and thus is also known as Sri Venkateswara Temple. 

Tirupati Balaji Temple

Attractions In Tirupati

Sri Varahaswami Temple:- It is located on the banks of Swami Pushakarni towards the northern side of Tirupati Balaji. It is said that Tirumala was originally the abode of Lord Varahaswami and it was with his permission that allowed Lord Balaji to reside here. The Brahma Purana states that darshan at the Varahaswami temple should be done first before proceeding to the Balaji temple. 

Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple:- It is located opposite the Tirupati Balaji temple due to the importance of having  Anjaneya according to Vaishnavite tradition. Anjaneya is a form of Hanuman. The inner sanctum has a statue of Anjaneya with hands folded where abhishekam is performed every Sunday and special offerings are made on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.

Silathoranam

Silathoranam:- A lesser known place of the city is Silathoranam, a natural rock formation in the form of an arch situated near the Chakra Tirtham. It is believed to be several million years old. It is the place where the deity Lord Venkateshwara came down to earth. Rock impressions of foot and wheel are seen behind the arch.

Festivals:- Srivari Brahmotsavam is a nine-day event which is celebrated in grandeur every year during the month of October. It is the major event of the temple attracting lakhs of devotees all over the country. The processional deity (Malayappa) along with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi is taken in a procession in four mada streets around the temple on different vahanams.

Celebration of Brahmotsavam festival

Rathasapthami is another festival, celebrated during February, when Lord Venkateswara's processional deity(Malayappa) is taken in a procession around the temple on seven different vahanams starting from early morning to late night.

The other annual festivals celebrated with great splendor are Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Ugadi and Teppotsavam(Float Festival).

Some of the rituals performed in the temple are stated below-

1) Pushpa Yagam:- It is the worship of the Lord with a variety of sweets and fragrant flowers. It is conducted on sravana nakshatram day after Brahmotsavam.

Pushpa Yagam 

2) Thulabharam:- In this ritual, a devotee sits on a pan of a weighing balance and the other pan is filled with materials greater than the weight of the devotee. Devotees usually offer sugar, jaggery, banana and gold. This is mostly performed with newborn babies or children.

3) Pavitrotsavam:- It is a purificatory ceremony to expiate the mistakes and offenses arising in the daily worship of the deity. This function is elaborately performed in the month of August every year.

4) Sahasranama Archana:- The ritual is performed by worshipping the Lord by reciting the Sahasranamam (1008 names of the Lord). It lasts for about 30 minutes.  After its completion, devotees are allowed to have a darshan of the Lord.

How to reach Tirupati Balaji Temple?

By Air : A domestic airport is located at Renigunta, just 15 km from Tirupati. Regular flights connect Tirupati with Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Vijaywada.

By Rail : Tirupati railway station is located in the heart of the city with convenient rail links to Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and other major Indian cities. Trains are also available via Renigunta from where a local bus or a taxi will help you reach Tirupati.

By Road : Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates regular buses from Tirupati to all the major cities in south India. 

A visit to Badrinath

Badrinath

Badrinath is a holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage and gets its name from the temple of Badrinath. The lovely temple is located at a height of around 10,250 feet above sea level and it's surrounding landscape provides breathtaking visuals. The route to Badarinath is also very fascinating with hilly terrain and scenic Himalayan vistas.

Adi Shankaracharya, the famous Hindu philosopher saint of 8th century, constructed the present temple. It has been renovated and reconstructed a number of times since it was damaged by earthquakes and landslides. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is divided into 3 main chambers namely Garbha Griha (main sanctorum where the idol is placed), Darshan Mandap (where religious ceremonies take place) and the Sabha Mandap (where all devotees assemble).

Badrinath Temple

There are 15 idols in the temple all of which are made of black stone. The main idol of Lord Vishnu is sitting in a meditative pose with cross legs and folded hands. The temple is closed during the winter season since the temperatures drop below zero. It is open from April-May to October- November. It is recommended to take heavy woolens there.

Places to stay:- It is advisable to book the accommodation in advance as large number of people visit it frequently. Besides hotels, there are several ashrams in Badrinath which offer accommodation and food at minimal costs. Ashrams cost less than Rs 100 a day. Luxury suites cost at least Rs 3,000. Tourists can pitch their own tents and can get ready made tents from local shops. However it is advisable to stay in hotels as they provide easy access to the temple and main parts of the town.

Badrinath can be reached in following ways:-

By Air- Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest domestic airport. Nearest international airport is New Delhi.

By Train- The nearest railway station is Dehradun Junction.

By Road- The roads of Badrinath are decently connected with the neighbouring places. Buses and taxis are easily available from places like Uttarakhand, Gaziabad and Srinagar.

Rajgir- "House of the King"

Rajgir

Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the kings of Magadha. The name Rajgir literally means "House of the King". Rajgir pilgrimage is a very important Buddhist site since Lord Buddha spent his 12 years here and also preached two sermons. The Rajgir Buddhist pilgrimage is one of the most visited sites in India and has many structures built in the Buddhist architectural style. 

Rajgir is famous for its hot water springs. It's major attraction is the peace pagoda, Vishwa Shanti Stupa. It was built in 1969 to spread the message of peace and non-violence. Then there is Venu Vana, an artificial forest where one can enjoy eternal peace and practice meditation. Main tourist attractions of Rajgir include the ancient city walls from Ajatshatru's period, the Bimbisar's Jail, Jarasandh's Akhara, Gridakuta Hill and Sonabhandara Cave.

Some major sites worth seeing in Rajgir are as follows: 

Gridhakuta Hill

Gridhakuta Hill: It is also known as the Vulture's Peak. This is the place where Lord Buddha preached many of his teachings and sermons. Upon the attainment of enlightenment, he preached two of the most important sermons named as Lotus Sutra and the Prajnaparamita.

Saptparni Cave: It is the cave where the first congregation of the Buddhist Council took place after Lord Buddha attained nirvana. The place also has a Burmese temple and a Japanese temple. 

Shanti Stupa

Shanti Stupa: It is a beautiful structure in white and is one of the major Buddhist attractions at Rajgir. Located at the top of Ratnagiri hill, it has four golden statues symbolizing the four stages in life- Birth, Enlightenment, Teaching and Death.

Jain Temples: The Jain temples on the hills surrounding Rajgir are worth the visit. Not only is it fun to go for a trek on the hills, but also the surrounding landscape provides delightful panorama. There are 26 Jain temples in all. 

Rajgir can be reached in the following ways:-

By Air: Rajgir can be reached through Gaya International Airport. Another airport is at Patna. Air India, Indigo and Jet Airways connect Patna to Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

By Rail: Rajgir railway station connects the city to other parts of country yet the nearest convenient railhead is at Gaya. 

By Road: Rajgir is connected by road to Patna - 110 km, Nalanda - 12 km, Gaya - 78 km, and Pawapuri - 38 km.

Given below is a video shown by a lady on some of the famous places of Rajgir which are worth a visit!!