Seshachalam Hill, Benkateswar Temple, Venkateswar Kunda (pit), Wealth of Venkateswar Swami, Kapilthirtham , Kodandaramswami Temple, Temple of Padmabati , Papanasham water falls, Akashganga

Things to be seen :

Seshachalam Hill : Tirupati, the famaus city developed under the foot of seshachalam Hill. In the district of Chittur of Andhrapradesh is its location. The hill developed in collaboration of seven hills.

It is said that, with the request of Seshnag, Lord Bishnu Prahari stayed in Tirumal for a few days. So the Tirumals hill is known as Seshachal or Seshachalam. The seven parts or pick of Tirumala hill is in-existence. Local devotee believes that this seven pick as seven expended hood of Seshnag. The seventh or the last hill is Benkatachal or Tirupati or Seshachalam.

Benkateswar Temple : The local inhabitants call or worship Benkataswar as “balaji”. On the top of the hill seshachalam there are many old temples. Among them the Bankateswar Swami temple is famous. Among other temples here are Gobinda Swami, Ramaswami and Lakshimidebi remarkable.

Not only the temples, the calm and quite natural environment here also inflwenced travellers. About 860 mts high from the ground level on the top of the hill Benkateswar Swami temple and it attached compound.

About 4sq km sorounding the temple there developed focality, a small town.

The only means to see the God in the past traveling on foot through zigzag and up and down roads. It was much troublesome for old and descased devotees. At present buses reached the passengers to the Tirupati City at the foot of the hill and from there near the temple on the hill traveling through zigzag and ups and downs path. But this days also too much devotees goes to offer their worship to God on foot, showing by the name of God Venketeswar. Time takes more or less 5 hours. Thoes who go on foot can see Kapila Ashram and the beauty of Kapilathirtha falls, which is an extra gettings to them.

The bus belongs to mandir committee. The name of the path is Gateroad. Bus takes one hour time. Before entering the area attached to the temple there is entry gate. Devotees have to get down from the bus there. In front there can be seen two images of stone made elephants huge in size on the two pillers not so high on both sides. Two images of Garur also huge in size can be seen on them. The city is neat and clean.

At the time of climbing on the hill the Gopuram (entry gate) can be found. Walking a few distance, reaching near the Gopuram can be seen the area attached to the temple. Gopuram also looks astonishing. The paintings and images on its body bears the instants of old Drabirian architecture and culture. The Gopuram is east facing. After entering the attached area of the temple through entry gate there can be found a few Gopuram Comparatively small. On the body of these also there are many paintings and images made of sculptor. The Gopuram and the Venketeswar temple is top to bottom made of stone. On the body of the temple also there is instance of old Drabirain sculpture and architecture. Towards the temple there are three Gopuram consisting of Charming artistic work. The Gopuram of two sides are smaller than the middle one. On the body of the middle Gopuram there constructed many mapes of God/Goddes engraving the stone. Each and every images is an istant of artistic ability of sculptor. On the body of one of the other two gopuram shining artistic work. On the middle carved the image of Lord Shiva-Durga. Other side Gopuram is engraved the image of Ram-Sita-Lakshman.

On both side of the temple there are many shopes big or small. Devotees gather their for marketing as their own choise. The shopkeepers make huge profit by saleing their goods at a excessive cost.

On the middle of the large area lying the temple. In the inner apartment of the temple there is image of Lord Bishnu made of stone. The Lord Bishnu is know as Sri Vekateswar Swami. On the blowing lotus the image of standing Lord Bishnu of black stone. Four handed image has a conch in one hand and a dicus on the other, the right hand in front shows the sign of blassing and the left hand is on the waist. This is also shows the Dralbirian Sculpture on the head adorned by bright diamond crown which is reflecting by lighting. It costs Rs 15 crores. The body of the main temle made of stone and its artistic work is marvelous.

Paying a visit to the image of deity now look the outer atmosphere of the temple. Standing on the outer space of the temple if you look around you can see two paths of going round by two sides. By its side a varanda. The artistic work on the body of all the pillers are really charming.

The amin temple is enclosed with three walls. They named as “Biman Pradakshin”, “Baikuntha Pradakshin” and “Samasangi Pradakshin”. There are images of Benkatapati Roy, Sri Krishnadeb Roy and Achhut Roy at a few steps distance.

At the premises of the temple there is astonishing golden tree. Place of sacrifice, different images of carriage and a golden pit also be found. Welth of the temple kept in a huge chest in Baikuntha Pradakhin. Only on “Baikuntha akadashi” its door open for visiting the devotes. On its body three images of Srinibas can be found. From here the biman of main temple is seen prominently. On the dome/tower of the temple there is a water jar made of gold. The temple area looks bright reflecting the sun rays. The holy activities performed on kalyan mandapme. The holy activities begins at darkness of dawn and it continues up to mid night. All these activities are really full of varieties. On 11^th century mahabaisnab Ramanucharya gave conception about the holy activites here. Only about 4 hours throughout the day this activities stopped. So there is no strict time for visiting the temple i.e. any day at any time may visit the temple. Not only Andhapradesh or South India, devotees come here from different parts of India also. On the large compound of the temple every day there is a huge gathering. Minimum 20-25 thousand devotees come here to pay their homage and offerings and to pay a visit to the image of deity. During special festival period about 50 thousand devotees come here. As a result standing on que for a long time they can pay a visit to the image of deity for only 2 or 3 seconds. But donating Rs 30 in the fund on mandir Committee and collecting cupon there is advantage to visit specialy for a long time and with less trouble. Mandir committee also offer special favour “Laddu” for donating separately. There is system to sell this “Laddu” by the committee and they disburse “Auna Bhage” free of cost.

Venkateswar Kunda (pit) : “Konda” means pit. Many call it as “Swami Kunda”. Bathing here devotees offer their homage and pay a visit to the image of deity. Too much devotees or who has promised an offering to deity go to the temple after shaving their head to pay their homage. It is heard that many become turned millionaire by bying and selling wig prepared from this hair.

Wealth of Venkateswar Swami : In respect of wealth though Venkateswar Swami is not equal to Milieonaire he is also wner of huge mony. In different parts of the temple and on the image, the quantity of gold and pearls accounting is a matter of head drizzling. The welth in front of eyes as such – on the temple compound there is a golden Tal tree, in the main temple there can be found uncountable golden images. All of four sides of “Biman” of main temple covered with golden plate, on the tower of the temple. there is a golden pitcher large in size, on the 4^th flowr of the 4storid “Biman” there are two golden lion, even the two parts of the main door is covered with gold. Now the accounts of other ornaments on the body of the image – the whole body of the image covered with gold and engraved with most valuable pearl. The armlet is engraved with diamond and inled with jewels and the crown of the deity is world famous in frice. It costs about fifteen crores of rupees. It is made with 10kg. gold, 10 thousand diamond and other jewels and perls really can triumph over another crown of the world. In the iron chest of Baikuntha Pradarsani has uncountable ornaments and it is not possible to count the money that are being deposited as offerings and entry fees regularly. So it can not be denied that God Venkateswarswami is not only of India. He is the riches than any other god of the world. The mony which are deposited regularly is not less than 15 – 16 thousand rupees.

Now come about the offerings for a visit to the image of deity. On Saturday and Thursday from 3.30 pm to 5.30 dawn no fees to visit is required. After 5.30 dawn it is required. At noon to see the “Karpur Arati” money is required.

In the month of September offerings placed gorgeously and arranged fair. Lakhs of devotee assembled there.

By the side of Venketeswar temple there is temple of Srigobinda Rajswami. This is also and old temple. The sculpture and architectural skill bears the instant of old Drabirian charactpr.

Kapilthirtham : It is an old shiva temple. It is about 2km distance from Venkateswar temple under the foot of the hill and by the side of falls of water and worshipped regularly.

Kodandaramswami Temple : At a distance of kapilthirtham temple and at a charming natural atmosphere this old temple is situated and in its inner apartment there warshipped the timage of Sriran-chandraswami which is made of granite stone. The artistic work on the body of the temple specially on the front wall and doors are remarkable.

Temple of Padmabati : The temple of Padmabati can be found in a calm and quiet residential atmosphere at Tiruchalur, at a distance of 5 km from Venkateswar Mandir. Padmabati was attendant of Venkateswar swami. Devotees made this temple spending much money. For want of proper preservation a part of this temple destroyed.

Papanasham water falls : The most Charming water falls can be found at Tirumals. Distance 8km From the hill and through the ever green forest coming down the water falls like snake in a zigzag way falling down more than hundred ft. down valley and its charming need not be explained. If one return without seeing such a beauty of nature will have to regret.

Akashganga : Akashganga means water falls. So it can be said Akashganga water falls instead of only Akashganga. From this water falls water is supplied to the Venketeswar temple through pipe.

Temple of Barahaswami ; This temple is very small than venketeswar swami temple and it’s structure is not so attractive. But it is older than Venkateswar swami temple. According to some of historian this is the oldest temple of Andhrapradesh.

Chandragiri Fort : It is the latest Capital of Vijoynagore kings at a distance of 11km from the town and the swarnamukhi river is flowing by it’s side. In the place there built a museum. At present there is showing the different incidents of Vijoynagar kings in english. Ticket for adults Rs 20.00 and Rs 15.00 for juniors.

Nagarjunekonda : Some persons known Nagarjunkonda as Nagarjune Sagar. There was a Brahmin Pandit known as Nagarjune. About 2 thousand years ago a college was grown up. Nagarjun was the principal of this university which is older than Nalanda University. His fame was not less than Silbhadra, trhe principal of Nalanda University. He was a great scholor in Philosophy. After middle age he attracted with the religion of Buddha and taking the religion engaged himself in spreading it till death.

It is learnt that, from the middle of 2^nd century B.C and up to 3^rd century there rulled the kings of Ikshakhu dynasty. Towards the end of this ruller, the Buddhist mendicants come here one by one and began to spread the teachings and advises of Goutam Buddha to the people. Gradually there built Buddhist shrine and Temple.

The capital city of Ikshakhu kings was Bijoypuri. This Bijoypuri City sank under the river Krishna.

After taking the Buddhist Religion, the great scholar Nagarjun introduced the Madhyam pantha among the Buddhist. Within a short period there found that his followers are excess in number. By his efforts there developed college for teaching Buddhist religious books where student from South India and other parts of India such as Asam, Kamrup, Kashmir, Gandhar and also from Nepal and China used to come here for study. It was also residential college like Nalanda. Later to remember the name of principal Nagarjune, it was named as “Nagarjun Mahabidyalaya” and the place named as “Nagarjun Konda”.

In the year 1926 digging work began by the interest of Buddhist. Expenditure also endured by them. In that year due to digging at first time it was possible to recover the mound and place of worship which was built in memory of lord Buddha. Then, the part of vijoynagar state which was seved from the terrible eclipse of the river Krishan many mound and bihar and place of warship discovered from that places. It bears the instant of architecture and sculptural skill of about 2000 years ago.

At present continuing digging activities recovered a few hindu temple. All these temples almost ruind, the remaining portion bears the instant of architecture and sculptural skill of South India during the 1^st to 3^rd century. Digging activities continued from middle of 1953 up to 1960.