Tirupati

Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, according to legend, is the place Lord Vishnu chose as an alternative to Vaikuntha, his celestial home. Located 550 kms south of Hyderabad, Tirupati has become synonymous with the Venkateswara Swamy temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, located about 10 km north west of Tirupati.   It is one of the most sacred sites for Hindus and it is believed life of a Hindu is not fulfilled till he visits the temple at least once in his lifetime.
Tirumala temple stands on a hill range comprising seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha. Lord Balaji is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills.



The temple is among the richest pilgrimage centers in India. According to legend, Vishnu was disconsolate when Lakshmi left him and started residing in Kolhapur.  Vishnu later married Padmavati, an incarnation of Lakshmi. Since Lakshmi had left him, Vishnu had no money for his own wedding, and he borrowed what he needed from Kubera. Devotees making offerings at Tirumala believe they are helping the lord repay his debt and that he in turn will help them.

Tirupati is also the most-visited place of worship in the world. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.
Besides being a pilgrim town, modern day Tirupati is fast turning into a business hub of southern Andhra Pradesh.