Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala is to the north of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini.
Tiruchanoor, also known as Alamelumangapuram, is about 5 km from Tirupati. The temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi, the consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara is situated here. It is said that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after visiting the Sri Padmavathi Devi temple.
You may wonder why Sri Padmavathi Devi's temple is away from Lord Sri Venkateswara's. Legend has it that the Lord (Sri Maha Vishnu, who later took on the incarnation of Sri Venkateswara) showed his reverence towards the sage, Bhrigu Maharshi, even though the sage had insulted Vishnu by kicking Him on the chest.
In anger, Sri Maha Lakshmi (the Lord's consort) reached Patala Loka, where she heard a divine voice stating that a pushkarini was dug on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi, and here She immersed herself in penance for 12 years.
In the 13th year (during the month of Karteeka, on Panchami day in the last fortnight, highlighted by the nakshathram Uttarashadha), Sri Padmavathi emerged from a golden lotus. It is believed that Goddess MahaLakshmi herself emerged as Sri Padmavathi.
Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord Siva in Tirupati.
It is situated about 3 km to the north of Tirupati, at the foot of the Tirumala Hills. The sacred waterfall called Kapila Teertham (also known as Alwar Teertham) is located here. Annual Brahmotsavams and festivals like Vinayaka Chaturthi, Mahasivaratri, Skanda Shasti and Annabhishekam are performed here with great pomp and splendour.
Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Sri Lakshminarayanaswamy Temple and Sri Vinayakaswamy Temple on the Second Ghat Road are sub-temples which function under the control of the Kapileswaraswamy Temple.
Sri Govindarajaswami Temple is one of the most important temples in Tirupati. It has an imposing gopuram which can be seen from a distance. Saint Ramanujacharya consecrated the temple in 1130 AD. The festivals and functions are similar to those conducted in the Sri Venkateswara temple. The annual Brahmotsavam at this temple is celebrated in the month of Vaisakha every year. The annual float festival is also celebrated every year.
Around 36km east of Tirupathi, Sri Kalahasti is known for its Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple, which derives its name from the legend of three animals that worshipped Shiva: a snake, spider and elephant. Sri Kalahasti is also, along with Machilipatnam near Vijayawada, a centre for the ancient art of kalamkari. These paintings are made with natural ingredients: the cotton is primed with myrabalam (resin) and cow’s milk; figures are drawn with a pointed bamboo stick dipped in fermented jaggery and water; and the dyes are made from cow dung, ground seeds, plants and flowers. You can see the artists at work in the Agraharam neighbourhood, 2.5km from the bus stand. Buses leave Tirupathi for Sri Kalahasti every 10 minutes (Rs 20, 45 minutes); a prepaid taxi is Rs 475 return.
Only a couple of buildings remain from this 15th-century fort, 14km west of Tirupathi. Both the Rani Mahal and the Raja Mahal, which houses a small museum (h10am-5pm Sat- Thu), were constructed under Vijayanagar rule and resemble structures in Hampi’s Royal Centre. There’s a nightly sound-and-light show (admission Rs 30; 8pm Mar-Oct, 7.30pm Nov-Feb), narrated by Bollywood stars. Buses for Chandragiri (Rs 6) leave from outside Tirupathi train station every 15 minutes. A prepaid taxi is Rs 250 return.
