Alipiri

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Neighborhood of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India

Alipiri

Neighborhood of Tirupati

Garuda statue at Alipiri in Añjali Mudrā

Alipiri

Location in Andhra Pradesh, India

Coordinates: 13°38′49.46″N 79°24′21.3″E﻿ / ﻿13.6470722°N 79.405917°E﻿ / 13.6470722; 79.405917
Country| India
State| Andhra Pradesh
City| Tirupati
Languages

• Official| Telugu
Time zone| UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN|

517501

Vehicle registration| AP 03
Lok Sabha constituency| Tirupati
Vidhan Sabha constituency| Tirupati

Alipiri Padala Mandapam or Alipiri is the place at the foot of seven hills in Tirupati, near the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a neighbourhood of Tirupati city.

Alipiri is one of two pathways to reach Tirumala on foot,[1] and it was, until recently, the only one being used in modern times. Srivari Mettu, about 2 km away, is the original one that was renovated and brought back in to use in 2008. Alipiri is the longer route with 3550 steps (over 9 km),[2] whereas Srivari Mettu is shorter with 2388 steps (spanning about 2 km).

Alipiri is also the foot of two road ways, one up and one down leading to Tirumala through the Seven Hills. It is therefore called "The Gateway to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple".[3]

A long time ago, pilgrims used to climb all Seven Hills through the stepped way on foot because there were no other options. Pilgrims would visit from far away, cook and eat there and rest for some time. After resting, they would start to climb the steps.[4]

Now the entire stepped way is covered with a roof to protect pilgrims from sunlight and rain. Lights are also provided. Special privilege is provided to the pilgrims who came on foot to visit the Lord. [citation needed]

## Etymology

[edit]

Alipiri literally means "resting place".[5]

## Temples

[edit]

Alipiri Padala mandapam Gopuram, Tirupati

### Srivari Padala Mandapam

[edit]

Srivari Padala Mandapam is a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara at Alipiri. The presiding deity is referred to Padala Venkateswara Swamy.[3] As per legend, Lord Venkateswara, after Ekantha Seva at Tirumala, would come visit his consort Padamavati at Tiruchanur, down the hill through Alipiri Steps and would leave his footwear at this place and hence the name "Padala Mandapam" (Telugu : Padalu refers to Foot).[3] Devotees on Tirumala Yatra from Tirupati offer prayers here first by carrying "Srivari Padukalu" (believed to be a representation of the footwear worn by Lord Venkateswara himself) on their heads.[3] The temple comes under Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple circle and is being administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

### Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple

[edit]

There is a temple dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayana in the Alipiri Padala Mandapam Temple complex which lies east of Padala Mandapam. The temple entrance and the deity face towards the west. It has a shrine dedicated to Andal.[3]

### Sri Vinayaka Swamy Temple

[edit]

There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha in the Alipiri Padala Mandapam Temple complex which lies on the 2nd Ghat Road leading from Tirupati to Tirumala. Devotees going by Road offer prayers at this temple before starting their Tirumala temple journey.[3]

## Footsteps

[edit]

Alipiri Footsteps leading to Tirumala

There is an ancient stairway to Tirumala that starts from Alipiri and is known as Alipiri Metlu. The Devotees, to fulfill their vow to Lord Venkateswara, take this path to reach Tirumala on foot from Tirupati. It consists of a total 3550 steps which makes a distance of 12 km. A free of cost public service allows devotees to drop their luggage and footwear at the beginning of the stairway to be collected once they reach the end of the steps.[6] There are four Gopuram (Temple Towers) on the way. It is completely roofed and passes through the seven hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills.[7][8][9]

## Festivals

[edit]

All Vaishnavite festivals are celebrated at Padala Mandapam Temple. These include Vaikuntha Ekadasi, and Rathasapthami.

### Metlotsavam

[edit]

Metlotsavam is the celebration held once in three months, to the Alipiri stairway leading to Tirumala. It is organised by Dasa sahitya project under Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The festival includes group of devotees trekking to Tirumala singing sacred religious hymns.[10]

## Sapthagiri Security Zone

[edit]

At Alipiri, a security zone was established in 2009 to screen vehicles and pilgrims entering Tirumala, to safeguard the hills from terrorists and anti-social elements.[11]

## External links

[edit]

* Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams

## Reference lists

[edit]

1. ^ "Srivari Mettu: Shorter, arduous path to Tirumala".
2. ^ "Srivari Mettu: Distance | Location | Timings | History | Steps Count | Starting Point". 6 April 2020.
3. ^ a b c d e f "Sri vari padala mandapam, Alipiri". Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
4. ^ "Alipiri Steps: Count, Opening Timings, Distance - TTD Seva Details". 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
5. ^ "Alipiri | Reach Tirumala by Walk | Tirumala Foot Steps Timings, Luggage Counter". 25 March 2020.
6. ^ "Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (Official Website)". www.tirumala.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
7. ^ "Tirupati to Tirumala on Foot". Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
8. ^ "By Walk to Tirumala Hills". Go Tirupati. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
9. ^ "Tirupati to Tirumala on Foot". Pedestrian path (foot way) to Tirumala. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
10. ^ "Tirupati to Tirumala on Foot". Metlotsavam ends on a grand note. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
11. ^ "New security set-up at Alipiri". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 June 2015.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alipiri.

* v
* t
* e

Venkateswara Temple

History|

* Legend
* Bruce's Code
* Vaikuntha
* Varaha Purana

Deities|

* Tirumala Dhruva Bera
* Bhoga Srinivasa
* Malayappa swami
* Ugra Srinivasa
* Koluvu Srinivasa
* Tirumala Krishna

Festivals|

* Srivari Brahmotsavam
* Abhideyaka Abhishekam
* Pavithrotsavam
* Tirumala Shanivaralu
* Vasantotsavam

Geography and sites|

* Tirumala
* Alipiri
* Seshachalam Hills
* Venkata
* Natural Arch
* Sapthagiri
* Tirumala ghat roads
* Vaikuntam Queue Complex

Architecture|

* Ananda Nilayam

TTD|

* Tirupati laddu
* SVBC
* Sapthagiri

People related to the temple|

* Tarigonda Vengamamba
* Annamacharya

See also|

* Vaikuntha Ekadasi
* Garuda
* Śrī Sūkta

* v
* t
* e

Tirupati

Hindu Temples|

* Venkateswara Temple
* Padmavathi Temple
* Govindarajaswamy Temple
* Kodandaramaswamy Temple
* Kalyana Venkateswara Temple
* Prasanna Venkateswara Temple
* Kapila Theertham Temple
* Vakula Mata Temple
* Varahaswamy Temple

Neighbourhoods|

* Alipiri
* Tiruchanur
* Chandragiri
* Renigunta
* Tirumala
* Tirupati (urban) mandal
* Tirupati (rural) mandal

Government|

* Tirupati district
* Tirupati Municipal Corporation
* Tirupati Urban Development Authority
* Tirupati revenue division
* Tirupati (Assembly constituency)
* Tirupati (Lok Sabha constituency)
* Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
* Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited

Buildings and Monuments|

* Ananda Nilayam
* Chandragiri Fort
* Vaikuntam Queue Complex
* Kalyani Dam
* Sri Venkateswara Museum

Tourist attractions|

* Hindu Temples in Tirupati
* Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park
* Chandragiri Fort
* Municipal Park
* Papavinasanam

Economy|

* Sri Venkateshwara Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Hub

Higher education|

* Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati
* IISER Tirupati
* IIT Tirupati
* National Sanskrit University
* Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam
* Sri Venkateswara College of Law
* Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences
* Sri Venkateswara Medical College
* Sri Venkateswara University
* Sri Venkateswara Vedic University
* Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University
* SVIMS - Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women

Healthcare|

* Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital
* Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences
* Government Maternity Hospital, Tirupati

Transport|

| Air|

* Tirupati Airport

|

Rail|

* Tirupati railway station
* Renigunta Junction railway station
* Chandragiri railway station
* Tiruchanur railway station
* Tirupati West Halt railway station

Road|

* Tirupati bus station complex
* Tirumala ghat roads
* NH 71
* NH 140

Cuisine|

* Tirupati laddu

Festivals|

* Srivari Brahmotsavam
* Tirupati Ganga Jatara

Geography|

* Silathoranam
* Sapthagiri
* Venkatadri
* Eparchaean Unconformity
* Seshachalam Hills

Flora and Fauna|

* cycas beddomei

River|

* Swarnamukhi River

National parks|

* Sri Venkateswara National Park

Media|

* SVBC
* Sapthagiri (magazine)

Other topics|

* Tirupati International Cricket Stadium

Other topics|

* List of cities in India
* List of cities by population

* v
* t
* e

Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh

Anantapur|

* Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple
* Chintala Venkataramana Temple
* Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi

Chittoor|

* Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple
* Ardhagiri Temple
* Boiyakonda Gangamma Temple
* Konetirayala Temple, Keelapatla
* Pallikondeswara Temple, Surutapalli
* Venugopalaswamy Temple, Karvetinagaram

East Godavari|

* Annavaram
* Bhavanarayana Temple, Sarpavaram
* Biccavolu
* Draksharama
* Kodandarama Temple, Gollala Mamidada
* Kotipalli
* Kumararama
* Kukkuteswara Temple
* Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Antarvedi
* Mandavya Narayana Temple
* Mukteswaram
* Pithapuram
* Sripada Srivallabha Temple
* Suryanarayana Temple, Gollala Mamidada
* Talupulamma Lova
* Tholi Tirupati

Guntur|

* Amaralingeswara Temple
* Bhavanarayana Swami Temple
* Chebrolu
* Kotappakonda
* Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Mangalagiri
* Venkateswara Temple, Tenali

Kadapa|

* Gandi Anjaneya Temple
* Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta
* Narapura Venkateswara Temple, Jammalamadugu
* Pushpagiri Temple Complex

Krishna|

* Andhra Maha Vishnu
* Jaladheeswara Temple
* Kanaka Durga Temple
* Paritala Anjaneya Temple
* Peddintlamma Temple, Kolletikota

Kurnool|

* Ahobilam
* Kambagiri
* Koulutla Chenna Kesava Temple
* Mantralayam
* Sangameswara Temple, Kurnool
* Srisailam
* Yaganti

Nellore|

* Kodandarama Temple, Buchireddipalem
* Penchalakona
* Ranganatha Temple, Nellore

Prakasam|

* Gangamma Temple, Dhenuvakonda
* Tripurantakam

Srikakulam|

* Arasavalli Sun Temple
* Kurmanathaswamy temple, Srikurmam
* Mukhalingam
* Ranganatha Temple, Vavilavalasa

Tirupati|

* Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
* Padmavathi Temple
* Srikalahasteeswara temple
* Alipiri Padala Mandapam
* Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati
* Kapileswara Temple, Kapilatheertham
* Kodandarama Temple, Tirupati
* Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Srinivasamangapuram
* Prasanna Venkateswara Temple, Appalayagunta
* Vedanarayana Temple, Nagalapuram
* Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Narayanavanam
* Varahaswamy Temple, Tirumala

Visakhapatnam|

* Devipuram Temple
* ISKCON Temple Visakhapatnam
* Kali Temple
* Balighattam
* Nookambika Temple
* Padmanabham
* Simhachalam Temple
* Someswara Swamy Temple
* Sri Kanaka Maha Lakshmi Temple
* Sri Sampath Vinayagar Temple

Vizianagaram|

* Ramanarayanam
* Ramatheertham
* Punyagiri

West Godavari|

* Somaramam, Bhimavaram
* Dwaraka Tirumala
* Kotasattemma Temple
* Ksheerarama
* Maddi Anjaneya Temple
* Sivadevuni Chikkala
* Veerabhadra Temple, Pattiseema

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