Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

The world’s most famous temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple located on the Tirumala hills near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most sacred temples for vaishnavites. It is said that Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, is one of the most powerful gods in the Hindu Religion, and it is believed that he came down to earth to stay on the 7 Tirumala Hills and help Mankind get through the Kali Yuga. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came down to Earth as Venkateswara to woo back his consort Goddess Lakshmi after a feud. Goddess Lakshmi is present as Padmavathi. Another interesting belief is that Lord Venkateswara took loans from Lord Kubera for his marriage with Padmavathi and will pay the interest till the end of the Kali Yuga. The temple is maintained by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, one of the richest religious bodies in the world. The Lord’s prasadam, a laddu, is also very famous. Tirupati has the world’s largest solar powered kitchen. The whole temple and all the houses, offices and other buildings run on solar and wind energy which are provided through the numerous solar panels and windmills present on the hill. More than 75,000 devotees visit the temple every day.