Chittoor

Once serving as the ruling seat of the great Dravidian rulers, the city of Chittoor is a prominent city in Andhra Pradesh. Being dominated by religion since the very beginning, the city harbours some of the most revered temples of India, where major festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Dussehra, Govardhan Pooja, Janmashtmi and Mahashivratri are celebrated in a larger than lifestyle!

The city is also home to Andhras rich flora and fauna.

Furthermore, the city is bestowed with scenic landscapes including hills, broadways, forests, rivers and lakes. The tourist sites in the city bring about visitors from all over the world.

Chittoor Overview

Best Time to Visit Chittoor

This city is located in Andhra Pradesh. Being situated in a sub-tropical environment, the summers of the religious city are unbearable with the Chittoor temperature reaching a height of 36 to 40 degrees.

Therefore, the ideal time to explore Chittoor Andhra Pradesh is from November to April. In the same vein, Winter and monsoon are the seasons to pay a visit to this city. In winter, the weather in Chittoor stays warm and pleasant and it receives scanty rainfall in monsoon, making the Chittoor weather enjoyable.

How to reach the places to visit in Chittoor?

Chittoor places can be easily reached either by airways, or railways as well as roadways.

If you choose to travel to this city by flight, then you have to get down at Tirupati Airport, which is situated at a distance of 67 km from this city.

Another way of coming to the holy city is through the medium of train. Almost all the trains halt in this city, at the Chittoor Junction station.

The best way to visit the city remains the roadways. Especially when the state government of Andhra Pradesh run affordable to and fro bus service under the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). These buses are always on time and cover all the important travel-worthy parts of the city.

What are the things to see and do in Chittoor?

Being bestowed with revered temples like Tirupati, Sri Kalahasti and Tirumala, this city receives a heavy pilgrimage footfall each day! The city is also home to deciduous and tropical forests which further harbour major flora and fauna of the city. If you are a nature lover and seek peace, then these places are just the right match for you!

The city is also blessed with a few retreat spots. One of the most famous ones is the Horsley Hills. It is also called Andhras Ooty. You can relax in such places and unwind before you surrender yourself to the grandeur of the city again!

If you are an avid adventure seeker and love spending time in nature, then this city has a grand Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, harbouring some of the rarest found species of animals and plants, that are protected by the forest officials 24X7.

Once in this city, you simply cannot miss attending the famous Tirupati Balaji Temple. This grand temple was constructed by the rulers of Pallava, Chola and Pandya styles of architecture.

History lovers can spend time at the Gurramonda Fort, which was constructed by the Vijaynagar Dynasty kings and was later annexed by the Golconda Sultans.

Places to Visit in Chittoor

Horsley Hills

Popularly known as Andhras Ooty, the Horsely Hills is a sweet retreat from the grandeur that the city has to offer. The hill station serves picturesque scenes and the weather in this place is simply put, awesome! It is capable of rejuvenating your spirit after a long day in the city.

Kundinya Wildlife Sanctuary

Surrounded by picturesque hills and valleys, the Kundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over a massive distance of 358 square kilometres. It is home to some of the rarely found animal species including Elephants, Himalayan black bears, hippopotami, jackals, sloth bears, hyenas, panthers and many more. Kaigal and Kaundinya are the two streams that flow through this sanctuary and make it more enchanting.

Kalavagunta

Situated at the delta of the Aragonda and Ponnai rivers, Kalavagunta houses various Hindu temples of historic significance. Two of these famous temples were constructed in the 9th century by the Chola Kings. It is actually one of the most visited Chittoor places.

Gurramkonda Fort

Located at a height of 500 feet from the ground, the Gurramkonda Fort was initially constructed solely by using mud and rocks under the Vijayanagar Empire. It was later annexed by the Golconda Sultans, who added rock walls to it. In the same timeline, it has serves as the residence of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Nagari Hills

Seated at the banks of river Kusastali, the Nagari Hills are situated 855 feet above the ground level. It strikingly has a figure of a human nose and is hence called Nagari Hills. It also harbours some of the most revered temples of the city and hence is travelled by pilgrims as well.

Sri Venkateswara Temple

Known as the face of the city, the ancient Sri Venkateswara Temple is a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Balaji. It was constructed in the 12th century at a height of 853 meters from sea level. The architecture of this temple has been drawn from all major Dravidian cultures, including Chola, Pandya and Pallaya. There is a pure gold-coated zone near the Papanasam Waterfall, within the temples premises.

Mogili

Mogili is a coastal village that harbours and eventually draws its name from the Mogileeshwar Mahadev Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiv and is famous for its sculptures. It is believed that this temple harbours a natural lake, which cannot be spotted dries even in the peak days of summer.

Ramagiri

Also called Bhairava Kshetra, Ramagiri harbours many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The hilltop of Ramagiri also has a temple dedicated to Lord Muruga. There is a water tank near the Muruga Temple which is known to harbour waters of medicinal importance. This is because the water flows from the hilltop, flowing over an array of medicinal shrubs and herbs, hence the water also gains some value.

Adventures to do in Sangli

Temple Hopping

The temples of this city are architectural wonders! They are all constructed in Chola and Pandya styles and represent authentic Dravidian inscriptions engraved on the walls. What is more interesting is the fact that no two temples are alike in this city and each consist of their own unique traits and characteristics.

Spend Time with Nature

This city is blessed with natural wonders. It has beautiful lakes, rivers, ponds, dense forests and hills. One can spend time in the lapse of nature and unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitans.

Go down in History

This city is itself of an ancient Indian timeline. The temples portray stories in scriptures and inscriptions that date back thousands of years! You can also find marvels of the medieval period in the city, and get to know the pulse of it conveniently!

Places to Stay in Chittoor

Chittor attracts a plethora of visitors from all around the world, especially for pilgrimage purposes. In the same light, there are quality hotels available in the city, where you can choose to stay:

Prabhaa Grand Inn

Prabha Grand Inn is one of the most luxurious hotels in this city. It provides amenities like jacuzzis, master bathrooms, royal bedrooms and enough personal space for each member.

Bhaskara

Bhaskara is one of the most prominent hotels in the city. It is spread over a big building and attracts a plethora of tourists to stay. 

Prabaa Royal Park

Prabha Royal Park is one of the best hotel stays in this city. It provides its visitors with a really comfortable stay at affordable prices.

Hotel Sindhu Towers

Hotel Sindhu Towers are a big hotel in the area. It is known to provide the best facilities to its visitors at cheap rates.

Food to Try in Places to Visit in Chittoor

A typical staple and a traditional meal of this city would generally include plain rice to go with a variety of gravies. Ragi Mudde is also a popular alternative to simple white rice.

You will also be able to find North Indian food in the city.

Some of the famous restaurants in Chittoor include Abhiruchi Restaurant, Hotel Bhaskara, Lazeez Multicuisine Restaurant, Sri Vishnu Bhawan, Andhra Spice, etc.

Things to Buy in the Places to Visit in Chittoor

Thousands of tourists come to visit this city round the year. It is also known as Mango city, as a vast production of mangoes takes place in the city. The other items famous in this city include Jaggery from Aragonda, eucalyptus trees, Beedi leaves, masonry work, shikakai, amla, bay leaves, sandalwood, Gulmohar trees, blue gum, red sanders, and mahogany, amongst others. Other than these delicacies, this city is also famous for its silk textile and has over 13,000 dedicated looms for the same.

But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.

• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour's are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren't just "local" tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn't normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what's going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!

Conclusion

This city is a wholesome treat, to say the least! You will feel rejuvenated by the nature, grounded by the spiritual aura and mesmerized by the wonderful landscape! If you are the kind that wants to go down in history, stay connected to the roots and also imbibe spiritual energy in your life, then this city is just the right option!