Tirupati to Brisbane Flights

  About Tirupati

Tirupati or Tirumala as a lot of people call it, is one of the most visited temples in India. It's also one of the richest shrines in the country. Tirupati is the place of worship for Lord Balaji or Sri Venkateshwara, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Hundreds and thousands of devotees visit Tirupati daily to offer their prayers. It is a tradition among a lot of people to shave their heads and offer their hair at his feet to seek his blessings. It is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth as Balaji to save mankind from all the troubles in Kali Yug. People wait for hours in a queue to get a glimpse of God and offer their prayers. The temple is located on seven hills in Andhra Pradesh, which is yet another speciality about the temple. Though Tirupati is majorly known for its religious significance, there is a lot more than you can do here.

You can visit the Sri Venkateswara National Park after your darshan. The beautiful landscape and view of the valleys will take your breath away. The Sri Venkateswara National Park was built in 1989 and was declared a National Park in 1998. The national park is home to a lot of exotic animals like the Nilgai, Flying Lizard, Hyena and Golden Gecko. You have to pay a certain price for tickets to enter the park and spending some time here will definitely be a treat to the eyes and the mind. If you are in Tirupati with your family and kids, the little ones will definitely be delighted to spot the animals. In addition to this, the holy place also boasts of a Deer Park. You'll find different species of deer and might even get to feed them. You'll find solace from the crowd and spend some time with nature and nature's best here.

You can also immerse in the holy waters of Papavinasam Theertham. It is believed that taking a dip in this holy water will rid you of your sins. Just being here calms your mind and takes you to your happy place. You will also find a lot of waterfalls like the Talakona waterfall, Vaikuntha theertham and so on. There will be several places in the complex where you can sit and meditate. The early morning aarti is one of the most overwhelming and divine feelings. The chants and devotional mantras echo through the hills early in the morning. Swami Pushkarini lake is also a highly recommended place to visit in Tirupati.

Though you will have to adhere to certain decorum and rules when visiting the temple. A strict dress code to wear something traditional must be followed in the temple vicinity. You are also not allowed to consume alcohol or non-vegetarian food while you are in the temple premises. Not to mention, the queue can tend to get on your nerves, so avoid getting into any fights or heated arguments. You will not be allowed to bring any of your gadgets like the camera or phone. While a lot of people believe that shaving their head off and donating their hair is essential, it entirely depends on you and whether you want to do it. It will be fairly easier for you to find and book a hotel in Tirupati.

Best Time to Visit Tirupati

September to February is an ideal time to visit Tirupati. This is when the city experiences winter and the weather is quite pleasant during the day. It can get quite nippy in the night and early mornings can be quite chilly though. The summer will be pretty unpleasant to handle since the southern part of India does experience scorching heat during April and May. It rains in Tirupati from July to September, and while monsoon does make the weather quite pleasant, it won't be the best time to climb the hill even by a car or bus.

Places to Visit in Tirupati

Apart from the main temple of Tirumala Balaji, it is also mandatory to offer your prayers at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple. It is believed that your prayers will not be complete unless you pray to the Goddess, and according to scriptures, it is important that you pay respects to the Goddess first before heading to Tirumala. Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple is not very close to Lord Balaji's temple. After offering your prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, you can visit the Srivari Museum to know more about Tirupati's inception and how it became one of the most popular temples in the country.

Head over to Papavinasam Theertham to take a dip in the holy water. It is believed that it will wash away your sins, and it also calms your mind instantly. It's the sheer sanctity of the place that makes you embrace your spiritual side. Tirupati is also home to many exotic animals. The Sri Venkateswara National Park houses animals like Hyenas, Nilgai, Golden Gecko and more. You can visit the National Park with your family or alone. You must also visit the Deer Park that has deers of different species, and they're quite friendly, too. If you're lucky, you might get to feed the deers.

Take a tour of the Srivara Museum. You'll get to read more stories about the inception of the temple and the Gods and Goddesses. Since the temple is located on seven hills, each hill has been named after a God or devotee of mythological importance. There is Vrushabhadri, which is also called as the Hill of Nandi, the biggest devotee of Lord Shiva and also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Anjanadri is the Hill of Hanuman, Neeladri is the Hill of Neela Devi, Garudachalam is the Hill of Garuda, Seshadri is the Hill of Sesha, Narayanadri is the Hill of Narayana and Venkatadri is the Hill of Venkateswara.

There are also a lot of sub-temples and shrines that you can visit along with the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari and Sri Venkateswara temples.

Things to do in Tirupati

Find a spot in the temple after your darshan and just sit in peace to meditate for a while before you make your itinerary. Do not forget to take the famous Tirupati laddoo that is served as the prasad. The temple also serves puliogare, a savoury rice, that is also served as the prasad. The temple city can get noisy, so get away from the hubbub of the crowded places and visit one of the famous waterfalls. You can quietly sit and admire the nature around you. The serene aura of the place and the breathtakingly beautiful scenario makes for the perfect place to take pictures, too.

The National Park and the Deer Park make for the perfect locations to put your wildlife photography skills to the test. While a lot of people rent a car or take a bus to get up to the hill, some even walk or climb all the way up. Though some do it because they love a nice trek, a lot of people do it out of pure devotion to the Gods. Don't just go to Tirupati to offer your prayers to God but also make the most of it by getting to know more about the place and visiting all of the other places mentioned here. Being close to nature is also one of the best places and moments to introspect or to just leave all your worries behind and live in the moment. You will surely be able to leave all your worries behind and be optimistic effortlessly once you visit Tirumala.

Food and Restaurants in Tirupati

While there will be no non-vegetarian food served within the temple premises or on the hilltop, you will find restaurants serving non-veg food a little away from Tirumala. Andhra Spice and Hyderabad House are some of the popular restaurants that serve non-vegetarian food. It goes without saying that it will be quite easy to find South Indian food in the area, and the food will not disappoint you one bit.

How to reach Tirupati (Transportation)

By Air

While there is no international connectivity of flights directly, the domestic flights frequently run to and from Tirupati Airport. You will get pretty good flight deals and cheap flight tickets, too, if you book at the right time. Don't forget to look for offers on flights online. You can also land at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad and take a bus or hire a cab from the airport to Tirumala.

By Rail

Tirupati Railway station is connected to domestic routes like Bangalore, Chennai, Vishakapatnam and Madurai. Renigunta station is also quite close to Tirupati and an easier way to get to Tirupati.

By Road

You will find multiple bus services that run from cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and every part of Andhra Pradesh to Tirupati. It is advisable to carry a few medicines or chocolates with you if you suffer from motion sickness because the way to go up the hill is going to be full of twists and turns.

  About Brisbane

If you are planning a vacation to Australia, Brisbane is a city that must be on your itinerary. It is a popular tourist attraction in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne. It is also the capital of Queensland, which is also called Sunshine State. The city is known for its music, art, food and a very happening nightlife. Brisbane is also popular for its wildlife. From hugging Koalas to swimming with the dolphins, you can spend an entire day with animals and never get tired of it. The city also houses some of the best rooftop bars with a stunning view overlooking the beaches. You can catch a rugby match at the Suncorp Stadium if you are a sports fanatic or you can also opt for activities like climbing the Story Bridge and much more. The city gives you a ton of options to choose from that makes your vacation worth every penny spent. It is an ideal holiday destination if you want to spend it outdoors and not indoors.

Best Time to Visit Brisbane

One thing is certain, no matter what time of the year it is when you visit Brisbane, you will find yourself walking into more than one event. March to May is one of the best times to visit Brisbane. It is not a high tourist season, but the city does get relief from the heavy monsoon showers and heads towards the high season. The temperature ranges from 13 to 27 degree Celsius. You will come across some excellent flight deals to Brisbane, along with accommodations during this time. While you are here, you can attend the Brisbane Comedy Festival, World Science Festival Brisbane, Redcliffe Festival of Sails and Bike Week. The weather is quite pleasant, and you will also get to indulge in all of the outdoor activities that you plan to try. Flight tickets to Brisbane are also comparatively cheaper. If you don't like a crowded place, this is the perfect time to visit Brisbane.

June to August is winter in Brisbane, and the temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius. Even though it is winter in the city, the days remain quite warm. This is the best time to indulge in outdoor activities and attend events that are hosted here. This is high season in Brisbane, and you will even spot tourists from Sydney and Melbourne. Royal Queensland Show or Ekka is a very popular event that takes place in August. You can also attend the Queensland Music Festival and Out of the Box Festival in June-July. If you are in Brisbane in August, make sure you also attend the Redcliffe KiteFest. Make sure you book your hotel in Brisbane well in advance, along with your flight tickets to Brisbane because the rates spike up during this season.

Brisbane experiences springtime from September to November. The days are warm and the nights are quite breezy. The weather sets quite a romantic mood in the evenings. The temperature ranges from 13 to 28 degree Celsius. It is also a very busy time in Brisbane. You attend events like the Brisbane Writers Festival and Brisbane Festival in September, Valley Fiesta and Oktoberfest in October. The weather is perfect for trying any outdoor activity. You can even go for a swim in the lake or to the beaches. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance since hotels fill up pretty quickly during this season.

December to February are the wettest months in Brisbane. The temperature ranges from 20 to 30 degree Celsius. The heavy showers even lead to floods sometimes. Not to mention, you will also witness a lot of thunderstorms. Hotel prices drop and so do flight fares, since there are very few tourists in the city. The heavy showers might even put a damper on your outdoor plans. But you can, however, enjoy a lot of events and festivals in the city during this time. You can attend the Brisbane Comedy Festival in February and March or the BrisAsia Festival in January and February. You can also head to the Woodford Folk Festival in December-January.

Places to Visit in Brisbane

Whether you like beaches or mountains or both, Brisbane has both of it. You can either hit the beach over the weekend or go on a hike to the mountains. You will never get bored in Brisbane, and that is certain. The city also has museums and gardens for you to explore. Australia is known for its wildlife, and you can experience it in Brisbane, too. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the oldest and largest Koala sanctuaries in the world. But apart from Koalas, you will also find kangaroos, wombats, emus, Tasmanian devils, cockatoos, Australian parrots and so on. You can even hug a Koala here and take loads of pictures. Glass House Mountains on the coastal plains of Queensland and a group of thirteen volcanic hills. The native flora and fauna, along with a picturesque landscape, is what attracts tourists to this place. You can also go mountain climbing at Tibrogargan and Ngungun mountains. Story Bridge is an iconic structure in the city that connects Kangaroo Point, Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley. You can either explore the area on foot or rent a bicycle.

Bussink Ferris wheel is one of the most magnificent places to go to in Brisbane. It is 60-meters tall and offers you a 360-degree view of the city. The Ferris wheel stops when you reach the top, and you get to hear audio that reveals all the major attractions in Brisbane that you can visit. Roma Street Parkland is yet another popular attraction that you can head to on a sunny day. There are quite a few gardens in there, and they also have an amphitheatre. Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, or GOMA, is where you head to if you are an art lover. The museum houses a lot of modern and contemporary arts. South Bank is one of the most relaxing tourist attractions in Brisbane. Some eateries offer delicious foods, a scenic view from the river and it is also closer to other tourist attractions like the Wheel of Brisbane, Streets Beach, Grand Arbour and Nepal Peace Pagoda. If you are planning to head to the South Bank, make sure you pack your sunscreen and beach clothes. Streets Beach is right near the South Bank, and you can spend a gorgeous evening here.

Things to do in Brisbane

You can either rent a taxi for the entire day to explore the city, hire a guide for the day or you can just explore the city on foot all by yourself. Brisbane is known for its botanical gardens, and you can just explore the lush green gardens for a day. You can visit the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha or the City Botanic Gardens. Story Bridge is yet another popular tourist attraction in the city and mainly because it connects three other attractions. It is the link between Kangaroo Point, Fortitude Valley and central Brisbane. It also makes for a great place to take pictures. Head over to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to hug a Koala and take pictures with it. Go on a hike at Mount Coot-tha, and you will get a spectacular view of the city from up there. You can also enjoy a ferry ride from the South Bank to explore the city better.

Food and Restaurants in Brisbane

Brisbane has a very eclectic dining scene and a vibrant nightlife. You will find everything from Turkish, Chinese and Spanish cuisine to Australian food. You must try the meat pies here with potato wedges and other types of meats that are coated with Piri Piri. These are some of the popular and traditional Australian dishes. You will also find a lot of seafood, oysters specifically since it is so close to the ocean. The downtown area in Brisbane boasts of some top-rated restaurants. Esquire and The EURO are some of the most popular eateries in the city. You must also try the Farmers markets in the city since it is a big part of the food culture in Brisbane. Head over to Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co or Rogue Bistro for authentic Australian food and lip-smacking burgers. You can also try La Cache a Vin for traditional French cuisine and a glass of wine.

How to reach Brisbane (Transportation)

Brisbane Airport is the nearest to the city and is also the primary international airport in the city. It is also a major hub for airlines like Virgin Australia and Qantas. The flight connectivity to Brisbane from India is excellent. However, the travel time ranges from 18 to 30 hours, and it can get a tad exhausting. Cathay Pacific Airways, Qantas Airways and Singapore Airlines have frequent flights to Brisbane from India with layovers at Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney or Singapore, depending on which flight you pick. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, lounges, smoking areas, shopping areas, restaurants and cafes. You will also get a taxi from the airport to your hotel quite easily.