Tirupati to Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia, located in Pennsylvania, is the largest city in the state and has a rich and prominent history. Known to be the place where the Independence Declaration was signed, and the country was freed from the colonial rule. Many other revolutionary incidents have also taken place in the city. It is the sixth most populated city in the US. The city is also noted for its plethora of prominent universities and colleges. The city is also the centre for Pennsylvania's economic activities. Travelling to Philadelphia is convenient and traversing within the city is also quite comfortable. With various historical locations and places to visit, the city easily becomes one of the top destinations to check out in the United States.

Best time to visit Philadelphia

Philadelphia enjoys a fancy spring season from March to May. Not only is this time good for nature enthusiasts to soak in all the beauty of the place but also for photographers to indulge in postcard-worthy grabs. Spring brings along with it, a refreshing air while the brisk temperatures start to subside. Usually, the temperatures range between 10 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius, which means you will have to carry your winter jackets. The comfortable weather will only make you want to stay outdoors all day. One of the biggest highlights of the spring season is to watch the cherry blossoms in Philadelphia bloom in Fairmount Park. This is a sight your photography skills can try to capture but wouldn't be able to bring out its absolute beauty. It's an experience, and that is incomparable to the pictures taken. Plus, during this time, the city also rings in amazing festivals and events such as St. Patrick's Day Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Philly Craft Beer Festival, Philly Black Pride, Philadelphia Children's Festival, Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show, to name a few. Not only the weather but even the hotel prices in Philadelphia are cheap and affordable.

The months from June to August are also quite favourable as they are peak summer for Philadelphia. The city bustles with tourists as the temperatures rise to an agreeable 30 degree Celsius, which is quite pleasant. The city also sees more festivities such as Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philly Beer Week, Philly Pride Parade and Festival and Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, to name a few. With so much happening, the prices to book hotels in Philadelphia also takes a surge. Finding a decent hotel room in Philadelphia for cheap during summer is next to impossible. However, if you don't mind the winter rush of the city, December to February is your time to shine. The city witnesses cold winters with the temperatures dropping to negatives too, sometimes. However, that only means there is snow on the streets and cheap and affordable hotels in Philadelphia. The locals manage to spruce up the frigid weather by ringing in new festivities such as Philadelphia Auto Show, Christmas Light Show, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest and Mummer's Parade, to name a few. These activities certainly help keep the spirits up.

Places to visit in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has some great historical significance as it is recognised to be the place where the American founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. The event took place in the city's Liberty Bell Centre, which automatically becomes one of the famous tourist sites to visit. It is located in the Independence National Historical Park and witnesses tourists all-round the year, especially during the peak season. Opposite the Liberty Bell Centre is the Independence Hall, another important Gregorian-style structure that has contributed to American history. While you're engaged in some historical and educational tour, do visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art which has works of artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and more. John F Kennedy Plaza, famously recognised as the LOVE Park, is an alluring stretch of green expanse that boasts the beauty of the city. You also have the National Museum of American Jewish History as one of the establishments to visit.

Things to do in Philadelphia

The city has far too many things that should be done by a traveller. Aside from taking pictures at the LOVE Park or visiting the Philadelphia Zoo, you can also go on a food tour to the Reading Terminal Market. Further, you can stroll through the posh and swanky lanes of Rittenhouse Square, where you will find top-notch restaurants, a thriving lifestyle and the Mutter Museum. To satiate the adrenaline rush that you wish to experience, visit the Wissahickon Valley Park and go on a horseback riding expedition. You can further take up mountain biking and hiking as other activities in the park.

Food and restaurants in Philadelphia

Over the years, the culinary scene of Philadelphia has evolved with a slew of up and coming food establishments taking over the streets. You will notice some new and amazing restaurants and dining establishments that are classy and pricey. Much of these establishments can be found at Old City and Rittenhouse Square. So if you plan to enjoy a lovely fancy evening in Philly, you can find some of those in these areas. Restaurants such as Parc, The Love and The Dandelion are some of the places that promise to give you a dining experience of a lifetime. Of course, it is important that you make prior reservations as you might not get tables here. At the city centre, you can find some more places that would satiate your culinary desires. From French to Indian to Japanese, you will be able to taste the world cuisine in Philadelphia. Of course, the list of cuisines doesn't end there. You can further explore good food and go for an Italian rendezvous at the Talula's Garden. What makes this place exceptional is how the ingredients and vegetables used are very fresh and delicious.

Philadelphia's highlights in terms of culinary are pretzels and cheesesteak. A cheesesteak is basically a hoagie-like sandwich where thin slices of steak are placed between the slices of bread while some cheese, onions, peppers and mushrooms are added to bring about a magnificent flavour. South of Philadelphia is the best place to get your hands on these sandwiches. In fact, the Italian Market is the perfect place for you to find the cheesesteak. You can also customise these sandwiches. If you wish to go to the popular ones, Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks are the two popular shops where you can find the best cheesesteaks. Reading Terminal Market is another establishment where you will find a plethora of tasty dishes. Philly's BYOB (bring your own bottle) is also good if you are running on a budget. But do learn about the policies of the place before visiting the place as they have their own set of rules that you must abide by. Some more names for your perusal are Beiler's Bakery, Cafe La Maude, Bistro Romano and Ristorante Pesto.

How to reach Philadelphia

Flight connectivity to Philadelphia from India is excellent as there are many connecting flights to the city. Despite being one of the largest cities in the US, there are no direct flights to Philadelphia from India. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Out of the mentioned Indian cities, Mumbai and Delhi are the only two metros which have the most number of flights flying to Philadelphia. There are regular flights to Philadelphia which fly every day from India. Airlines such as American Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Swiss, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, have flights to Philadelphia. Since there are no direct flights to Philadelphia, often much of these airlines have layovers and connecting flights to reach the city from India. These airlines have layovers in international cities such as Doha, London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, to name a few falling in this international route to Philadelphia. Sometimes if there are more than one stops, connecting flights can be found in the US at cities such as Chicago, Boston, etc. There are flights that connect from London as well if you pick British Airways as your airlines for travel.

Getting cheap flight tickets to Philadelphia would be tough since the round trip always surpasses more than a lakh INR. However, if you book your tickets to Philadelphia in advance, you might be able to snag some cheap flight deals online. In fact, as long as you're able to book your hotels in Philadelphia, months in advance, even that would help you ease down splurging extra bucks. There are often many flights and hotels combo deals online that you can probably take up, depending on how you time your plans and if you get lucky. Often people choose to get a ticket to a cheaper city in the United States to fly out. From there, options of rental cars, taxi cabs and other such provisions are available which make travelling to Philadelphia cheaper and experiential. One of the popular routes to Philadelphia is from Mumbai and Ahmedabad as these cities have more flights, plus they are better connected.