Tirupati to Raleigh 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 Raleigh

The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh's fame comes from its important universities such as North Carolina State University. The city is one of the best in the US for encouraging scholarly institutions pertaining to the fields of science, technology and art. Over the years, Raleigh has also turned a new leaf on its culinary front and has emerged into a foodie's paradise.

Best time to visit Raleigh

Raleigh's spring and fall are two beautiful seasons which see the city in a pleasant view. The temperatures during these two seasons are extremely favourable, and the city's landscape is quite pristine. Colours of red and yellow take over the streets and the scent of blossoming flowers take over the city. The whole air of the place is vibrant and brimming with life and excitement. The months September through November have an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius which is quite ideal for indulging in tourist activities. You can step out in the city and soak in all the beautiful weather as well as the lively atmosphere. It is essential that you carry a light jacket along with you as the brisk winter breeze would surprise you. This is also a good time to walk through some of their parks such as the Umstead State Park or Pullen Park. This time of the year, the accommodation prices also see a good discount. Booking hotels in Raleigh during the fall would be cheap and affordable. Plus, the city would also be celebrating Bugfest, North Carolina State Fair, Hopscotch Music Fest and SPARKcon, to keep you engaged.

The second-best wave of the season to marvel you would be spring, between March to May. The temperatures ascend from cold to hot but in a very comforting and pleasant manner. You wouldn't feel the excess heat or humidity on your face. The parks and streets perk up with blossoming flowers and leaves, that further adds to the aesthetic beauty of Raleigh. Festivals such as Brewgaloo, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Art Festival and Raleigh Rock' n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon also take place during this time of the year. It would be quite fun to indulge in a marathon or just cheer for the participants. The hotel prices are also not too steep or unaffordable. You will easily be able to make reservations for rooms in Raleigh during spring. In fact, you can book your hotels and flights to Raleigh and gain some lovely online deals too. Summers in Raleigh are not as pleasant as they come with humidity. You will feel the pesky sweat and oiliness on your skin. Plus, the heat would make it difficult to venture out for touristy activities.

Places to visit in Raleigh

Raleigh is a haven for art and science. If you are interested in the two subjects, you will have a good time visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. To get a peek at the history of North Carolina, you should further continue your museum excursion by visiting the North Carolina Museum of History. The city's government structure, also known as the North Carolina State Capitol, is also a good place to visit. The structure is inspired by Greek architecture and reflects a white building with tall pillars. The tour within the capitol will give you a peek at some of the pasts of the state of North Carolina. Marbles Kids Museum is another fun place which was built to enhance the thinking of a growing child. Basically, it is a perfect recreational centre for kids during the trip.

Things to do in Raleigh

Neuse River Trail is a cool neighbourhood where you can rent a bike and explore the trails. The path is actually white and follows the trails of the Neuse River. The place is beautiful as the trail paints a perfect picture for photography. To further continue with this kind of environment, you can also visit the William B. Umstead State Park. Sprawled across over 5,579 acres with wooden trails and lakes flowing, the park is definitely the kind to excite you. You would have a good time riding the bicycle in the trails or opting for a hike. Meanwhile, the place also has opportunities to take up paddle-boating and canoeing. It won't cost you an excessive amount to take up this activity. Pullen Park is highly known for being the first-ever public park built in the state and is recognised to be the fifth oldest amusement park in the United States. The amusement park's entry is very cheap, and the recreational activities are quite engaging. You can also indulge in their food culture. The city has a plethora of restaurants and food establishments that would take you through quite the gastronomical experience.

Food and Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh is inching closer towards being a foodie's haven with a growing and flourishing food culture. Much of the credit to this positive change in the city goes to celebrity chef Ashley Christensen. Over the years, she has managed to establish five restaurants and change the face of the culinary world that Raleigh has been acquainted with. Much recently, the city managed to get validation for their culinary excellence by becoming American's favourite cities for barbecue food. Famous publications such as Travel and Leisure and Forbes have credited Raleigh for being one of the best cities to venture into a food expedition. The city has brought forth a slew of restaurants and food establishments that have helped them add a feather to their hat. Ashley's Joule Coffee has also been recognised to be the best in the city. North Carolina's fame in the culinary world stands with their exquisite take on barbequed meat. To get hold of the juicy and smokey meat, you should head to Clyde's Cooper. It is a local favourite and has found fame for its cooking style.

Another famous food establishment that raves barbeque delights that North Carolina is known for is The Pit. The location of this establishment is just as intriguing as the food that they have to offer. From baby back ribs to fried chicken, you will get to explore a slew of barbequed meat with tasty sides. The city has a plethora of international cuisine too that are definitely worth checking out. From Sono's Japanese delicacies to Cheetie Kumar's Garland, these places bring together some extravagant flavours and cooking style to marvel their customers. You should check out Gravy, known for its authentic Italian-American fusion with their signature gravy being the big seller. You should also explore the menu at Jose and Sons, who bring forth their Mexican heritage to add more spice and grills to the platter. While you're stuffing yourself with delicious food, don't forget down some chilled craft beer too. Raleigh Brewing Company or Crak Arm Brewing are two places which serve some impeccable flavoured craft beer that you will certainly enjoy.

How to reach Raleigh (Transportation)

Travelling to Raleigh would mean to invest a lot of time as it takes close to 24 hours to reach the city. The flight connectivity to Raleigh from India is not good but thanks to connecting flights from various airlines, the journey is possible. British Airways, United Airlines and Air Canada are the three airlines that have only layovers and no changing flights business to Raleigh. In fact, British Airways can reach you to Raleigh in close to 24 hours. There is one layover at London's Heathrow Airport. As for United Airlines and Air Canada, where there are no connecting flights that you would have to take, there are lengthy layovers. In fact, you will also require a transit visa if you are travelling from these airlines. The airlines have layovers in European cities such as Frankfurt and Munich, aside from their domestic cities Toronto and Newark as well. The duration though is quite similar to the one offered by British Airways. These are the most popular routes to reach Raleigh from Indian cities. Mumbai and Delhi offer the best airline connectivity to reach Raleigh.

Other airlines such as Air France, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Gulf Air, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, to name a few, also have flights to Raleigh. They use other international routes to reach Raleigh that mostly consist of a layover at their cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Newark, Hong Kong, to name a few. The flight tickets to Raleigh are rather expensive. A round-trip would cost you a staggering amount. However, if you have some miles in your kitty, this would be a good time to make more or use the ones you have been saving up. You can opt to book flight tickets to Raleigh in advance to get hold of cheap prices. While you are booking your flight tickets, it is recommended that you also book your hotels in Raleigh. Combining the two expenses would give you some great online deals to Raleigh. Besides, it would be convenient to spend on flight and hotel bookings well in advance to avoid excess expenditure during the trip.