Japali - Tirumala

Alipiri is the place at foot of seven hills in Tirupati, which is one of two ways to reach Tirumala on foot, It is therefore called "The Gate Way to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple"

Earlier pilgrims used to climb the Hills through the stepped way on foot because there were no other options. but now we have very good road facility - where in you’ll have to wait at this junction to scan all your belingings - as TTD is very strict about security

The Seshachalam hill ranges running to North West to South East, over to a length about 80 km and width ranged from 32 to 40 km in the two Rayalaseema region districts, Chittoor and Kadapa

The hills contain seven peaks namely, Anjanadri, Garudadri, Narayanadri, Neeladri, Seshadri, Venkatadri and Vrishabhadri, the highest at about 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level. The seven peaks are said to represent the seven hoods of Lord Adisesha, the king of serpents in Hindu mythology. 

Tirumala Hills are part of Seshachalam Hills range. The hills are 853 metres (2,799 ft) above sea level. The Hills comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha. The temple lies on the seventh peak -Venkatadri, on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. Hence the temple is also referred to as "Temple of Seven Hills". Tirumala town covers about 10.33 sq mi (26.75 km2) in area.

Lord Anjaneya is the main deity in the temple at Japali Theertham. After visiting and enjoying the natural as well as divine bliss I felt that it is one of the most worthy places to visit in Tirumala hills. It is on the way to Akasha Ganga at about 7 kms away from the main shrine of Lord Venkateswara.

A legendary story has made it all important, holy and sacred. The story is that originally the Anjanadri is the birth place of Lord Hanuman. Then Japali Maharshi stayed in his ashram over here. Thus it has taken the name of sage Japali. At some point during the time of Ramayana, epic story, Lord Rama, his consort Seetha and brother Lakshmana stayed here along with Lord Hanuman while they were on vanavasam of 14 years. (This episode doesn’t tally with Valmiki Ramayana). There is a perennial water source known as ‘Rama Kund’ in the temple premises, which was the spring of drinking water and bath for them.

Pilgrims believe that by bathing in this thirtha (holy pond) all their sins would be washed away. That is why the Pilgrims visiting Japali never fail to take a holy dip and bathe in Japali Theertham. You can also cover the holy places of Lord Venugopala Swamy temple, Akasha Ganga and Papavinasanam while visiting this place.

The famous festivals celebrated in this temple are Tumburu Phalguna Pournami, Chakra Karthika Masa, Ksheerabdi Dwadasi, and Kumaradhara Magha Pournami and Ramakrishna Pushya Pournami.