**Information is provided just to make people aware of History and no one should use this route to reach Tirumala**
People from all walks of life, irrespective of caste and religion visit this place in large numbers. That includes – rishis, yogis, poets, artists, sidhis — in other words, common men to kings.
All of them are fretful and desperate to have His darshan. It’s a blend of religious, historical, cultural and social backgrounds.
People from Karnataka
Tirumala Swami is known as ‘THIMMAPPA’ in Karnataka. Pilgrims hailing from that state used to come from Bhakrapet Pass on Pileru route. They used to stay overnight in BalaVenkateswara Swami temple, on a hillock called Nemali Gundlu, and proceed on Chitticherla-Devarakonda route through a forest area called, Shyama Kona.
According to a legend, Srinivasa was fleeing along with his love Bibi Nanchari in Bhakrapet forest. The soldiers of Nawab chased and chased the couple and were weary. The couple rested on a hillock. Srinivasa asked His love to light firewood to cook food and He took a fishing rod to a nearby pond to catch fish.
Reason behind the Name – Devara Konda
As He was about pulling the rod when a fish stuck to the hook, He heard the din of Nawab’s soldiers. He immediately got up and threw the rod away, ran towards a cave holding the hand of Bibi Nanchari, entered it and disappeared. Since this was the hill on which the Lord trod around, it has come to prominence as ‘Devuni Konda’ [God’s Hill] and subsequently as ‘Devara Konda’.
Recently, the Venkateswara Swami temple built there has been restored. Daily pooja and Brahmotsavas are held there with pomp.
Dense Forest Route
From Devara Konda, the route is a dense forest. On the way, we can see forests with local rustic flavour — SADDI KOOLLA BANDA, PULI BONU BANDA, SYAMA KONA. This route, which lies to the West of Tirumala, was once rampant with tigers. Kenneth Anderson, a famous hunter tracked a man-eater tiger and killed it there.
But presently, it is a protected forest, as part of Sri Venkateswara Reserve Forest.
Since there used to be the threat of bandits in this forest, people always travelled in groups. Once again, we should climb up via “Nancharamma Lake”, “Tirumala Bandalu”, “Tenkaya Chettu” areas.
After crossing “Dunnapotula Penta”, “Gandralagula Gunda” and other areas, we reach Tirumala Veda Pathasala. Very close to it is the epicentre of Kaliyuga, Sri Srinivasa Tirumala Kshetra!
