Chikka Tirupati is located in Malur taluk of Kolar district. The main attraction of Chikka Tirupati is Sri Prasanna Venkateshwara temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The lord is standing with his consort Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. The right hand is in Varada hasta (the boon granting hand). Chikka Tirupati is visited by many pilgrims during the month of Shravana (July - August).
History of Chikka Tirupati
Agni’, the fire god, during the incineration (dahana) of the forest of herbs (khandava vana), causes burn injuries to the serpent god Takshaka. Takshaka bestows Agni with a curse that he lose his power’. A perturbed Agni went to Lord Krishna, who suggested that the way out for him is to please Lord Vishnu, who can restore his power. So Agni gets the ’shaapa-vimochana’ by performing a penance and pleasing Vishnu. With great joy, Agni built a temple for Lord Venkateswara at Chikka Tirupathi. The lord here is aptly named as ‘Prasanna Venkateshwara’. All the festivals that are held at Tirupathi are also held here.
Route
There are three options to go to Chikka tirupati depending on exits from Bangalore :
1. KR Puram – Hoskote – NH 4 – 1km – right turn towards Malur – 24 km – pass through malur town – railway bridge – right turn – Chikka tirupati is 20 km from there. total distance from Hoskote – 45 km – good roads except vicinity of Malur town.
2. Whitefield road – ITPL – Hope farm circle – straight – 40 km – good / village roads / occasional pot holes
3. St John’s Hospital – Sarjapur road -30 km – pass through sarjapur town ( market / bus stand ) – left turn – 13 km to Chikka tirupati. average roads – 50 / 60 km/hr.
Shortest route to Chikka Tirupathi is via Whitefield – ITPL route and road seems to be quite decent now.
I travelled via Whitefield - Channasandra - Kalkunte Agrahara - Chikka Tirupathi. Return via Sarjapura - Dommsandra - Karmelarama - Iblur - Bellandur Gate - outer Ring Road. Alternatively, you can also take the right durn from Dommasandra to proceed to Marathahalli via Hegondanalhalli - Gunjut - Varthur Lake - Varthur.
Location / Route-map
View Larger Map
Watch-out for
Nice 2 hour break from the city
Lush green fields along the countryside
Fresh Vegetable vendors on the roadside
High rise flats @ Sarjapur
On the way back, you can also visit the Kalkunte Ranganathaswamy temple (I actually missed them) -
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalkunte
* http://rameshjs.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/kalkunte-agrahara-sri-ranganatha-perumal-temple/
Pics
Though there are lots of Photos of Chikka Tirupathi on the web, I am posting few of them, that I took.
