TIRUMALAI CAVES
13.683300,79.350000
Description
There are unspecified temple caves (note 1), compare the –>Venkatachala Caves, on the hill Tirumala 13°41'N: 79°21'E IMPERIAL GAZETTER (1907-1909, 23: 393); India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 113 F1) Tirumalai "sacred hill" (literally) Upper Tirupati IMPERIAL GAZETTER (1907-1909, 23: 393) Venkatachala Venkateswara 1151 m India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 113 F1) ETYMOLOGY: "achala" (Sanskrit) hill, mountain; "kadam" (Tamil) mountain; "mala" is short for "malai" (Tamil), hill, mountain; "ven" (Tamil) white. SITUATION: »Tirumala (or Upper Tirupati).-- Tirupati, in the taluk of Chandragiri in North Arcot District, Madras [Province], is celebrated throughout Southern India for the temple of Tirumala, the holy hill, 2,500 feet high). This place, often known as Upper Tirupati, is 6 miles [10 km] distant from Tirupati town and situated in 13° 41' N. and 79° 21' E.« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 23: 393). The hill appears to represent a south-east spur or outlier of the »Venkateswara Wildlife Sactuary« (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 113 F1) and rises rather 175 km along the National Highway NH205 from Chennai (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 113) than »83 m. [144 km] N.W. of Madras« (SMITH, G 1882: 378). GEOLOGY: »… sandstone cliffs by which the chain is crested have a columnar aspect … owing to nearly vertical fissures which intersect strata at right angles; and which, in the thicker bed, constitute their most marked feature. A highly illustrative instance of the jointed structure is seen in the mural sandstone cliffs cresting the sacred hill of Tripati« (NEWBOLD, T J 1845c: 499). APPROACH: About 10 km or »6 miles« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 23: 393) along the road north-west from the town of Tirupati 13°38'N: 79°24'E »… is crowded at all times with pilgrims to the famous shrine of Tirumala« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER (1907-1909, 23: 394). Tripalty SMITH, G (1882: 378): »… here in 1772 occurred the first recorded outburst of cholera.« Tripati NEWBOLD, T J (1845c: 499) Tripatti TAYLOR, P Meadows (1882 / 1920: 172) Tripetty »Orme« (SMITH, G 1882: 378). HILL DESCRIPTION 1882: »… one of the most frequented hill (2500 ft.) [762 m] pagodas of Vishnoo in S. India … On the seven-peaked hill are 16 waterfalls« (SMITH, G 1882: 378). HILL DESCRIPTION 1909: »The hill on which the temple stands possesses a number of the usual holy bathing-places, some of which are picturesquely situated« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 23: 394). CULTURAL HISTORY: Somewhere around is a statue of Venkateshwaraswami, an incarnation of Vishnu (RAJARAJAN 1992) in the shape of a four-armed Vishnu venerated as Shrinivasa or Venkatachalapati, the »Lord of White Hill Mountain« (GLASENAPP, H 1928: 90-91).
NOTE 1: »Höhlentempel« (GLASENAPP, H 1928: 90-91).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 | TIRUMALAI SHELTER (Sinha, B K 1983) | ||
| 7.4 | GUNDALA CAVES | ||
| 7.4 | JANGALI CAVES | ||
| 7.4 | ABBALAMERU CAVES | ||
| 7.4 | THUMBURTHEERTHAM CAVES | ||
| 7.8 | SILA THORANAM | ||
| 55.6 | KAMBAKHAM NAGALPURAM HILLS (Cave in the) | ||
| 153.9 | PEDDIREDDIPALLE (Caves at) | ||
| 174.4 | BHAIRAVAKONDA CAVES |