Date:24/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/24/stories/2008042451870300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

More facilities at Srinivasa Mangapuram

Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI: The TTD management has developed a Kalyana Mandapam worth Rs. 50 lakh at Srinivasa Mangapuram, the abode of Lord Kalyana Venkateswara, on the outskirts of the city. According to mythology, it was here that the Lord spent six months after his marriage with Goddess Padmavathi. The number of devotees preferring to conduct weddings here has of late seen a steady rise.

The trekking route from Srivari Mettu near Srinivasa Mangapuram is the shortest (2.1 km) to reach Tirumala hills, compared to the regular and popular route starting from Alipiri. To develop this as an alternate route, the TTD has decided to construct a choultry ‘Sri Krishna Devaraya Sadan’ with 30 rooms and two dormitories in memory of the Vijayanagara emperor who developed this region, besides a ‘Padala Mandapam’.

Foundation laid

TTD Chairman B.Karunakar Reddy inaugurated the Kalyana Mandapam and laid the stone for the choultry on Wednesday. Special Officer (Tirumala) A.V. Dharma Reddy, Chief Engineer V.S.B. Koteswara Rao and Deputy Executive Officer (Local Temples) A.Vasudevan were among those present.