More Amenities for Tourists at Tirupati and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh

With a vision of escalating the number of tourists at diverse religious and heritage sites, the Tourism Ministry has determined to fortify infrastructure and generate more amenities in those sites including in the pilgrimage city of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. For the continuing huge circuit projects at Tirupati and Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry has granted Rs. 2503.62 lakhs as central finance assistance (CFA) to generate some better amenities in these areas with Rs. 1395.75 sanctioned for Tirupati circuit and Rs. 1107.87 for Kadapa Circuit. Several temples in Chittoor district like Sri Vedanaryana Swamy Temple, Srivari Mettu, Chandragiri Fort, Sri Kalahasteeshwara Temple, Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple and Sri Kalyana Venkateshwara Swamy Temple are included in the development project of Tirupati.
The 10^th century temple in Tirupati attracts more tourists than even Ajanta-Ellora and Taj Mahal, according to the information by Tourism Ministry. With 206.8 million domestic tourists in the last year, Andhra Pradesh has become the chief tourist destination in the country while Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu credited with the second and third position with 184.1 million and 168.4 million of domestic tourists respectively.   The ministry has certified funds for the building of mini cultural auditoriums, tourist arrival centres and tourist information centres, children parks and restoration of diverse temples, under the project. Building of public toilets, drinking water facilities and landscaping are also involved in the project.  Due to theattendance of a sequence of temples and forts including that survive since the Vijaya Nagara Empire; Kadapa was preferred as the mega circuit destination which will cover 21 temples and 21 forts including Vaidhyanatha Swami Temple, Saumya Natha Temple, Kodandarama Temple, Athirala Parasurma Temple and Gandikota Fort.