Alipiri

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Alipiri
Neighborhood of Tirupati
Garuda statue at Alipiri in Añjali Mudrā
Alipiri Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 13°38′49.46″N 79°24′21.3″E / 13.6470722°N 79.405917°E / 13.6470722; 79.405917
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
City	Tirupati
Named for	Starting place for trekking to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple on foot
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	517501
Vehicle registration	AP 03
Lok Sabha constituency	Tirupati
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Tirupati

Alipiri Padala Mandapam or Alipiri is the place at foot of seven hills in Tirupati, the pilgrim city of Sri Venkateswara Swami, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a neighbourhood of Tirupati city.

Alipiri is one of two ways to reach Tirumala on foot,^[1] and it was until recently the only one in modern times. Srivari Mettu, about 2 km away, is the original one that was renovated and brought back to use in 2008. Alipiri is the longer route with 3550 steps,^[2] Srivari Mettu is shorter with 2388 steps.

Alipiri is also the foot of two road ways, one up and one down leading to Tirumala through the Seven Hills. It is therefore called "The Gate Way to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple"^[3]

A long time ago, pilgrims used to climb all Seven Hills through the stepped way on foot because there were no other options. Pilgrims would visit from far away, cook and eat there and rest for some time. After resting, they would start to climb the steps.^[4]

Now the entire stepped way is covered with a roof to protect pilgrims from sunlight and rain. Lights are also provided. Special privilege is provided to the pilgrims who came on foot to visit the Lord. ^{[citation needed]}

Alipiri literally means "Place where from Ali returned". Malikafur's army commander Ali returned from this place aborting his movement towards Tirumala, after learning that Lord Varahaswamy has to be visited before visting Tirumala. Boar (Varaha) is considered to be haram in Islam^[5]

Srivari Padala Mandapam is a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara at Alipiri. The presiding deity is referred to Padala Venkateswara Swamy.^[3] As per legend, Lord Venkateswara, after Ekantha Seva at Tirumala, would come visit his consort Padamavati at Tiruchanur, down the hill through Alipiri Steps path and would leave his footwear at this place and hence the name "Padala Mandapam"(Telugu : Padalu refers to Foot).^[3] Devotees going on Tirumala Yatra from Tirupati offer prayers here first by carrying "Srivari Padukalu"(believed to be a representation of the footwear worn by Lord Venkateswara himself) on their heads.^[3] The temple comes under Sri GovindarajaSwamy Temple circle and is being administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

There is a sub-temple dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayana in the Alipiri Padala Mandapam Temple complex which lies east of Padala Mandapam. The temple entrance and the deity faces towards the west. It has a sub-shrine dedicated to Andal.^[3]

There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha in the Alipiri Padala Mandapam Temple complex which lies on the 2nd Ghat Road leading from Tirupati to Tirumala. Devotees going by Road will offer prayers at this temple before starting Tirumala Yatra.^[3]

There is an ancient footsteps path to Tirumala, that starts from Alipiri known as Alipiri Metlu. The Devotees to fulfil their Vow to Lord Venkateswara will take this path to reach Tirumala on foot from Tirupati. It consists of a total 3550 Steps which makes a distance of 12 km. A public service allows devotees to drop their luggage and footwear at the beginning of the steps to be collected once they reach the end of the steps free of cost.^[6] There are four Gopurams(Temple Towers) on the way. It is completely roofed and passes through seven hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills.^[7][8][9]

All vaishnavite festivals will be celebrated at Padalamandapam Temple which includes Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Rathasapthami.

Metlotsavam is the festival which will be held once in three months, to the Alipiri footsteps leading to Tirumala. It is organised by Dasa sahitya project under Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The festival includes group of devotees taking a trek to Tirumala singing spiritual songs.^[10]

At Alipiri, a security zone was established, in 2009, to screen vehicles and pilgrims entering Tirumala, to safeguard the hills from terrorists and anti-social elements.^[11]

• Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams

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