Chittoor

Located in the Poini River Valley, Chittoor is one of the richest temple towns in South India. Nestled in the hills, with cascading waterfalls, Chittor is home to several divine shrines. Apart from its religious importance, Chittoor is also famous for its multiple varieties of mangoes. A perfect getaway from the hustle bustle of city life, Chittoor has a rich history and legends ranging from the Cholas to the Sultans and thus has something in store for each traveler visiting the city.

A contemporary district situated on the banks of Ponnai River has a remarkable history of ancient tales engraved in its beauty. Chittoor Is a Tamil word which means ‘a small town’ as it was a part of the Tamil constituency ‘Thondai Nadu’. The rich historical evidence of this district has been found in Paleolithic tools of Tirupathi, Mesolithic tools in Chinthaparthi and Neolithic tools in Bangarupalem. These are also popular destinations for travellers to understand the emergence of this city and its culture. Komandu Kurumba Prabhu was the first ruler who fortified this place and divided the region into 24 parts. After facing defeat in the 8th and 9th century by the Cholas, Komandu was only left with the eastern region, the rest taken over by Ballal in the 11th century and then by Vijaynagar in the 13th century. The progressive battles left the city with numerous engravings and evidence of its rulers, which are now popular sites for visitors. In later years, Bahmani ruled the region and then conquered by Mughals on 23rd January 1565. In 1713 Marathas and Nizams fought for the region and a treaty was signed between them in 1804 which asked for aid in the return of governance. Few years’ later British military took over and ruled until independence in 1947.

A staple and tradiotinal meal here, will generally consisit of of a helping of plain rice to go with a variety of gravies and dry meat. Ragi Mudde is also a popular alternate to simple white rice. Other than this there are countless options available if you wish to enjoy local and traditional Andhra cuisine.

Day 1: Start your day off by savouring scrumptious South Indian breakfast. Breakfast cafes or street vendors serve some of the classic Idli/Vada with tangy Sambhar which is a local breakfast dish. Post breakfast, take a cab/bus to Horsely Hills, a picturesque hill station in Chittoor. Sign up for the trek and spend your day strolling around in parks along with making a trip to the zoo. Have lunch and take a cab ride to Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary for the evening. Have some coffee and end your day with the evening aarti/prayer ceremony in Sri Venkateshwara Temple. Situated at a height of 853 m, it is a popular holy pilgrimage.

Day 2: Start your second day with a popular Andhra style breakfast in Hotel Sindhu Towers. Take a stroll outside for some savoury street food to compliment your breakfast. Take a bus ride from the nearest bus stop to Nagari Hills. Carry your trekking gear and clothing as its highest cliff is a popular trek circuit. After the climb, you can have a supper and head out for a calm evening in the coastal village of Mogili. Located at a distance of 25 kilometres from Chittoor, it is famous for Mogileeswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sea winds and a cup of ‘kadak chai’ is the best combination to relax and end your trip in this cultural city.