- The wide range of fauna found here includes wild animals and mammals like Tiger, Civet, Jackal, Black Buck, Panther, Spotted Deer, Ibex, Sloth Bear, Pig, Bear, Bonnet Monkey, Wild Dogs, Bison, Jackal, Fox, Rare Golden Gecko, Jungle Fowl, Indian Giant Squirrel, Tree Shrew, Flying Lizards, Nilgai, Wildboar, Occasional Leopard and Hyena. Avifauna comprises of more than 100 species of birds, including Crested Serpant Eagle, Ashy Crowned Finch Lark, Indian Roller, Kingfishers, White bellied Woodpecker, etc. Besides fauna, Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary is also quite rich in flora and foliage.
- The mixed vegetation in the park has patches of moist deciduous tree-plants. It has approximately 1500 species of plants, which belong to 176 families.
- Some of plant species available in Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary are Sandalwood, Redsanders, Shorea, Thumbergiana, Shorea talura, Terminalia pallida, Cycas beddomei, Syzygium alternifoliumm, Tamba Jalari, Gymnosperm, Tella Karakkaya, etc.
- Sri Venkateswara National Park is another attraction amidst the range of sanctuaries in India. Sited at a distance of 10 km from Tirupati, the park sprawls in an area of 353 sq km, over the Kadapa and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh.
- It boasts of many mesmerizing waterfalls, like Talakona, Gundalakona and Gunjana. Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary makes an interesting excursion from the divine land of Tirupati.
- For a nature lover, the park is no less than a veritable heaven, where precipitous gorges, sheer ridges, unfathomable valleys and striking waterfalls find their place in a lush green countryside, surrounded by Seshachalam and Tirumala hills.
- Over and above, a plethora of wild animals and birds make the affable community in this indigenous land.
- Established in 1989, Sri Venkateswara National Park was named after Lord Venkateswara - the 'Lord of Seven Hills'.
- Tiruchanur is a small town near Tirupati, the famous pilgrim center of the Hindus. In this small town there is a beautiful temple which is dedicated to Padmavati.
- The Padmavati Temple is an important tourist attraction that is well worth a visit. It is an important pilgrim center as well.
- Goddess Padmavati is believed to be a very benevolent goddess who readily forgives her devotees if they are repentant. One is showered with plenty as soon as he / she receives her blessings.
- This large temple is also popularly known as ‘Alamelumangapuram’. According to popular belief, visit to the famous temple at Tirupati is fruitful only after a visit to Tiruchanur which is just 5 km away from Tirupati.
- An inscription in the Padmavati Temple tells you in detail about the history of Tiruchanur. Originally there was a temple in Tiruchanur that was dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara.
- It was difficult for the priests to perform all the religious rituals because of space shortage. So they decided to carry out the activities elsewhere and only two important ceremonies were performed here. Later even this became difficult and so the place of worship was shifted. The place eventually lost all its significance.
- In the 12th century, the importance of the place was partially revised when the Yadava kings built the Shri Krishna Balaram Temple over here. Much later in the 16th and 17th century, two additions were made.
- The deity of Sundara Varadaraja was installed and a separate temple was built for Goddess Padmavathi. According to mythology, she was born in a lotus pond which is actually the tank within the temple premises of Tiruchanur.
- There are several deities housed within the temple. However the most admirable is definitely that of Sri Padmavathi. Padmavathi is the consort of Lord Venkateshwara, the presiding deity of Tirupati.
- She is shown as sitting in Padmasana holding two lotuses in her upper hands. Her posture evokes a lot of love and respect. The lower hands represent fearlessness and benediction. The Deities of Sri Krishna, BalaRama, Sundararaja Swami, and Surya-narayana Swami are also quite beautiful.
- Interestingly a lot of importance is also attached to the elephant who is the favorite celestial carrier of the goddess.
- The flag which is hoisted from the temple bears the image of an elephant. You are sure to be impressed by a visit to this temple which will be like a spiritual journey in this land famous for spiritualism.
