About Ettumanoor
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Ettumanoor Green Tree Tours and Travels (sometimes referred as Ettumanur ) is a major town in Kottayam District of Kerala, India, located 11 kilometers north-east of Kottayam town, 65 km from Cochin and 73 km from Cochin International Airport. The state Highway No.1 popularly known as the Main Central (MC) Road, passess through Ettumanoor, and is a major connecting link between Palai and beyond to the Western Ghats and to the commercial capital of Kerala - Kochi. Ettumanoor is en route to the tourist resort at wagamon and Poonjar.
Other religious places in Ettumanoor
In Ettumanoor Green Tree Tours and Travels Christuraj church (Christ the King Church) is one of the famous church in Kottayam district. The tall and beautiful church being renovated recently stands in the heart of the town. There are a number of mosques also. Kaithamala Muhiudheen Masjid, situated at Parolikkal, 1.2KM away from the town is the oldest and most important one. Famous Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, reported to be the one of the oldest mosque in India is only around 15KM away from the town. Another famous pilgrim center Athirampuzha St. Mary's church is just 2 KM away from this place. The Fire works on occasion of Athirampuzha Thirunal Festival on the night of 24 January used attract thousands of people every year, even from neighbouring districts.
Ettumanoor Green Tree Tours and Travels is an ancient town famous for the Siva temple with Ezharaponnana. Roads connecting ancient port Athirampuzha & eastern hills of Meenachil and Trivandrum & Ankamaly passes through this town, another two state highways starts from this town- one to Ernakulam and second to Chertala. Ettumanoor railway station was the hub for steel supply for Idukki dams during construction. Famous Athirampuzha church (first constructed during 9th century)is close to Ettumanoor. The place has attained 100% literacy much ahead of Kerala’s achievement of the complete literacy. Even though, the area was not rich, there is a drastic improvement in the condition. The economy is rapidly growing through the income generated by the non residents and business men. Most of the small scale farmers in this area have turned to other jobs, and the new generation is trying to make more money through better employment and business. The fast development of the town and the tall and beautiful church being erected are the evidence. This place is famous for its cultural values- the dharna conducted by catholic youths during early eighties to recover the golden statues lost from the temple is something which is to be written in the history of India with golden letters. In addition to the near by medical college and MG university, there are several other institutions in Ettumanoor including industrial estate, government of India production centre, arts and science college, engineering college & ITI. Unlike majority of the places in India, Ettumanoor is having a professionally qualified MLA.
As Ettumanoor is one of the eminent place for the tourists in which the Green Tree Tours and Travels is making through as such.
About Tirupati
The city of Tirupati is one of the biggest pilgrimage centers of the world. Positioned at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is most famous for the VenkateswaraSwamy temple located in the Tirumala Hills. 50,000 - 100,000 pilgrims visit Tirupati every day, traveling from far and wide to offer Darshan to Lord Venkateswara. The number of Darshan seekers who take the tour in a single day can skyrocket to 500,000 on special occasions, making Tirupati the busiest religious destination in the whole world. The Venkateswara Temple is found atop the last of the seven Tirumala hills near Tirupati, at an elevation of 853 meters. Other major centers for the pilgrim’s tour include the Govindaraja shrine within Tirupati and the Padmavati shrine in Tiruchanur, about 5 kilometers south of Tirupati.
Historically, the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala is claimed to have been an established center of Vaishnavism by 5th century A.D. The town of Tirupati formed itself much later around the foundation of the Govindarajaswami Temple, which was established by the Vaishnavaite teacher, Ramanuja, during the twelfth century. Prior to this the only settlement in the area was a tiny village named Kapilatirtham, a short distance to the north of modern-day Tirupati. ‘Ramanujapuram,’ expanded a great deal during Vijayanagara times, gradually forming a big township. Over successive centuries, several other shrines too sprouted up lending to Tirupati’shighly regarded sanctity. Today, with never less than 5,000 pilgrims offering Darshan to Lord Venkateswara, the temple has turned into one of the richest places of worship in the entire world, second only to SreePadmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala.
Entry and regular Darshan at the TirupatiVenkateswara Temple is free, however, those who choose to pay extra may join the express lane for a quick Darshan. Touring pilgrims may also buy quick Darshan tickets that are available at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex- a series of inter-linked hallways leading up to the main shrine where the BalajiDarshan takes place. The queue system regulates a minimum of 5,000 worshipers seeking Darshan at any given point and ensures orderly movement of pilgrims. The free Darshan is called ‘SarvaDarshan,’ translating into ‘darshan for all.’ This common Darshan is normally allotted between 18 and 20 hours daily and has different timings each day. The ‘SeegraDarshan’ ticket was introduced in 2009 to provide a quick and convenient Darshan for Pilgrims who are willing to pay extra. The cost of a SeegraDarshan ticket is Rs. 300 per pilgrim and can be made available as part of the package tour. On purchasing the SeegraDarshan ticket, pilgrims are allowed their Darshan directly. SeegraDarshan tickets are available at all times when the SarvaDarshan is open.
The DivyaDarshan is provided for those who make it to Tirumala by foot via the GaliGopuram or SrivariMettu, facilitating free Darshan, accommodation and food. The Sudarshan token, issued from various TTD-counters at Rs.50 was introduced to reduce waiting time by indicating a particular time when the pilgrim may enter the Vaikuntam Queue Complex. A Special Darshan is also available for the Physically Challenged, the Aged and infants, along with attendants, through a separate gate at the main temple entrance. E-Darshan counters are available in major cities from which bookings can be made 60 days in advance of the tour.
The seventh of the sacred hills (Tirumala) that houses the Venkateswara temple is known as Venkatachalam Hill and is the predominant part of all tours to Tirupati. It is located 12 kilometers northwest of Tirupati and is surrounded by hills of higher altitude. At the final leg of the tour to Tirumala are five different routes, two from Tirupati- a pathway built of steps and a motorway, a third from Chandragiri, a fourth from Mamandur Railway station and a fifth via Nagapatla.