In India, Tirupati is one of the ancient cities. The city is specially known for the ancient temples of which the temple of Tirupati is the mostly visited religious place. The city is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple of Tirupati is built in the foothills of the Tirumala Hills. This temple is very popular among the devotees and the tourists who visit this temple from different states of India and abroad.

The Tirupati Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara who is also popularly worshiped as Balaji. Sometimes, he is also referred as Lord Srinivas. The temple town surrounding this holy temple area is known as Tirumala – Tirupati. The Greater Tirupati that was constructed very recently extends for an area of about 1400 km from Srikalahasti to the Puttur. The temple of Lord Venkateshwara is maintained by an autonomous trust known as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).

Tonsuring or shaving one's head is one of the rituals that the devotees of Venkateshwara follows after visiting this holy temple. This ritual has descended after the Vaishnavite tradition. Offering one's hair to Lord symbolizes shedding one's ego. The act of tonsuring is done by barbers at the Kalyana Katta, built near the temple.

The Tirupati Temple gets mention in the Puranas. Its history can be traced back to 9th century. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram patronized the construction of the Tirupati Temple. This Hindu temple became popular during 15th century under the rule of the Vijayanagara dynasty. The Mahants of the Hatiramji Mutt looked after the administrative activities of the Tirupati Temple from about 1843 to 1933 AD. It was from 1933 that the administrative duties of the temple was handed over to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam by the government of Madras. After a few years, in 1951, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam was reconstituted and it was decided that an Executive Officer will henceforth act as an administrative head.

According to the Hindu legends, Balaji or Lord Venkateshwara is considered to be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord resided by the small water body located near the Tirumala. The Sapthagiri Hills or the seven hills surrounds the Tirumala- Tirupati region. This hill is named after the legendary serpent – Sheshnaga. The temple of Tirupati is built on Venkatadri, which is the seventh peak of the Sapthagiri Hills.

According to myths, it is believed that if anybody visit this holy temple on the day of Ekadasi during the month Vaikunta, then he receives blessings and he would attain salvation after his death. It is also believed that on this auspicious day, the people who has reached the abode of God will be forgiven of their sins.

As the legend goes, it is said that Ramanuja – a saint born in the 11th century once climbed the seven hills in Tirumala- Tirupati. He received blessings from Balaji who appeared before him. With blessings from Lord, Ramanuja lived for 120 years. During his lifetime Ramanuja popularized Venkateshwara among his devotees.