CITY SHOPPING
the holy city famous for its shrines, is a popular destination for many pilgrims. Tirupati translates into 'holy mountains' has seen the ancient dynasties like the Cholas, the Pallavas and the Vijaynagar Empire. Tourists flock here to view the renowned Sri Venkateswara Temple which is located at the top of the Tirumala Hills. Apart from the multitudes of religious sites, Tirupati has several tourist attractions like the Deer Park, the Rock Garden and the Kalyani Dam. The Asthana Mandapam and the Chandragiri fort are other major tourist attractions here. However, one of the underrated pleasures that this city in Andhra Pradesh has to offer is shopping. So, get your wish list out as we explore the various avenues for shopping in Tirupati.
1. Thanjavur Paintings
This classical art first emerged is the Thanjuvar district of Tamil Nadu. It dates back to 1600AD and is characterised by its vibrant and myriad colours, gold foil and gemstones. They are created on wooden panels (palagai padam) employing the gilded and gem-setting technique that creates a two-dimensional effect. These paintings usually have religious themes and mythological subjects and feature religious deities in the centre of the canvas in all their magnificence. They depict episodes from Puranas and sometimes have secular themes as well.
These paintings are extensively done in the Madanpalli town and are available at many places in Tirupati. Not only are these for the connoisseurs of art but are also souvenirs of festive occasions.
2. Kalamkari Paintings
Another traditional artform, Kalamkari which translates into art done with pens, is done on fabrics like silk and cotton using natural dyes derived from vegetables. This beautiful art is a product of twenty-three steps covering a wide range of subjects like birds, flowers and particularly episodes from Hindu mythology. This art form flourished in two cities mainly, Kalahasti in Chennai and Masulipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Today, this art form has been revived by the fashion industry which brought Kalamkari sarees in vogue. The kalamkari artform is also available in the form of paintings and other handicrafts at Tirupati.
3. Wooden Toys
The popular whitewood toys of Andhra Pradesh are available at Tirupati. The Kondapalli toys are renowned for their unique softwood and are painted in water and oil paints. The subjects vary from birds and animals to rural folks and deities. Etikoppaka toys are another favorite category of toys which are famous for its use of lacquer colours. These toys are exported worldwide and are abundantly available in Tirupati.
