A ceremonial reception awaits President Pranab Mukherjee who is scheduled to visit the sacred hill temple of Lord Venkateswara on July 1.
During his whirlwind pilgrimage lasting for over six hours, the President is scheduled to visit four major temples at both Tirumala and Tirupati before flying back to Hyderabad – where he is on a 10-day southern sojourn.
According to the information reaching here, the President will fly-in at the Renigunta airport at 10.35 a.m. on July 1 from where he will directly proceed towards the temple of Padmavati Ammavaru in Tiruchanoor. The President will also visit Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple at Tirupati and finally reach Tirumala at 12.20 pm in the afternoon. The President will also offer his prayers at Sri Varahaswamy temple as is the tradition before making it to the temple of Lord Venkateswara. In all, he shall be spending more than 45 minutes inside the hill temple.
Soon after the darshan, the President will spend a couple of hours at the Pamdavathi guest house. He will motor down to Tirupati at 4 p.m. and reach Renigunta airport at 4.50 p.m. from where he will fly back to Hyderabad. While the TTD administration is making elaborate arrangements for his darshan and comfortable stay, the district police are otherwise engaged with the security components of the high-profile visit.
Meanwhile, the picturesque Kapila Theertham waterfall at Tirupati, which is home to Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple, is being spruced up for the visit of the President. Though several Presidents have visited Tirumala and Tiruchanur in the past, Kapila Theertham has found a place in the Presidential itinerary, believed to be for the first time, thus creating a lot of hype among the temple officials and priests. Even senior priests do not remember having witnessed any President visiting the temple in the last four decades. The temple and the adjoining water tank are being spruced up and steel railings are being fitted over the steps leading to the water. The shrine is getting a fresh coat of pain. The barricades meant for general public have been removed and pandals are being erected all along the route leading to the temple. Armed security personnel have also been posted atop the hillocks surrounding the temple.
