Trekking in Altitudes: Kaligiri Hills and Puligunda

Interest:

What do you need

How to reach

Kalikiri Hills

Kalikiri is claimed to be the original spot where Lord Venkateswara first stepped on earth, before proceeding to Tirumala. Apart from here foot prints of Srivari Padaalu still exist on the top of Narayanagiri Hill - Tirumala Tirupathi
From Tirupati, drive towards Chittor. After NendraGunta (about 40 KM from Tirupati), take left towards Penumur. Take direction Kalikiri Konda. Visit Lord Venkateswara temple at foot steps of the hill. The hill can be climbed either by car or by foot. The hill top is at the altitude of 560 meters.
On top of the hill, visit Lord Venkateswara temple; The foot print of Lord venkateswara. The foot of Lord is about one meter long. The hill top is a nice peacful place with lot of Amla trees and with untouched nature.
From hill top, one can see Puligona hill (with two long and about 400 meters high rocks joined together with a little gap. This looks like the twoo feet of Lord Venkateswara.
60 KM from Tirupati.

PuliGunda

About 2 KM from Penumuru. From Penumur, PuliGoda hill can be seen. One can easily walk or can hire a local auto. If you go by a car, just park in front of the hill (near the temple), and climb up.
Half way on the hill, Visit Ganesh and Amma Varu temples. This is also a nice place to take rest as this place is between two rocks giving nice breeze and shelter from Sun.
Climb further, via narrow steps (made of iron). Watch around and take time to climb. You may find "Beehive" and lot of Owl. When you approach Beehive, do not look at it and do not make any noise. If you disturb them, you are caught and no way to escape.
Once you reach on top, it is like you are in the sky.
Wash your feet in a nice small pond and visit temple: Lord Shiva, Nava grahas, Swami Ayyappa and Amma varu.
Now starts real adventure: A ladder is laid horizontally to traverse between two high rock. The depth below the ladder is about 350 meters. Bring a long thread and tie yourself to thread on one end and another end to the ladder. The step of the ladder are at distance and so be extremely careful and take time to traverse. If you ahve problem with height, do not dare to traverse. After traversing, one may climb up on the second rock. But, I do not advise to go further as the rocks are slippery and you need to be expert and take risk.