In God's Hands: Tirupati hotel themed on Vishnu's avatars

"There is no possibility of becoming
a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too
much or eats too little, sleeps too
much or does not sleep enough…”
                                                     —Krishna to Arjuna
                                                    (Bhagavad Gita 6.17-18)

But ‘too much’ is no contention at a restaurant in Tirupati named after Krishna himself. There’s dondakaya vepudu (stir-fried ivy gourd), pulihora (Andhra tamarind rice), pulusus (tamarind-based stews), pappus (lentil curries), bondas (fried curd, flour and spice dumplings) pachadis (chutneys) and appadums (papads). But the staff isn’t done until you’re also served ample rice, sambar and rasam. If you plan to eat at Krishna, the vegetarian thali restaurant at Marasa Sarovar Premiere hotel, make sure you have someone to share the feast with.

The hotel sits at the foot of the lush Tirumala hills, some 30 minutes from Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Planned like a south Indian temple complex, it’s the closest five-star resort to the iconic house of God and the only hotel modelled on the Dashavataras of Vishnu. Each space represents themes and details associated with an avatar, right down to the Dhokra brass door handles. Besides Krishna, there’s the pool area–Matsya (fish–water), Kurma (tortoise–transformative) as the reception, indoor games room ‘Varaha’ (boar–aggressive), Narasimha (half man-half lion–transitional) as the all-day Lotus Café, the 'Vamana' business centre, Parashurama (powerful) as the gym, banquet spaces fashioned on Rama, the Buddha spa and Kalki (the present and future) as the entrance courtyard.

The Lotus Café, with its faceted roof, multi-cuisine options, bar and location (it sits on neither land nor water. but on a man-made surface. Hence Narasimha) is the beating heart of the 121-room, three-suite hotel.

Andhra Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu intends making Tirupati a ‘mega city’–it's even slated to have its own IIT campus. If this is realised, Marasa Sarovar Premiere will be a viable option for people other than Venkateswara devotees, who presently make up the bulk of the guests.

Talakona Falls, the highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh. Image Courtesy: VinothChandar (CC BY 2.0)

The rooms, equipped with everything you’d expect of a five-star hotel, offer lovely views of the hills and Matsya pool. But there’s more to Tirupati than the hotel and Venkateswara temple. It is, after all, India’s temple town. There are over a dozen structures of historical significance such as Sri Padmavathi Ammavari (Lakshmi temple) and the Shiva temples: Kapila Theertham and Srikalahasti. Nature lovers will feel at home at the Deer Park, the geological wonder of Silathoranam, and Talakona Falls, the highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh, located in Sri Venkateswara National Park. For history aficionados, there’s Sri Vari Museum, Chandragiri Fort and the Regional Science Centre.

Spotted Deer at the Tirumala Deer Park Reserve. Image Courtesy: Adityamadhav83 (CC BY SA 3.0)

And here's a tip: Opposite Bugga Street’s Rainbow High School in the Tirupati suburb of Renigunta lies a nondescript, nameless shack with green walls. It's manned by an affable lady who chuckles when you break into a sweat on sampling her dynamite egg dosas with Guntur chilli paste. This is not just one of the best dosas you’ll ever have. It's an experience you wouldn’t want to miss.