Chakra Theertham, Sila Thoranam, and Srivari Padaalu at Tirumala

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

Sila Thoranam

ABOUT SILA THORANAM:

Sila Thoranam, a naturally formed arch of rock is a distinctive geological wonder located about 1 km north of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, near the Chakra Teertham at Tirumala.

My friends: Gautam and Raja Sekhar

The Arch is also called Silathoranam in local language (Telugu language: “Sila” means ‘rock’ and “thoranam” means a garland strung over a threshold, connecting two vertical columns or an ‘arch’ as in this case). Since the rock look likes and appears to be the hood of a serpent, a conch and a discus, it is conceived that this source is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara idol.

The arch measures 8 m (26.2 ft) in width and 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, and the Geologists have identified the rocks on the hill as pre-Cambrian, and this arch formation suggests an antiquity of several million years to the Tirumala hill.

Reputed as the only one of its kind in Asia, it is believed to be several million years old. It is said that there are only two other sites like this in the entire world itself. The other two are the one that cuts through the headland of the Dalradian Quartzite in Ukand and the Rainbow Arch Bridge of Utah in USA .

Etymology

Mythological folklore related to the arch, linked to the famous Tirumala hills temple of Lord Venkateswara, has three versions...

Chakra theertam

• According to one version, the arch resembles the hood of a serpent, a Conch (Shank) and a discus (Chakra) –all symbols of worship in Hindu religion- and considered to be the source of the Idol of Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala hill temple.
• The second version is that the main deity in the Tirumala temple is of the same height as the height of the arch.
• The third version is that Lord Venkateswara is supposed to have put his first foot down at a place called Padalu or Srivari padalu (divine foot prints) which is the highest point of Tirumala hills, the second step at the location of the arch. Thereafter, the next step is stated to have been placed where his idol is now worshipped in the temple at Tirumala.

HISTORY:

In the 1980s, during excavations for a geological fault in the Tirumala hills, geologists found this rare geological formation of the rock arch which has two dissimilar sets of rocks with a connecting thin link. The assessed geological age of the rock arch is 1.5 billion years. Formation of the arch is attributed to intensified weathering and erosion of stream action that has withstood the torque of nature. This is a rare geological fault which is technically called in the geological idiom as ‘eparchian unconformity’.

Peacock at Sila Thoranam garden

VISITING TIME:

The best time to visit the arch is between 6 A.M. and 8 A.M., fog permitting. There is a well maintained garden in front of the arch should visitors wish to rest or wait until fog clears. Sunset is also a good time to visit, as the Arch looks even more striking and mystifying in the light of the setting sun. Seen in the light of a full moon the Arch is said to be “ethereally beautiful.”

Lord Sudharshana at Chkra Theetham

CHAKRA THEERTHAM:

Chakra Theertham is located about 2 Km from the temple, in the same complex as the Sila Thoranam.

HOW TO REACH SILA THORANAM?

• The Arch is located close to Varahaswamy temple in B1 block and is one km from North of the main shrine of Lord Venkateshwara.
• The best way to go to Silathoranam is to hire a taxi at Tirumala. Or a 30 minute walk from the Varahaswamy temple in Tirumala would be a pleasant experience.

Srivari Padaalu

SRIVARI PADALU:

Srivari padaalu (divine foot prints) is about 5 Km from the main temple.

It is believed that the Lord descended on the earth at this place and decided on the place where the temple is presently situated. The Lord's feet are worshipped at this point on the hill.

After this, the Lord is said to have passed through Sila thoranam that means natural arch to reach the place where the temple is located.

Temple view from Srivari padaalu

HOW TO REACH SRIVARI PADAALU?

• This is one of the few places to which the TTD buses do not ply, so jeeps or private vehicles are the only options.
• Jeeps usually refuse to make a trip for just one place, so they tend to combine two to three places at least. On the same route are the Sila Thoranam and the Chakra Teertham.
•  A visit to all these three places from the TTD bus stand costs about Rs. 300 per jeep, or on a sharing basis, about Rs. 50 per person.