Standing tall: The 108-ft. statue of Annamacharya at Tallapaka.

How to go : By train / bus from Hyderabad, and by bus from Cuddapah town.

Where to stay : Choultries.

What to see : Annamacharya Dhyana Mandiram, Siddheswaraswamy Temple, Chennekeswaraswamy Temple and Sudarshana Chakra Devalayam.

When to go : Any time. Special events for Annamacharya Jayanthi and Vardhanthi.

Tallapaka village is in Rajampet mandal of Cuddapah district, about 3 km from Cuddapah town. The village has the distinction of being the birthplace of Saint Annamacharya, the famous composer of devotional songs on Lord Venkateswara who made invaluable contribution to music and literature during the 15th century.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) constructed a "Dhyana Mandiram" (meditation hall) in memory of the great Saint Annamacharya, at Tallapaka. It was inaugurated in 1982 and ever since then the TTD has been organizing the death and birth anniversaries of Annamacharya at Tallapaka and Tirupati during which special rituals are performed.

Close to the Annamacharya temple is the Chennakeswaraswamy temple in Cuddapah district. There are many temples located within the premises of the Chennakeswaraswamy temple itself. A unique temple within this temple premise is that of the Sudarashanachakra containing the idol of the Sudarashanachakra of Lord Vishnu as well as that of Lord Santanagopalakrishna together. The temple is the only one of its kind in South India. It is believed that one such temple also exists in Kasi. Another temple is that of Lord Hanuman, the loyal devotee of Lord Rama. The temple of Lord Garuthmanthudu (Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu) is also located in the premises of the Chennakeswaraswamy temple. It contains the idol of Lord Garuda which is rarely found.

The Siddheswaraswamy temple with Lord Shiva as its presiding deity is also located in Tallapaka, in Cuddapah district. The side wall of the temple has a hole through which sun rays enter during the month of Karthik, a holy time in November when married women pray for the long life of their husbands and give offerings to the Lord.

Unlike the usual temples where Lord Nandiswara (the Bull, Shiva's vehicle) is found facing Lord Shiva, here it is found outside the temple. Goddess Kamakshidevi (Parvatidevi) is the consort of Lord Shiva here.

Another idol that can be found in the Siddheswaraswamy temple is that of Veerabhadraswamy who is said to be the destroyer of Dakshayagnam, namely, Daksha Prajapathi, the father of Goddess Parvati.

The story goes that Dakshudu was holding a function and did not invite Lord Shiva and wife Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati however insisted on going for the function though her husband was not very happy with it. At the function she was badly humiliated and came back home very upset.

This made Lord Shiva furious and he was filled with rage and thus emerged as Lord Veerabhadraswamy who destroyed Dakshudu, the father of Goddess Parvati.

In the Siddeshwaraswamy temple premises is the statue of Ekathathayya.

A King and a great devotee of Lord Shiva, he was a wonderful human being and had all the happiness that one could ask for.

It is believed that if people suffering from migraine come to this temple and hit their head against the idol three times, then they will be relieved of the pain.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) will celebrate the 600th Jayanthi of Saint Lyricist Annamacharya in a grand manner at Talapaka in Kadapa District, the saint's birth place, from May 19 to 22nd 2008, TTD Chairman B Karunakar Reddy said.

He said Talapaka would be developed into a modern spiritual centre on international standards.

The TTD acquired eight acre of land for constructing spritual 'Udyanavanam,' Sri Venkateswaraswamy Temple and Anamacharya Museum adjoining the imposing statue, he added.

• Vishnu Sahasranamam
• Balaji
• Alamelu mangapuram (Padmavathi)
• Chilukur Balaji Temple