Sri Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Tirumala — The Forest Shrine of Lord Hanuman

Most pilgrims who visit Tirumala complete Srivari darshan and head straight back down the ghat road. In doing so, they miss one of the most peaceful and mystical spots on the entire hill — Sri Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple, popularly known as Japali Teertham. Tucked deep inside the Seshachalam forest, this ancient shrine of Lord Hanuman offers something the main temple cannot: complete silence, dense green woods, sacred water ponds linked to the Ramayana, and close encounters with the rare and beautiful Malabar Giant Squirrels.

If you have a few extra hours in Tirumala, this temple deserves a place on your itinerary.

The Legend of Japali Teertham

The temple takes its name from Sage Japali (Jabali Maharshi), who is believed to have performed intense penance (japa) at this very spot in the Tirumala hills. Pleased by the sage's devotion, Lord Hanuman is said to have manifested here on his own — which is why the idol at this temple is revered as a Swayambhu (self-manifested) murti of Sri Anjaneya Swamy.

Local tradition adds even deeper Ramayana connections. It is believed that Lord Rama, Sita Devi, and Lakshmana rested at this spot during their time in the region. Two sacred ponds near the temple carry this legacy:

• Rama Kunda — the pond in front of the temple, where Lord Rama and Lakshmana are believed to have bathed.
• Sita Kunda — the pond behind the temple, associated with Sita Devi.
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Devotees believe that the holy waters of Japali Teertham wash away sins, and that praying to Anjaneya Swamy here removes fear, obstacles, and delays in life, while granting courage, strength, and protection.

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Location & Distance

The temple sits on the route that connects Tirumala with Papavinasanam Teertham, making it easy to combine with Akasha Ganga and Papavinasanam in a single trip.

Darshan Timings

Important timing notes:

• No prior booking is required. Darshan at Japali Teertham is free and open to all — there is no online ticket system like the main Tirumala temple.
• Timings may extend on Hanuman Jayanti and other festival days, and can change at TTD's discretion. Verify locally on the day of your visit.
• Do not attempt the trek after dusk. The temple is inside deep forest, and entry into the forest area is closed by evening. The path is meant to be walked in daylight only.
• Best time of day: 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM. The forest is cool, the path is quiet, and wildlife sightings (including the giant squirrels) are most common in the early hours.
• Best season: October to March, when the weather on the hills is pleasant.

How to Reach Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Step 1: Reach Tirumala

• By air: Tirupati Airport (TIR) is about 40 km from Tirumala, with connections to Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other cities.
• By train: Tirupati Railway Station is the nearest major railhead. From there, take an APSRTC bus, taxi, or the footpath routes (Alipiri or Srivari Mettu) up to Tirumala.
• By road: Regular APSRTC buses and private vehicles run up the ghat road to Tirumala.

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Step 2: From Tirumala to Japali Teertham

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You have three convenient options:

1. TTD / APSRTC local bus: The "Travel As You Like" local darshan bus service runs from Tirumala approximately every 30 minutes (roughly 5:00 AM to 7:45 PM), covering Japali Teertham along with Akasha Ganga, Papavinasanam, and Venugopala Swamy Temple. This is the most economical option.
2. Private car / taxi: You can drive to the Japali entrance point on the Papavinasanam route. Limited parking is available near the trek starting point.
3. Two-wheeler: A dirt/approach road allows two-wheelers to reach closer to the temple, though most visitors park at the entrance and walk.

Step 3: The Forest Trek

From the road entrance, a paved pathway of about 1 km with roughly 150 steps leads through dense Seshachalam forest to the temple. The walk takes 15–25 minutes at a comfortable pace. The path is well laid with cement steps and is manageable for families with children, though elderly pilgrims with mobility issues should take it slowly — there are ups and downs along the way.

This forest walk itself is the highlight for many visitors: towering old trees, birdsong, cool shade, and the small stone cairns ("mannat" stone piles) that devotees have stacked all along the path as prayers for wish fulfilment.

Special Poojas & Sevas

While Japali Teertham does not have TTD's online arjitha seva system, devotees can participate in traditional offerings arranged directly at the temple:

• Abhishekam — sacred bath of the Swayambhu Anjaneya idol with milk, honey, and holy water.
• Vadamala Seva — offering the traditional garland of vadas to Lord Hanuman, considered especially auspicious for Anjaneya.
• Betel leaf (tamalapaku) garland and coconut offerings.
• Hanuman Chalisa parayana — individual or group recitation on the temple premises; Saturdays see the most devotees doing this.
• Archana and sankalpam — many families perform a sankalpam here before or after their main Srivari darshan.

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Festivals Celebrated

• Hanuman Jayanti — the biggest annual celebration, with Panchamrita abhishekam (milk, curd, honey, coconut water, sandal paste), special archana, arati, and naivedyam. TTD typically makes special arrangements including transport on this day.
• Sri Rama Navami and other Vaishnava festival days also see special poojas.
• Traditional teertha days observed in the Tirumala forest calendar, such as pournami-linked teertha mukkotis, draw devotees to the sacred ponds.

The Famous Malabar Giant Squirrels of Japali

One experience makes Japali Teertham unlike any other temple in Tirumala: the Malabar Giant Squirrels (Indian Giant Squirrel, Ratufa indica) that live in the forest canopy around the shrine.

What makes them special:

• They are among the largest squirrels in the world — head-and-body length of 25–50 cm, with a bushy tail of equal or greater length, and weighing up to 1.5–2 kg.
• Their striking maroon, rust-orange, and cream colouring makes them instantly recognisable against the green canopy — visitors often describe them as "orange and brown giant squirrels."
• They are endemic to India, found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats (including the Seshachalam range), and Satpura hills. They are intolerant of habitat degradation, so their presence here is a sign of how healthy and undisturbed the Japali forest still is.
• They are diurnal and arboreal — active in daylight and rarely descending to the ground — which is exactly why early-morning visitors near the temple get the best sightings.

Around the temple, these normally shy squirrels have grown accustomed to devotees. They descend along the branches near the sanctum area, and many visitors have watched them nibble on coconut pieces. Spotting one leaping between the tall trees with its enormous tail streaming behind is a memory pilgrims carry long after darshan.

Wildlife etiquette: Admire and photograph them from a respectful distance. Avoid chasing, cornering, or hand-feeding wild animals, and never offer packaged or salted food. The forest is their home; we are the visitors.

Visitor Guidelines & Tips

1. Visit only during daylight hours. The area is deep forest and access closes by evening. Plan to complete your visit well before sunset.
2. Wear traditional attire. As with all Tirumala shrines — dhoti/kurta-pyjama for men, saree or churidar for women. Avoid shorts and sleeveless clothing.
3. Wear comfortable footwear for the walk and remove it before the temple as usual.
4. Carry drinking water. Shops are limited; water may not be available along the forest path.
5. Beware of monkeys. They snatch plastic covers, food packets, and loose items. Keep bags zipped and avoid carrying visible food.
6. Do not litter. This is a pristine forest zone inside the Seshachalam biosphere — carry your waste back.
7. Elderly and mobility-restricted pilgrims should assess the 1 km walk and steps before attempting; there is no doli or vehicle access to the sanctum itself.
8. Maintain silence. The stillness of Japali is its greatest offering — treat it like the meditation ground it has been since Sage Japali's time.
9. No accommodation at the teertham. Stay arrangements are in Tirumala (TTD guest houses and choultries) — Japali is a visit-and-return spot only.
10. Photography of the forest, ponds, and squirrels is generally fine outside the sanctum; follow any instructions displayed at the temple.

Suggested Itinerary: Combining Japali with Other Spots

A convenient half-day circuit from Tirumala after your Srivari darshan:

1. Srivari Temple → main darshan (early morning)
2. Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple → 1 km forest trek, darshan, Rama Kunda & Sita Kunda
3. Akasha Ganga Teertham → sacred waterfall on the same route
4. Papavinasanam Teertham → dam and holy bathing point
5. Venugopala Swamy Temple → ancient shrine nearby
6. Return to Tirumala by the same local bus circuit

This entire loop can be completed in 3–4 hours using the APSRTC local bus or a private vehicle.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What are the darshan timings of Japali Anjaneya Swamy Temple? The temple is generally open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the morning and 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the evening. Timings may vary on festival days such as Hanuman Jayanti, so confirm locally on the day of your visit.

Q2. How far is Japali Teertham from the Tirumala main temple? It is about 4–6 km by road from Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, followed by a forest walk of roughly 1 km (around 150 steps) to reach the shrine.

Q3. Is any ticket or booking required for Japali Teertham darshan? No. Darshan is completely free and no online booking is needed. Sevas like abhishekam and vadamala can be arranged directly at the temple.

Q4. How do I reach Japali Teertham from Tirumala? Take the APSRTC "Travel As You Like" local bus (runs about every 30 minutes and covers Japali, Akasha Ganga, and Papavinasanam), or drive by car/two-wheeler to the entrance point on the Papavinasanam route, then walk about 1 km through the forest.

Q5. Can senior citizens visit Japali Anjaneya Temple? The path is paved with steps and is manageable at a slow pace, but there is no doli or vehicle access to the sanctum. Seniors with knee or breathing difficulties should assess the roughly 1 km walk before attempting.

Q6. What is special about the squirrels at Japali Teertham? The forest around the temple is home to Malabar Giant Squirrels (Indian Giant Squirrels) — one of the world's largest squirrel species, with striking maroon-orange fur and metre-long bodies including the tail. They are frequently spotted near the temple, especially in the early morning.

Q7. Is it safe to trek to Japali Teertham? Yes, during daylight hours the paved path is safe and regularly used by pilgrims. Do not attempt the walk after dusk, as the temple lies in deep forest and evening entry is closed.

Q8. What is the story behind the name Japali? Sage Japali (Jabali Maharshi) performed penance here, and Lord Hanuman is believed to have self-manifested (Swayambhu) in response. The teertham and temple are named after the sage.