Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of South India's most popular pilgrimage destinations and one of the wealthiest temples. People's trust and devotion towards Lord Vishnu, or Venkateswara Swami, is incredible and fascinating. A visit to Tirupati Balaji Temple displays an unusual sight of devotion.

Here are 10 lesser-known facts about the Tirumala Venkateswara Swami Temple 

The light of the lamp kept before the idol of the deity never extinguishes. There is no reliable explanation for why this happens, but all we know is that it has been burning for a long time, and like an ardent worshipper's devotion, it will never be extinguished.
    
Now this will come across as a surprise, especially to those who have visited the temple. If you observe carefully, you will see that the idol in the shrine is placed towards the right corner of the shrine.

In 2009, the Geographical Indication tag was accorded to the ladoo Prashadam. These ladoos have a distinct and unique taste and are available at an affordable cost.

The shrine was gifted diamonds and gold by the Vijayanagara empire, who himself was a devotee and patron. 

The construction of the first temple at Tirupati is associated with the legend of King Thondaiman. The Tamil ruler, King Thondaiman, had a dream of Lord Vishnu, and it was then that he decided to get a temple constructed in his name. 

There are multiple legends associated with the moist back of the idol. The back of the idol always remains moist, and every morning the priests clean it with a silk cloth.

The priests at the temple do not throw flowers offered to Lord Balaji during the morning puja. These flowers are thrown into the waterfalls that flow behind the rear side of the idol.

If you keep your ear close to the idol's back, you will hear the sound of enormous sea waves.

All the samagiri or items of offerings that are used during the puja are bought from an undisclosed village. No one really knows from where the flowers, clarified butter, milk, buttermilk, the holly leaves, etc., are sourced. This village is far off and has never been visited by any outsider.

Tirupati Balaji is one of India's richest and most visited temples. The temple receives 75,000 to 90,000 pilgrims every day.