The famous Tirupati (Tirumala) temple of Lord Venkateswara is situated in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
The Tirupati or Tirumala temple devoted to Lord Venkateswara is one of the most visited pilgrimage centres in the world and an important symbol of Indian religious culture. Exam questions frequently ask for its location by state, because this temple is also a major focus for tourism and regional economy. This question checks whether the learner can correctly place the Tirupati Venkateswara temple on the political map of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The temple in question is the famous Tirumala Venkateswara temple, commonly called Tirupati temple.
• All options are names of south Indian states.
• The temple is known to stand in hill ranges within a specific state.
• No detailed district level geography is required, only correct identification of the state.

Concept / Approach:
The Venkateswara temple is located at Tirumala, near the town of Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Although the temple is geographically close to the border with Tamil Nadu and many pilgrims travel from different southern states, its actual administrative location is firmly within Andhra Pradesh. The approach is to recall this widely taught fact: Tirupati is in Andhra Pradesh and the temple is managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams of that state.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question mentions the Tirupati temple of Lord Venkateswara, a well known Vishnu shrine. Step 2: Recall that Tirupati is a town in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh, near the border with Tamil Nadu. Step 3: Remember that devotees often say Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh when describing the location. Step 4: Check all options and identify Andhra Pradesh as the state associated with this shrine. Step 5: Conclude that Andhra Pradesh is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps of Indian pilgrimage routes clearly show Tirupati and Tirumala within Andhra Pradesh. Government tourism portals and temple administration sites list the address under Andhra Pradesh state jurisdiction. While Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana have many important temples of their own, none of them hosts the Tirumala Venkateswara temple that is being referred to here. This confirms the choice of Andhra Pradesh.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tamil Nadu has famous temples such as Meenakshi temple in Madurai and Rameswaram temple, but the Tirumala Venkateswara temple is not located there. Karnataka includes sites like Udupi and Sringeri, yet it is not the state of Tirupati. Telangana has major temples like Yadadri, but again does not include Tirumala. These options may tempt learners who think regionally rather than by exact state, but they do not match the specific location of the Tirupati temple.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many travellers from Tamil Nadu visit Tirupati and the border is close, some people mistakenly assume that the temple lies in Tamil Nadu. There is also confusion when older references mention composite states before boundaries were reorganised. The safest way to remember is that Tirupati is a major city of Andhra Pradesh and that the famous Balaji temple is governed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams under the Andhra Pradesh state administration.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Andhra Pradesh