Trip to Tirupati Tirupathi Thirupati Tirumala Balaji Venkateswara temple,travel,visit,tour,Seva
The above is the leaflet for going to Tirupati from chennai (std code 044) by bus by APSRTC ph no 65439987, cell 9840580577 and fax 24353373.
CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES AND USE FULL BRIGHT SCREEN MODE TO SEE CLEARLY
THe tour covers kalahasthi also on weekends when it starts at 6.30 pm instead of 5 am.
They also arrange the dharshan ticket with a guide to take you.
Trip to Tirupati Tirupathi Thirupati Tirumala Balaji Venkateswara temple
TTD Tirumala Tirupati devasthanam devasthanams link to know more on the temple..
http://www.tirumala.org/
TTD Tirumala Tirupati devasthanam devasthanams link to know more on the temple..
http://www.tirumala.org/
By Tirupati we mean the lower foot hill..and Tirumala refers to the top of the mountain..
Please see the link below to know on Tirupati and Tirumala it is exhaustive…
The link below is for knowing on Tirupati though the link says tirumala at the end..
http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Andhra/Tirumala.htm
The link below is on the temple on top of the hill tirumala
http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Andhra/Triumala.htm
From Chennai you can reach here by bus or car (approx 3 hrs drive) or by train which is what I find convenient..people coming from north etc can alight at Renigunta junction very near tirupati
Important Note: There are enough share jeeps busses frm renigunta and lower tirupati to go to tirumala(hill top). lower tirupati to hill top jeep charges are rs 25 per person and nearly same by bus. lower tirupati station to bus stand is rs 20 by auto. renigunta is just 20 minutes drive from lower tirupati. for visiting tiruchanur and govindraj perumal temple from lower tirupati after you finist the hill dharshan it is rs 80 by auto as a package. for going to kalahasti(famous shiva temple where you can do pooja for rahu) and back you can hire a jeep or auto at rs 400 to and fro from lower tirupati. for any tour of many temples in lower tirupati you can engage an auto for rs 300 or so. car will be costlier. my sugesstion is auto as long a syou are 4-5 persons.
For people who wish to stay at lower tirupati ie foothills(from here main tirupathi temple on the hill is about half hr drive by share jeep @ rs 25 or by local busses at same cost) u can stay at
Bhimas Deluxe Hotel 34-38 G. Car Street Tirupati - 517501 Phone:+91-877-2225521 Fax:+91-877-2225471 .THey have non ac and ac rooms at Rs750 & Rs 950(respectively) + taxes. Another hotel nearby is Mayura ph no 0877 2225925. APart from this there are so many hotels for stay and all are not even 25 meteres from station. So you can come here without any fear on availability of rooms.
I normally plan to see the lord as he is Vishnu on Wednesday which is his day..
Have been here many times..this is a trip that I am blogging on..Prahalad (son) and I got up at 4 am on 3rd Tuesday… had a bath and went to Chennai central station and boarded the 6.25 sitting train (low fare) (u get enough tiffen to eat breakfast on train so you don’t need to carry)
Station code Chennai MAS and Tirupati TPTY..have given the trains starting from Chennai with time blow similarly have given the return train timings from tirupati to Chennai in the table below that
S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6053
TIRUPATHI EXP
13:50
17:00
M T W TH F S SU
2
6057
SAPTHAGIRI EXP
06:25
09:30
M T W TH F S SU
3
6203
TIRUPATHY EXP
16:35
20:05
M T W TH F S SU
S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6054
MADRAS EXPRESS
10:05
13:20
M T W TH F S SU
2
6058
SAPTAGIRI EXP
17:20
20:35
M T W TH F S SU
Reached tirupati at 9.30 am..there is a seva called arjitha seva at 5.30 in the morning..you can book for that in Chennai t nagar office (phone 044 std code-24343535..you can enquire on which date it is available from..this also entitles you to a room booking at tirumala from chennai itself by having your photo and right hand fore finger print (biometric) for a date generally 20 days ahead onwards.. …generally I land at tirupati like I did at 9.30 am and then immediately go to srinivasa complex rs 20 by auto from tirupati station..there you have counters where generally arjitha seva booking is available for the next day at 5.30 am..i have always been able to get it..generally I also call the numbers below to find if the day I propose to visit is some special day at tirupati like rama navami etc..if they say it is a normal day then you will get the seva ticket..if it is a special day then there is going to be lot of crowd and I generally avoid it…it is also best to avoid visiting here in vacation time ie april may june..it will also be very hot here…real sweltering heat…
Updated Aug 2010:NOW THEY HAVE OPENED ANOTHER ROUTE FOR CLIMBING DIRECTLY WITH 2000 ODD STEPS IN 2.5 HRS CALLED CHANDRAGIRI ROUTE..NOW ALL SEVAS HAVE BEEN RATIONALISED AND IF U WANT QUICK DARSHAN U JUST GO UP THE HILL AND GO TO VAIKUNTAM COMPLEX BETWEEN 9 AM AND 6PM AND GET A RS.300 SEEGHRA(means fast darshan) DHARSHAN TICKET AND HAVE A DARSHAN AND COME OUT IN 1 -1.5 HRS.
Postal Address
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTD Administrative BuildingK.T. Road Tirupati 517 501Andhra PradeshIndia.
Phone/Fax
Have been here many times..this is a trip that I am blogging on..Prahalad (son) and I got up at 4 am on 3rd Tuesday… had a bath and went to Chennai central station and boarded the 6.25 sitting train (low fare) (u get enough tiffen to eat breakfast on train so you don’t need to carry)
Station code Chennai MAS and Tirupati TPTY..have given the trains starting from Chennai with time blow similarly have given the return train timings from tirupati to Chennai in the table below that
S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6053
TIRUPATHI EXP
13:50
17:00
M T W TH F S SU
2
6057
SAPTHAGIRI EXP
06:25
09:30
M T W TH F S SU
3
6203
TIRUPATHY EXP
16:35
20:05
M T W TH F S SU
S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6054
MADRAS EXPRESS
10:05
13:20
M T W TH F S SU
2
6058
SAPTAGIRI EXP
17:20
20:35
M T W TH F S SU
Reached tirupati at 9.30 am..there is a seva called arjitha seva at 5.30 in the morning..you can book for that in Chennai t nagar office (phone 044 std code-24343535..you can enquire on which date it is available from..this also entitles you to a room booking at tirumala from chennai itself by having your photo and right hand fore finger print (biometric) for a date generally 20 days ahead onwards.. …generally I land at tirupati like I did at 9.30 am and then immediately go to srinivasa complex rs 20 by auto from tirupati station..there you have counters where generally arjitha seva booking is available for the next day at 5.30 am..i have always been able to get it..generally I also call the numbers below to find if the day I propose to visit is some special day at tirupati like rama navami etc..if they say it is a normal day then you will get the seva ticket..if it is a special day then there is going to be lot of crowd and I generally avoid it…it is also best to avoid visiting here in vacation time ie april may june..it will also be very hot here…real sweltering heat…
Updated Aug 2010:NOW THEY HAVE OPENED ANOTHER ROUTE FOR CLIMBING DIRECTLY WITH 2000 ODD STEPS IN 2.5 HRS CALLED CHANDRAGIRI ROUTE..NOW ALL SEVAS HAVE BEEN RATIONALISED AND IF U WANT QUICK DARSHAN U JUST GO UP THE HILL AND GO TO VAIKUNTAM COMPLEX BETWEEN 9 AM AND 6PM AND GET A RS.300 SEEGHRA(means fast darshan) DHARSHAN TICKET AND HAVE A DARSHAN AND COME OUT IN 1 -1.5 HRS.
Postal Address
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTD Administrative BuildingK.T. Road Tirupati 517 501Andhra PradeshIndia.
Phone/Fax
STD Code of Tirupathi 0877
Phone: +91-877-2231777 (Tirupati)Phone: +91-877-2277777 (Tirumala)Fax: +91-877-2230358
Rate of arjitha seva ticket is Rs.200 children below 12 years need not buy it…otherwise any adult has to buy one for himself/herself..so if 2 adults are there you need two tickets and rs 400 will be the ticket cost and so on for every extra adult.. if u dont get this ticket in the same srinivasa comples ask where sudharshan tokens for rs 50 are issued and register there...i have also used this and seen lord balaji in 2 hrs time ...generally this ticket will give you a time of visit you can go upto 1 1/2 hrs before the time or after the time and join the que in vaikumdam complex.. for going to vaikundam complex ask any local jeeps to drop you near the entrance of the que ..they will tell u where to join the que...
So with the arjita seva ticket I am guranteed of a dharshan of balaji venkateswara with relative ease and peace the next day and an accomodation..after this from the srinivasa complex we hire an auto Rs 30 to drop us near the alipiri gate the starting place if you are going to climb up the mountain (others can go fron srinivasa complex to bus stand or just near the station to take a bus or take a jeep at rs 25 per head to reach the hill top tirumala in 25 minutes)..
some photos of the steps...
you can handover your luggage at counter near the start point( please ensure you have locks for the bags)..they(temple authorities) will transport the bags up free of cost and you can collect the same near the exit..)climbing is a tad difficult for old people..it is 16 km uphill and about 3800 steps..first 2000 are steep…after that it is 2-3 steps and a flat piece then again steps…you can always rest and climb..there are enough refreshments, water all along..the path is also covered on top so that rain or sun doesn’t hit you directly..asthmatic patients( I am slightly asthmatic especially during dec and jan) please be on light stomach and take your drugs and cortisol spray..if you are on full stomach you will find it difficult to climb..generally climb early in the morning 4 am or by 6 pm..(till then once you have booked your tickets for the dharshan you can go around tirupati or rest..)..the climb takes 4 hrs for me..am a fairly fit person…we reached up and immediately went to the centralized room booking counter very near the exit..your dharshan ticket entitles you to room you need to pay according to the room type and no of persons..generally get decent rooms at rs 100..SINGLE PERSON IS NOT GIVEN A ROOM..IF YOU ARE SINGLE YOU HAVE TO STAY AT LOWER TIRUPATI(FOOTHILS OF TIRUMALA)you can also ask for cottages which are independent houses..then there are ac rooms too..i normally ask for rooms very near the counter where they book since I find that easy.. just before rooms or cottages are allotted ask them if they are near the temple..if not from far away cottages it is a tad difficult to commute..normally many people come in car or va they take those cottages since they always have ameans of transport..the other thing is availability of different shopping things you require everyday like tea coffee etc is in plenty near the temple and not so near slightly far cottages..THERE ARE ALSO PRIVATE COTTAGES NEAR VYSRAJ MUTT APROXX COST AC WOULD BE 900 FOR A DOUBLE ROOM...AM GIVING ONE SUCH COTTAGE NO SRI VYASARAJ MUTT 0877 2270352, 2270096 U CAN BOOK YOUR ROOMS HERE BEFORE YOU START ON YOUR JOUNY FROM ANY PLACE...
during winter it will be very chill you can carry your own warm clothing or wollen carpets are available on rent in shops near by..every accommodation complex has hot water geysers from where you have to fetch hot water to your room…after this there is a hotel called mayura (they have the hotel in 3 places on the hill)where the food is tasty and very reasonably priced..we had our lunch..rested till 3 pm tonsured our heads mottai at places called kalyan ghatta you can enquire on which is the nearest place for tonsuring (hindi taklu) you get a free blade..i carry some blades with me as half blade cannot tonsure shave etc..i also carry my own rajor which fits the blade…you can tip the barber rs 10…they cant demand it..then had a nice bath enjoyed the feeling of freedom you have when you shave of your hair from the head..and then hired a taxi for 200 (sharing) to go to 6 places lords padam(feet) sila thoranam (http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_others.htm) and chakra thirtha…then they will take you to papavinasam water falls, akash ganga, venugopalswamy temple etc..you can take bath there.. ensure you hit the forest gate to go to both the falls before 6 pm other wise you cant go as gates will be closed..only the entry is restricted you can have a bath and come back at 9 pm too..there are busses that take you here too..we came back and had a bath at swami pushkarni (temple tank)..http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_teerth.htm the water is only chest deep for an adult so go down the steps and then it is flat and not slippery ..it appears deep near till the railing it is not..after railing it may be deep..so enjoy your bath…when you come out there are showers to bathe again…after this we ate again rested for the night…for generally travelling to places within tirumala you can take jeeps..the average fares are rs 20…
On 4th morning we got up at 3 am had a bath and took a jeep rs 20 to drop us near the arjita seva que ..each seva que starts at a particular place so ask on this..by 4 am we stood in the que ..you can also reach here by 4.45 am..your dharshan will be late..the que generally starts moving within half hour and please ensure that you don’t carry cell phones as you are screened for them..keep what you are carrying to the very minimal.the que lead you to the dharshan point by 5.45 am..this is not a jostling kind of que..you can be fairly free..have your dharshan and come out and see the gold plating on top of the temple from view point..drop money in hundi and exit..yout archanai ticket also gives you two free laddos to be collected..exit the temple entrance and ask some one on how to reach the counter…rs 2 per plastic bag is sold..buy this for collecting your ladoos..prasad..you can buy more too by paying…after this we vacated our rooms and took a jeep downhill…it leaves you near the station from there we went to tiruchanur padmavati temple by auto rs.60..it is customary to visit this temple after a dharshan of lord Balaji..after this we visited govindraja perumal temple again customery..this temple is 50 meters from station..after this we had a good breakfast at bhimas deluxe very near the temple and station which is a very good hotel to stay as well as have food..then we took our train back to Chennai at 10.05 am and reached Chennai at 1.20 pm.
So crux is whether you have a dharshan booking if so on which date and time..plan accordingly..ideally two to three day will be real good and the weather at tirupati in winter is awesome and fresh..if you want you can also do your room booking at tirupati (lower foothill) and be back there for the night stay go back up again jeeps are always available to go up…
during winter it will be very chill you can carry your own warm clothing or wollen carpets are available on rent in shops near by..every accommodation complex has hot water geysers from where you have to fetch hot water to your room…after this there is a hotel called mayura (they have the hotel in 3 places on the hill)where the food is tasty and very reasonably priced..we had our lunch..rested till 3 pm tonsured our heads mottai at places called kalyan ghatta you can enquire on which is the nearest place for tonsuring (hindi taklu) you get a free blade..i carry some blades with me as half blade cannot tonsure shave etc..i also carry my own rajor which fits the blade…you can tip the barber rs 10…they cant demand it..then had a nice bath enjoyed the feeling of freedom you have when you shave of your hair from the head..and then hired a taxi for 200 (sharing) to go to 6 places lords padam(feet) sila thoranam (http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_others.htm) and chakra thirtha…then they will take you to papavinasam water falls, akash ganga, venugopalswamy temple etc..you can take bath there.. ensure you hit the forest gate to go to both the falls before 6 pm other wise you cant go as gates will be closed..only the entry is restricted you can have a bath and come back at 9 pm too..there are busses that take you here too..we came back and had a bath at swami pushkarni (temple tank)..http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_teerth.htm the water is only chest deep for an adult so go down the steps and then it is flat and not slippery ..it appears deep near till the railing it is not..after railing it may be deep..so enjoy your bath…when you come out there are showers to bathe again…after this we ate again rested for the night…for generally travelling to places within tirumala you can take jeeps..the average fares are rs 20…
On 4th morning we got up at 3 am had a bath and took a jeep rs 20 to drop us near the arjita seva que ..each seva que starts at a particular place so ask on this..by 4 am we stood in the que ..you can also reach here by 4.45 am..your dharshan will be late..the que generally starts moving within half hour and please ensure that you don’t carry cell phones as you are screened for them..keep what you are carrying to the very minimal.the que lead you to the dharshan point by 5.45 am..this is not a jostling kind of que..you can be fairly free..have your dharshan and come out and see the gold plating on top of the temple from view point..drop money in hundi and exit..yout archanai ticket also gives you two free laddos to be collected..exit the temple entrance and ask some one on how to reach the counter…rs 2 per plastic bag is sold..buy this for collecting your ladoos..prasad..you can buy more too by paying…after this we vacated our rooms and took a jeep downhill…it leaves you near the station from there we went to tiruchanur padmavati temple by auto rs.60..it is customary to visit this temple after a dharshan of lord Balaji..after this we visited govindraja perumal temple again customery..this temple is 50 meters from station..after this we had a good breakfast at bhimas deluxe very near the temple and station which is a very good hotel to stay as well as have food..then we took our train back to Chennai at 10.05 am and reached Chennai at 1.20 pm.
So crux is whether you have a dharshan booking if so on which date and time..plan accordingly..ideally two to three day will be real good and the weather at tirupati in winter is awesome and fresh..if you want you can also do your room booking at tirupati (lower foothill) and be back there for the night stay go back up again jeeps are always available to go up…
Important: Please plan to go to Sri Kalahasti about 25 km from tirupati (lower foot hill) the temple of shiva and worship rahu raghu..this is a planet that requires propitiation...see link below
Online seva hotel hundi booking
Though I am a total net person I have never been able to get any seva booking on this as it is not available or quota not released..I think it is just used by the people in the know to book for themselves within the ttd…just giving the link…
http://www.ttdsevaonline.com/eseva/eSevaHome.aspx
