[rajshenoy]

Hey guys

i am planning to visit tirumala with family(4 adults and a 1.5yr old baby), i am not getting much feedback on the newly launched seegradarshanam(300rs one) so need your help


1. I am currently thinking of 27th and 28th Feb(willing to postpone if this is a peak time) unless if there is any large influx of pilgrims expected

2. I can see from temple website that 300rs darshan tickets are available on the spot and do not require any advance booking(Anyone who has tried it, please give some more details). But i would like to know how much time does it take to complete darshan,including the time spent in buying ticket.

3. i am planning to travel on a saturday and finish darshan sunday morning and return on same day(thinking about a visit to kalahasti as well). Is sunday ok or do i need to push it to say a monday to avoid holiday rush?

4. Information on accomodation, how easy it is to get a room on top of tirumala ?

Thanks in advance

[abhinav.s]

I am not aware of the darshan you are asking about. But my parents just went last week to tirumala and came back. Not sure which ticket they took. They went on a weekday [Wed/Thu] so they finished the darshan pretty soon. It took them 2 hours to complete the darshan and come out of the temple.

Point 3. Better to do it on a weekday since the holiday rush will not be there.

Point 4. Unless you have prior booking or any known person on top who can get you a room, it is a difficult affair. It is best to book in advance or make a room at tirupati itself.

[mobike008]

My mom and some other relatives are travelling to Tirupathi this weekend. They will reach Tirupathi on Monday. Btw, Seegradarshan is nothing but a gimmick.

After buying Rs.300 ticket you still need to spend atleast 2hours in the queue and with a Rs.50 ticket you may end up spending probably half hour more.

So we opted for Rs.50 ticket for 2 darshans one on Monday (Feb 22) and another on Tuesday ( Feb 23)

If possible, dont reach there on Saturday and Sunday as even after buying Rs.300 ticket you may spend more than 3 hours in the queue.

Just setting the right expectations

[KALINGA]

My parent done this "seegradarshanam" yesterday only.
The ticket was 300 Rs.
It took 2-2.30 hrs for Darshan.

And regarding Accomodation my father took the lodging provided by Tirumala Trust. The rent was 600 rs only per day. Decent room to stay.

You can do the room booking through net also.

[rajshenoy]

Thanks alot guys

So it looks like even after paying 300, you will spend 2hrs+, i had gone through those one day package tours before which take you in that 50rs darshan

Since i am travelling with family, i thought of exploring self driving.

Let me think of some weekday as well.

Also any more information on driving own vehicles ? i think they do alot of security checks and unless i start early, i will spend alot of time there as well

Originally Posted by KALINGA

And regarding Accomodation my father took the lodging provided by Tirumala Trust. The rent was 600 rs only per day. Decent room to stay.

You can do the room booking through net also.

Can you please point to this on net ? it will be helpful to me and for others as well

[aargee]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

Hey guys

i am planning to visit tirumala with family(4 adults and a 1.5yr old baby), i am not getting much feedback on the newly launched seegradarshanam(300rs one) so need your help

A friend of mine took the same darshanam y'day Rs 300 ticket, not sure if you mean the same. The counter was opened around 7:00 & he got darshan around 8:00. Free 2 laddoos per ticket.

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

1. I am currently thinking of 27th and 28th Feb(willing to postpone if this is a peak time) unless if there is any large influx of pilgrims expected

It depends on your planning; try to make the Darshan at earliest & as soon as possible; once this is done all others should be a cake walk. This is not the seasonal time, you can go visit until mid of march where less crowd is expected.

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

2. I can see from temple website that 300rs darshan tickets are available on the spot and do not require any advance booking(Anyone who has tried it, please give some more details). But i would like to know how much time does it take to complete darshan,including the time spent in buying ticket.

True, but my friend had to wait in the queue for about an hour or more to get the ticket

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

3. i am planning to travel on a saturday and finish darshan sunday morning and return on same day(thinking about a visit to kalahasti as well). Is sunday ok or do i need to push it to say a monday to avoid holiday rush?

It should be possible; however, I'm not sure on the driving time from Bangalore to Tirupati.

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

4. Information on accomodation, how easy it is to get a room on top of tirumala ?

Actually, very difficult . I usually stay in one of the 3 Bhimas; They've Bhimas residency which is almost a 3 star too. We usually stay nr the Bhimas near the railway station. Last time it was 700 Rs for 12 hours; A/C ofcourse. Hope you know that you'll be allowed only after 04:00 AM to 12:00 AM to drive through the hills. Usually there's a huge crowd early in the morning near the checkpost or toll whatever you call to get onto the hill; people queue up as early as 03:00 AM or so.

Pls let me know if you need any other info.

EDIT - Just spoke with my friend again; the counter opens at 07:00 AM & he was pretty close to the counter as he reached the queue at 05:45 AM on Monday morning. Tip - Tue,Wed & Thu have relatively less crowd.

[rajshenoy]

does anyone here have any experience with Accomodation on top of tirumala.. i am trying to get online booking and they have variety of rooms(100,150,300 etc) i can only see the description saying 2 bed and attached toilet. but would like to know more information to set my expectations right.

Also if i stay on top, will i get good food(i am sure there are plenty in tirupati town)

If room and food is fine, i would like to spend the night on tirumala close to holy abode

[aargee]

I haven't had the chance to stay as my relatives did. For the price you pay on top, it more than 2 or 3 times worth was their comments. Stay on top & you'll never go hungry. All the more, if you get a chance, pls stay on the top.

[devrajman]

Im planning to visit Tirupati this Saturday. I will going for seegradarshanam(300rs one. We are 5 of us.

We are planning to start at 4:30AM from Blore.

Any idea on the line for seegradarshanam ticket and darshana after that?

What would be an ideal time to reach seegradarshanam ticket counter?

[rajshenoy]

I have a major doubt now, can i avail the accomodation even if i am not performing any seva? e-accomodation site doesnt seem to be asking anything, but the TTD office guy said you wont get rooms for seegra darshanam.

I would like to stay overnight and have darshan next day morning. is it not possible ?

Originally Posted by devrajman

Im planning to visit Tirupati this Saturday. I will going for seegradarshanam(300rs one. We are 5 of us.

We are planning to start at 4:30AM from Blore.

Any idea on the line for seegradarshanam ticket and darshana after that?

What would be an ideal time to reach seegradarshanam ticket counter?

What i have heard is that there is a seperate Q for this and tickets will be issued once you join the Q and you will continue to have darshan from there.

And about the timings, i am told that its as unpredictable as the crowd. so i changed my mind now to visit on a monday

[devrajman]

I had been to TTD temple in Blore (malleshwaram). He said seegradarshanam tickets timings are from 5:30AM and goes on and on for full day. Not sure how much is true.

He also said, Crowd is higher on Weekends but manageable.

Anyone here has seegradarshanam experiences on Weekends. Also is this Saturday any auspicious day?

[crossroads]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

does anyone here have any experience with Accomodation on top of tirumala.. i am trying to get online booking and they have variety of rooms(100,150,300 etc) i can only see the description saying 2 bed and attached toilet. but would like to know more information to set my expectations right.

Also if i stay on top, will i get good food(i am sure there are plenty in tirupati town)

If room and food is fine, i would like to spend the night on tirumala close to holy abode

You can book your accommodation using the online booking. I stayed in a cottage room (750 rupees) that had a hall, bedroom and 2 toilets. 100-300 rupee rooms might have lesser facilities.

There are lots of restaurants in Tirumala. So food shouldn't be a problem.

[crossroads]

Originally Posted by devrajman

Im planning to visit Tirupati this Saturday. I will going for seegradarshanam(300rs one. We are 5 of us.

We are planning to start at 4:30AM from Blore.

Any idea on the line for seegradarshanam ticket and darshana after that?

What would be an ideal time to reach seegradarshanam ticket counter?

Seegradarshan ticket counter only opens at 9 AM. The timing is from 9 AM - 6 PM and 9 PM - 11 PM.

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

I have a major doubt now, can i avail the accomodation even if i am not performing any seva? e-accomodation site doesnt seem to be asking anything, but the TTD office guy said you wont get rooms for seegra darshanam.

I would like to stay overnight and have darshan next day morning. is it not possible ?

What i have heard is that there is a seperate Q for this and tickets will be issued once you join the Q and you will continue to have darshan from there.

And about the timings, i am told that its as unpredictable as the crowd. so i changed my mind now to visit on a monday

Yes. You can avail accommodation without performing any seva. There is no such requirement.

There is a separate queue for seegradarshan and tickets will be issued just before you enter vaikuntam complex. So to get the tickets you have to join the queue.

300 Rupee queue is from 9 AM - 6 PM and 9 PM - 11 PM

Originally Posted by devrajman

I had been to TTD temple in Blore (malleshwaram). He said seegradarshanam tickets timings are from 5:30AM and goes on and on for full day. Not sure how much is true.

He also said, Crowd is higher on Weekends but manageable.

Anyone here has seegradarshanam experiences on Weekends. Also is this Saturday any auspicious day?

Saturday is generally considered an auspicious day for Lord Balaji. As far as I know 300 rupee counter opens only from 9 AM and not 5:30 AM. Crowd would be normally higher during the weekends.

I jotted down some of my experience here.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post1702120

[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by devrajman

I had been to TTD temple in Blore (malleshwaram). He said seegradarshanam tickets timings are from 5:30AM and goes on and on for full day. Not sure how much is true.

He also said, Crowd is higher on Weekends but manageable.

Anyone here has seegradarshanam experiences on Weekends. Also is this Saturday any auspicious day?

As far as i know all saturdays are auspicious for lord venkatesh and typically you expect more people.

I have been hearing mixed reactions from people(and internet) about seegra darshanam and i am going with an expectation of average time of 1-2 hours.

Typically those who have gone on weekend say more than couple of hours(depends on the timing, earlier the better) and those who have gone on weekdays talk about 1-2 hours

Since you are going before me, i am awaiting for your feedback brother

Somehow i postponed my plan to march 8th darshan. Now i need to plan for accomodation

Can anyone share details ? i would be checking in 7th night and checking out after darshan on 8th. and since its a religious trip with family i dont want much luxury, but basic comforts of hot water and a fan

[sbraj]

rajshenoy,

Use the internet eSeva option to book your darsan. Much better than Seeghradarsan. I have had darsan during Suprabhatham seva many times.

Reporting time at Vijaya Bank Gate is 0230 hours and you would be present during the Suprabhatham chanting very near to sanctum sanctorum. Once seva is done, you can go into the corridor and have a close darsan of Balaji. Darsan is approximately at 0400 hours. Waiting time in the queue is around 20 minutes.

Entry is allowed only for 200 people during this seva.

If this timing is too early for you, then you can opt for Thomala Seva or Archana or any of the day sevas. I usually prefer the early morning sevas and have not got a chance so far for day time sevas.

Accommodation is not connected to darsan. You can use the eAccomodation option to reserve.

I have stayed in Vikas(TTD) so far. Basic facilities, but neat. I usually reach Tirumala in the evening, have a small nap, get up at 1AM, reach for darsan at 2AM, finish darsan at 4AM, and start back from Tirumala at 9AM after breakfast. Since my stay is very short, Vikas Lodge has worked for me. Vikas is near to Hotel Woodlands, hence you don't have to keep looking for neat places to eat.