Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries

ampere · 5th June 2011, 13:39

KSTDC also a 2 and 3 day package.

Karanataka_Holidays

Fauji · 5th June 2011, 14:01

I would advise to leave early - say 5 AM - in the morning. This will help one clear the stretch between Mulbagal - Chittoor which is a double lane with traffic as day passes by. Beyond Chittoor it is a breeze.

amit.mishra · 20th June 2011, 13:23

Just back from a weekend trip to Tirupati. Details as under :
Onward Journey
Started from Bangalore at 6 am. reached KR puram by 6.30 am. Stopped for breakfast at Shanti Sagar, Nangili at 8 am. Roads till Mulbagal a pleasure to drive on. Avg Speed 90-100 km. Resumed from Nangili at 8.45 am. Advice - You could also stop at Kamat Upachar, its on the side of the road you are driving on from Bangalore. Took the Chitoor Byepass (Thanks TBHP). Roughly 6 km bad roads (30-40 kph). After that again a breeze till Turupati. Reached at 11.00 am. Drove up to Tirumala in about 45 min (my first ghat road drive).

Return Journey

Started from Tirumala at 12.00 noon. Reached Alipiri at 12.30 pm. Had lunch at Sitara Hotel (yummy food). Started at 3 pm. Reached bglr at 8 pm (Stopover at 2 railway crossings and Woody's). Fare at Woody's very limited in the evening. Had only cutlets - those were burnt, but the tea was nice.

Overall in the 600 km drive only 12 km was bad roads.

ampere · 20th June 2011, 15:46

Where did you park at Tirumala? Is there a general parking available?
Since I am not aware of it, I generally book a hotel at Tirupati itself.

amit.mishra · 20th June 2011, 17:09

Hi Ampere,

I had booked a cottage at Tirumala through their online site. I was staying in Balaji guest house. Parked my vehicle right in front of the cottage. There is lots of place near the cottages where you can park your vehicle safely. Do let me know, in case you need the TTD website for accomodation booking.

Staying in Tirupati might not make sense, if you want to do darshan at odd timings (early morning, late nights etc)

ampere · 20th June 2011, 17:20

Now it makes sense. Thanks. I was not sure if one does not book a room, how can he get a parking. Since that part was not mentioned in the post, I thought there is a general parking available!

Since you finished off every thing the same day, I did not expect you would book a room.

ajithbr · 20th June 2011, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Now it makes sense. Thanks. I was not sure if one does not book a room, how can he get a parking. Since that part was not mentioned in the post, I thought there is a general parking available!

Since you finished off every thing the same day, I did not expect you would book a room.

Reading too fast

Single-day means only 15 mins in Tirumala

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit.mishra

Onward Journey
Started from Bangalore at 6 am. [SNIP] Reached at 11.00 am. Drove up to Tirumala in about 45 min (my first ghat road drive).

Return Journey
Started from Tirumala at 12.00 noon.
[SNIP]

ampere · 20th June 2011, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajithbr

Reading too fast

Single-day means only 15 mins in Tirumala

That was exactly my doubt. I was thinking how is that possible. Should have exercised my brain before posting! Thanks for setting it right.

The way the post was written and in the end the way it said 600km, I thought wow! He is finishing off every thing in one day!

EDIT: I will get the previous two posts of mine deleted.

amit.mishra · 20th June 2011, 17:46

I have read some posts in TBHP where some have done the entire darshan / drive in a day, but I must confess that i have never even given that idea a thought. Some other deity - maybe but Lord Balaji - nay. u just dont get to see Him in 15 min. My darshan - Divya Darshan took about 3.5 hrs startinig from 5.30 am..

ravib · 20th June 2011, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Now it makes sense. Thanks. I was not sure if one does not book a room, how can he get a parking. Since that part was not mentioned in the post, I thought there is a general parking available!

Ampere, though I usually book rooms at Tirupati, whenever we drive up to Tirumala, we park the car in general parking available in the road between Free darshan entrance and Rs.300 /- & Rs. 50/- darshan ticket entrance.

Its convenient to walk for 400 mts or so to enter Rs. 300/- seegradarshan ticket entrance point.

-Ravi

NPV · 20th June 2011, 19:46

From my recent experience I would suggest this plan (did exactly this successfully):
1. Start from Bangalore around 8pm (we went on Friday)
2. Reach Tirupati before midnight, check-in to a hotel in Tirupati, prefereably on/near the Tirumala Road
3. Start from Tirupati to Tirumala around 5.30am
4. Get into Seegradarshan (Rs.300) queue and finish Darshan by 8.30/9am
5. Have breakfast
6. Visit Srikalahasthi temple
7. Have lunch, start from Tirupati to Bangalore, you should be back by 8pm

*Of course watch out for festivals, other holidays when crowds are huge at Tirumala
Hope this helps.

ampere · 20th June 2011, 20:07

Another schedule similar which I had gone through. (But I would suggest this only to bachelors)

1. Start from Bangalore by night. Take a night Volvo (KSRTC/APSRTC). He would drop you at Alipiri by about 2:30 3AM. That is also the gate from where you walk up.
2. Get darshan band below and "walk-up". Yes its quite some fun. Initial 2 km is very-very taxing as it involves steep steps. BUt then it easies out and when the dawn breaks, it an ethereal view all around.
3. You would reach up by 7AM. Freshen up and get into the Q (sheegra darshan most preferred).
4. You can get out by 3-4 hours (hopefully). For me it was 2 hours of darshan about 3 times (I was plain lucky I guess)
5. Once darshan is done. come down by bus, directly go to Hotel Mayura and hog!

6. Between 2-3 PM there quite some Volvo buses starting for Bangalore.
(Though I am not sure, I always managed to get one).
7. By 8:30 PM you would be at Indiranagar BDA!

May be its sheer luck, but I got this schedule working to the dot at least three times!

amit.mishra · 21st June 2011, 10:19

There is no need to take the Sheegra Darshan tickets if you "walk-up". There is a special darshan queue (Divya Darshan) for the same. Time taken is around 2 hrs for the darshan.

Secondly, not advisable to take the steps between 10 pm to 4am, unless you are in a group. It takes around 4 hrs for the climb.

ampere · 21st June 2011, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit.mishra

Secondly, not advisable to take the steps between 10 pm to 4am, unless you are in a group. It takes around 4 hrs for the climb.

Why is that ? Any safety security issues? We used to go in a group of 3-4.
Even at these hours it used to be crowded.

amit.mishra · 21st June 2011, 11:11

Yes, if there is a crowd, no issues. Else, better wait till you have a group of 20-25 before you start the climb. This is due to the possibility of encountering wild animals on the way up. recently there was a news of a leopard being captured in the vicinity of the steps. Even TTD mentions this on their website.

5th June 2011, 13:39	#241
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,950 Thanked: 12,937 Times View My Garage	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries KSTDC also a 2 and 3 day package. Karanataka_Holidays
	() Thanks

5th June 2011, 14:01	#242
Fauji Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,471 Thanked: 994 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries I would advise to leave early - say 5 AM - in the morning. This will help one clear the stretch between Mulbagal - Chittoor which is a double lane with traffic as day passes by. Beyond Chittoor it is a breeze.
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 13:23	#243
amit.mishra BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 7 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Just back from a weekend trip to Tirupati. Details as under : Onward Journey Started from Bangalore at 6 am. reached KR puram by 6.30 am. Stopped for breakfast at Shanti Sagar, Nangili at 8 am. Roads till Mulbagal a pleasure to drive on. Avg Speed 90-100 km. Resumed from Nangili at 8.45 am. Advice - You could also stop at Kamat Upachar, its on the side of the road you are driving on from Bangalore. Took the Chitoor Byepass (Thanks TBHP). Roughly 6 km bad roads (30-40 kph). After that again a breeze till Turupati. Reached at 11.00 am. Drove up to Tirumala in about 45 min (my first ghat road drive). Return Journey Started from Tirumala at 12.00 noon. Reached Alipiri at 12.30 pm. Had lunch at Sitara Hotel (yummy food). Started at 3 pm. Reached bglr at 8 pm (Stopover at 2 railway crossings and Woody's). Fare at Woody's very limited in the evening. Had only cutlets - those were burnt, but the tea was nice. Overall in the 600 km drive only 12 km was bad roads.
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 15:46	#244
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,950 Thanked: 12,937 Times View My Garage	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Where did you park at Tirumala? Is there a general parking available? Since I am not aware of it, I generally book a hotel at Tirupati itself.
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 17:09	#245
amit.mishra BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 7 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Hi Ampere, I had booked a cottage at Tirumala through their online site. I was staying in Balaji guest house. Parked my vehicle right in front of the cottage. There is lots of place near the cottages where you can park your vehicle safely. Do let me know, in case you need the TTD website for accomodation booking. Staying in Tirupati might not make sense, if you want to do darshan at odd timings (early morning, late nights etc)
	(1) Thanks

20th June 2011, 17:20	#246
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,950 Thanked: 12,937 Times View My Garage	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Now it makes sense. Thanks. I was not sure if one does not book a room, how can he get a parking. Since that part was not mentioned in the post, I thought there is a general parking available! Since you finished off every thing the same day, I did not expect you would book a room.
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 17:46	#249
amit.mishra BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 7 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries I have read some posts in TBHP where some have done the entire darshan / drive in a day, but I must confess that i have never even given that idea a thought. Some other deity - maybe but Lord Balaji - nay. u just dont get to see Him in 15 min. My darshan - Divya Darshan took about 3.5 hrs startinig from 5.30 am..
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 19:46	#251
NPV Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 7,220 Thanked: 10,264 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries From my recent experience I would suggest this plan (did exactly this successfully): 1. Start from Bangalore around 8pm (we went on Friday) 2. Reach Tirupati before midnight, check-in to a hotel in Tirupati, prefereably on/near the Tirumala Road 3. Start from Tirupati to Tirumala around 5.30am 4. Get into Seegradarshan (Rs.300) queue and finish Darshan by 8.30/9am 5. Have breakfast 6. Visit Srikalahasthi temple 7. Have lunch, start from Tirupati to Bangalore, you should be back by 8pm *Of course watch out for festivals, other holidays when crowds are huge at Tirumala Hope this helps.
	() Thanks

20th June 2011, 20:07	#252
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,950 Thanked: 12,937 Times View My Garage	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Another schedule similar which I had gone through. (But I would suggest this only to bachelors) 1. Start from Bangalore by night. Take a night Volvo (KSRTC/APSRTC). He would drop you at Alipiri by about 2:30 3AM. That is also the gate from where you walk up. 2. Get darshan band below and "walk-up". Yes its quite some fun. Initial 2 km is very-very taxing as it involves steep steps. BUt then it easies out and when the dawn breaks, it an ethereal view all around. 3. You would reach up by 7AM. Freshen up and get into the Q (sheegra darshan most preferred). 4. You can get out by 3-4 hours (hopefully). For me it was 2 hours of darshan about 3 times (I was plain lucky I guess) 5. Once darshan is done. come down by bus, directly go to Hotel Mayura and hog! 6. Between 2-3 PM there quite some Volvo buses starting for Bangalore. (Though I am not sure, I always managed to get one). 7. By 8:30 PM you would be at Indiranagar BDA! May be its sheer luck, but I got this schedule working to the dot at least three times!
	() Thanks

21st June 2011, 10:19	#253
amit.mishra BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 7 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries There is no need to take the Sheegra Darshan tickets if you "walk-up". There is a special darshan queue (Divya Darshan) for the same. Time taken is around 2 hrs for the darshan. Secondly, not advisable to take the steps between 10 pm to 4am, unless you are in a group. It takes around 4 hrs for the climb.
	() Thanks

21st June 2011, 11:11	#255
amit.mishra BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 37 Thanked: 7 Times	re: Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries Yes, if there is a crowd, no issues. Else, better wait till you have a group of 20-25 before you start the climb. This is due to the possibility of encountering wild animals on the way up. recently there was a news of a leopard being captured in the vicinity of the steps. Even TTD mentions this on their website.
	(1) Thanks