[ravib]

IIRC, the total steps from Alipiri to Tirumala is about 3500 steps. Of which, first ~1500+ steps are there till Gaali Gopuram which is quite steep and taxing. As suresh suggested, take zig-zag pattern which will be more helpful. Also, take lots of fluids (water, glucose etc) to avoid de-hydrating.

After Gaali Gopuram, its quite easy till you reach the last leg of steps which is called as "Muzhangal Mudichu" which is also quite steep, but not too many steps as in the first leg.

In my personal experience, i can tell you, even though you climbed the steep steps and walked for 9 kms, after reaching Tirumala, you won't find it tiring. Infact, the urge & eagerness to see lord will increase the moment you reach Tirumala. Whatsoever, keep chanting lord Venkateswara name/om namo narayanaya - while walking/climbing, and the divine feeling will give you all the energy you need !

Regarding the hotels to stay in Tirupati in Rs. 1500/- range, Hotel PLR Grand (just behind the bus stand) is good which also provides complimentary breakfast. We are always satisfied staying in that hotel. Only problem is they have less parking space, but if you are lucky, you can manage it easily.

-Ravi

[dhuli]

Most often I prefer driving during daylight. However, I need to travel to Tirupati on Friday evening around 530pm from Indiranagar, Bengaluru. What is the safest route and how long is the drive likely to take? Thank you!

[NPV]

Originally Posted by dhuli

Most often I prefer driving during daylight. However, I need to travel to Tirupati on Friday evening around 530pm from Indiranagar, Bengaluru. What is the safest route and how long is the drive likely to take?

Since you stay near Indiranagar, simply take the Old madras road to go towards K R Puram, Kolar, Mulabagal, Chittoor. Should take you about 5 hours or so to Tirupati with one short 20-30 minute break.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by dhuli

Most often I prefer driving during daylight. However, I need to travel to Tirupati on Friday evening around 530pm from Indiranagar, Bengaluru. What is the safest route and how long is the drive likely to take? Thank you!

The safest and best route from Indiranagar will be via the Old Madras Road. From the end of the 4 lane road till KA/AP border, the roads are bad. From the border onwards good roads. But you will expect a lot of traffic courtesy the private bus operators.
Take care while driving and wish you a safe and happy journey

[Soumyajit9]

Finally, we made it to Balaji darshan.
Overall, it was a very pleasant trip, apart from the general hiccups and slowness here and there. Took a whole day from 9 am till 5 pm to complete everything and start our return journey back to Bangalore.
My 4th darshan till date, and after a gap of 18 years from the last darshan.

Here is the experience and various details for the trip.

Cab Hiring:
I wanted to hire a Zoom car, but parents and wifey were strictly against it. After a week long effort to convince them failed, I hired a cab through a travel agency.
We hired an Innova @ Rs.13/km + Driver bhatta @ Rs. 300 per day + State Permit @ Rs.1800 (See below)
Andhra State Permit for Yellow board cabs is about Rs.3000. This is normally collected from the travellers.
The travel agency said that I have to pay Rs.1800 as permit. I was surprised how it could be this less. Nonetheless, I was happy at saving some money.
The travel agency played a trick here. When the cab arrived in the morning, it was a White board private registration.
Then I came to know that since it is a private registration, there was no state permit that I had to pay, but the travel agency pocketed this Rs.1800.
When I called him up while paying, upon returning to B'lore, he said that he saved my Rs.1200, by not paying Rs.3000. I tried to argue, but he flatly refused to waive off the Rs.1800. So I paid him that money.

Tickets:
- Went to TTD Counter at Jayanagar.
- Booked Rs. 300 Special Darshan
- There are 4 Slots for special darshan.
- 12 Noon & 1 PM - Booking opens14 days in advance.
- 2 PM & 3 PM - Booking opens 7 days in advance
- All the travellers (above 10 years of age) need to be physically present at the counter while booking ticket, they take your photo then and there.

Travel:
- All everyone says, take NH4 till near Mulbagal.
- Two toll gates: (1) After KR Puram - Costs Rs.63 (2) Near Mulbagal - Costs Rs. 16 (IIRC)
- Excellent 4 laned highway.
- After the 2nd toll gate near Mulbagal, about 10 kms ahead, the 4 lanes cease to exist.
- The remaining ~ 160 kms to Tirupati is 2 laned with no median and few unmarked humps.
- Horrible heavy traffic on this 2 laned road. Be very very careful with overtaking manueveres.

Stay:
- Stayed at Hotel PLR Grand, near Central Bus Stand.
- Printed Tarrif was 1890 for Standard AC, 2200 for AC Deluxe. Non-AC Rooms were unavailable.
- Advice: Book rooms via Online portals like Expedia, etc.
- I had seen the Standard AC Room at Rs.1360 online.
- After a bit of bargaining, they offered 10% discount on the printed room price. Breakfast included.
- Breakfast offered is standard - Idli, Vada, Pongal, Upma, Masala Dosa, Tea, Coffee - No buffet. Order from list.

Tirupati to Tirumala:
- Take additional time of 45 mins - 1hr at the toll gate, apart from journey time. Rs. 30 is the toll fare.
- The toll gate is mis-managed if I may say so. There was only 1 secirity personel checking vehicle, 1 checking baggages, rest were just hanging around.
- The security personel will check the bonnet, trunk, under seats, inside seat pockets, under the car, in glove box, and what not area of the car.
- You will have to unload any luggage you have in the car and pass it through X-Ray machines. Any suspected item, and you have to open and show them.
- No electrical equipments are allowed. We had taken an Induction plate to prepare Soogi and Raagi for my kid.
- Was scanned and asked to keep it with the store facility available there.
- They code the product with a marker and give you a receipt. Upon your return, you need to collect it from a warehouse in a nearby location.
- Anyways, about 7 vehicles ahead of me took close to an hour of wait. Buses have separate queue.
- The minimum stipulated upwards journey time is 28 minutes.
- The minimum stipulated downwards journey time is 40 minutes.
- Toll receipt is scanned while entering Tirumala, to check if you have violated the stipulated time by driving fast.

Mundan / Tonsure:
- There are 4 units for tonsure.
- Each of them have about 20 barbers sitting in a queue.
- Hot water bath facility available inside for bath after tonsure.
- Free service, with a free new blade that you need to give to the barber.
- After the tonsure, since it was my son's first tonsure, the barber asked for "kind". So we gave him Rs. 50, which he rejected. Hence paid Rs.100.

Darshan:
- There are free buses available to take you to the darshan starting points. For our special darshan, we took one of the free bus to travel about a km to reach TB Cottage No. 129.
- Be present at the reporting time mentioned on the ticket (if you are doing a special darshan).
- They verify the ticket and let you in the cage.
- Be prepared to walk for may be 3-4kms within various designer cages. I hope they have separate provisions for very elderly people (not the wheel-chaired type).
- Keep your cellphone and footwear in the car or at hotel. Else you need to deposit at the counter within the cage. They issue you receipt and you need to collect them at a collection counter at the exit.
- Our darshan was done within 45 mins. We were indeed very lucky.

Laddoos:
- For Rs300 ticket, you get 2 free laddoos per head.
- For Rs. 50 darshan, you get 1 free laddoo per head.
- For all darshans, you get one free small laddoo at the exit of the temple.
- For extra laddoos, you need to buy token in the denominations of Rs. 100, for 4 laddoos, or Rs. 50 for 2 laddoos, subject to a maximum of 4 laddoos per person.

[spiler]

Hi All,
I am planning to visit Tirupathi on Sunday. I have to get my 1.2 yr old daughter's tonsure done. Have booked the special darshan (Rs.300) for Monday 12:00 PM. Though most details are covered in this thread, I still have few queries
1. Do I need to book in advance for Tonsure?
2. I don't have any accommodation booked? How are my chances of getting one on Sunday evening? Any recommendation on hotels?
3. Is there any special queue for infants? and can both parents accompany or only one person is allowed?

[Soumyajit9]

Originally Posted by spiler

Hi All,
I am planning to visit Tirupathi on Sunday. I have to get my 1.2 yr old daughter's tonsure done. Have booked the special darshan (Rs.300) for Monday 12:00 PM. Though most details are covered in this thread, I still have few queries
1. Do I need to book in advance for Tonsure?
2. I don't have any accommodation booked? How are my chances of getting one on Sunday evening? Any recommendation on hotels?
3. Is there any special queue for infants? and can both parents accompany or only one person is allowed?

Been just a month since my visit. Memories are fresh and would answer your queries.

1. No advance booking. Just walk upto any of the 4 tonsure areas. Give the kid's name to the guy at the entrance. He will give you a blade (free). Take it inside and get the tonsure done. After tonsure, since it is a kid, the barber would causally ask money in name of God. Give if you want to, else leave for a hot water bath within the same complex. For kids, the attendants take them to the ladies area and give a nice hot water bath. Post that, make sure to apply lots of Chandan (sandlewood paste) on the head. You would see a small bucket of free sandlewood paste nearby.

2. We stayed in PLR Grand. Very good hotel. Comes around 2k per night (bargain for discounts). Else, lots of hotels available in Tirupathi.
In the hills of Tirumala, all are pre-booked govt. guest houses. So you are better to stay in Tirupathi, and not Tirumala. So plan accordingly. Reach Tirupathi in evening, Check in to Hotel, Next day Check out and visit Tirumala, Retrun to Bangalore.

3. There is no special queue for infants. There is a separate queue for senior citizens though. The Rs.300 darshan should give you some relief, incase luck favours you. For us, it was a total of just 45 mins - 1Hr. From the entry to the exit of the queue.

NOTE: Since your darshan is at 12 Noon, leave by 8 or 8:30 (Keep enough time in hand). The Checkpoint at the foot of Tirumala hills gets jammed at times. There is a massive checking that goes on. So chances are high of getting stuck in the tollgate.

[spiler]

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

NOTE: Since your darshan is at 12 Noon, leave by 8 or 8:30 (Keep enough time in hand). The Checkpoint at the foot of Tirumala hills gets jammed at times. There is a massive checking that goes on. So chances are high of getting stuck in the tollgate.

Thank you very much. Will definitely try to leave by 8. I guess this should be enough including the time required for tonsure.

[hillsnrains]

Originally Posted by spiler

3. Is there any special queue for infants? and can both parents accompany or only one person is allowed?

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

3. There is no special queue for infants. There is a separate queue for senior citizens though.

No mate, There is a special queue for infants. Both mother and father will be allowed along with infant. But the catch is infant should be <1 year. I know your question, how they will judge the age of kid? It's daily routine for them (they checked my son's teeth and said ok). At that time he was <1 yr.

Hope this helps.

[DriveToLive]

Hi All,

I am driving to Tirumala this Friday. I have few questions, would greatly apprecaite any pointers regarding them.

1. My darshan is at 3PM with reporting time of 2 PM. Should I have to be there by 2PM or anytime between 2-3 would be fine?

2. I understand that the entry is near TB cottage no. 129. Can I get some pointers how to reach there once I enter Tirumala.

3. Is there a car parking area near TB cottage no. 129? Where should I park my car if its not available anywhere around the cottage. And if its far, how to get back to the entry point.

Regards.

[Soumyajit9]

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

1. My darshan is at 3PM with reporting time of 2 PM. Should I have to be there by 2PM or anytime between 2-3 would be fine?

Anytime between 2 and 3 is fine. When we were in the queue, some people entered at 2:55 PM also. But if you are early, to enter the queue, you are ahead of the crowd. If you enter late, you would be at the end of the queue / crowd.

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

2. I understand that the entry is near TB cottage no. 129. Can I get some pointers how to reach there once I enter Tirumala.

Once you enter Tirumala, the first thing is a checkpoint to see your toll receipt. Just drive straight from that point. About 1 / 1.5kms later, you would reach a Y-Junction. Take a left on that junction and drive about 500 mts, take a right from there. TBC129 will be 400 mtrs on the right.
Best approach is to follow one of the Free Buses (Funky orange in colour).

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

3. Is there a car parking area near TB cottage no. 129? Where should I park my car if its not available anywhere around the cottage. And if its far, how to get back to the entry point.

I have no idea about parking, since we had taken a cab. Best advice would be to find a parking area and park the car. Take one of those free buses to the TBC129 entrance.

[hillsnrains]

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

Hi All,

I am driving to Tirumala this Friday. I have few questions, would greatly apprecaite any pointers regarding them.

1. My darshan is at 3PM with reporting time of 2 PM. Should I have to be there by 2PM or anytime between 2-3 would be fine?

2. I understand that the entry is near TB cottage no. 129. Can I get some pointers how to reach there once I enter Tirumala.

3. Is there a car parking area near TB cottage no. 129? Where should I park my car if its not available anywhere around the cottage. And if its far, how to get back to the entry point.

Regards.

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

Once you enter Tirumala, the first thing is a checkpoint to see your toll receipt. Just drive straight from that point. About 1 / 1.5kms later, you would reach a Y-Junction. Take a left on that junction and drive about 500 mts, take a right from there. TBC129 will be 400 mtrs on the right.
Best approach is to follow one of the Free Buses (Funky orange in colour).


I have no idea about parking, since we had taken a cab. Best advice would be to find a parking area and park the car. Take one of those free buses to the TBC129 entrance.

First two points are addressed by Soumyajit.

However let me try to answer your queries 2 &3 together. After passing checkpost@Tirumala (where you have to handover toll counterfoil) and keep heading straight. After 500 meters there is a left diversion just before the Bus complex (you can't miss it because there is a barricade to restrict entry further), from there just follow sign boards for "Vaikuntam Q complex". If you are in doubt ask for help, especially those who are wearing TTD uniform(khakhi or white colour). Believe me it is very easy to navigate. From this parking TBC is less than 200 meters.

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

Hi All,

3. Is there a car parking area near TB cottage no. 129? Where should I park my car if its not available anywhere around the cottage. And if its far, how to get back to the entry point.

Regards.

Be rest assured for your car parking. There are several places that you can peacefully park your car on. I specifically don't know about the parking slot near the TB 129 cottage, but I can tell you that you wont face a parking issue at Tirumala. And the walk isn't too long either, just in case your gate is far off from the parking slot. And it helps to take the car up, you can leave your footwear and keep your mobiles etc..locked in the dash.

[abhijitvp]

Originally Posted by DriveToLive

Hi All,
1. My darshan is at 3PM with reporting time of 2 PM. Should I have to be there by 2PM or anytime between 2-3 would be fine?


3. Is there a car parking area near TB cottage no. 129? Where should I park my car if its not available anywhere around the cottage. And if its far, how to get back to the entry point.

Regards.

1. You can enter the queue between 1:30PM to 3:00PM. If you have very tight schedule then please account for at least 90 mins from Tirupati to Tirumala. There is a check post before you start climbing the ghat. They do thorough security check here. I spent at least 30 mins here. After that you have to complete the climb in more than 28 mins, otherwise you will be fined.

3. You can park here

https://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=13....=18&iwloc=near

This is one of the guest house and have ample parking space. Just 100 meters from the TB 129 queue. Been there last week. For 2PM Darshan I reached at 1PM and darshan done by 4PM.

[ravib]

Anyone who recently visited Tirupati and had Rs. 50 /- tickets darshan ?

I am aware that for Rs. 300/- tickets they made Dhoti/Saree compulsory for darshan. Any update on Rs. 50/- will be appreciated. Did

When i went last in October, Rs. 50/- tickets queue was allowed with Pants but was not in Rs. 300/-.

-Ravi