[rkg]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I dont think so there is any such entrance seperate for couples with kids, I had been only 4 months back and did not find any.


Not at all true, same single queue as in Tirupati.


Not the case in Tirumala as far as food is concerned. I could not find many restaurants or eating places atop the hill.

There is indeed separate que. one has to go nea to main entrance. where you have to wait for some time ( for old persons and ladies with kids ) once sufficient crowd is there they are allowed to go in through Mahadwaram( main entrance).

In shirdi there is no separate que but the guards and police will open short cuts for VIP to let them in. I have seen it recently in May 2011.

[IUNKWN]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I dont think so there is any such entrance seperate for couples with kids, I had been only 4 months back and did not find any.


Not at all true, same single queue as in Tirupati.


Not the case in Tirumala as far as food is concerned. I could not find many restaurants or eating places atop the hill.

Well, I visited Tirupati last year and there was one. I can't comment on the present situation.

I was in shirdi early last month and there is a separate queue. You need to take a token which is given at a counter left of the main entrance. When you present the token, they will allow you through a separate entrance bypassing the serpentine queue. To get a token, you must show your recommendation.

I was with wife and a year old kid. After looking at the queue, I decided to do a dhayan of "baba" from outside and leave without having a darshan. With a kid, it was impossible to enter the queue. If I would have entered, there was no way for me to get out in the middle and imagine with an infant with you, changing diapers, feeding him etc. We were really upset. My wife is ardent devotee of baba, I must say. She refused to quit, hoping baba will do something and we sat outside on the pavements. And this is not a filmi story. Approx. half an hour later, an army officer came with his family, his wife started chatting with my wife as he was doing the formalities at the token counter. And within minutes, she called her hubby to include us in the number of persons as his relatives. We went with them and in approx. 20 mins or so, came out after having a smooth darshan. I was left with no words, it was me who decided to quit earlier.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Anybody planning for a trip to Tirupati this weekend stay away it is crowded beyond imagination. Rs.300 darshan Q is stretching beyond the Vaikundam complex.

[sdp1975]

Originally Posted by srimath

You need to register on the website to be able to book the Accommodation.

Thanks I can do the booking now.

I see different options in the booking page - rates starting from 100/- to 2000/-. But they all have 2 beds and 1 room.

Booking is allowed only for 1 room, for 1 night.

With 3 persons and 2 babies, do they arrange for extra beds on request, or do I need to book 2 rooms from 2 different accounts ?

[rkg]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

Thanks I can do the booking now.

I see different options in the booking page - rates starting from 100/- to 2000/-. But they all have 2 beds and 1 room.

Booking is allowed only for 1 room, for 1 night.

With 3 persons and 2 babies, do they arrange for extra beds on request, or do I need to book 2 rooms from 2 different accounts ?

In TTD rooms are always allotted for one day. but they will extend it by one more day the end of first day. but no more extensions beyond two days.

In a room even 5/6 persons can stay.

Rooms with Rs 1000/- and more will have an anti room with sofa set and a bed

[chandan]

Seegra darshanam is a joke now. Most people opt for this. It takes over 3 hrs to get the darshan. Rs 50 ticket does the same job. Also note that darshan timings are reduced from 18hrs/day to around 11hrs/day now. The timings are different for every day of the week. Kindly check the website beforehand for timings.

[roamingrao]

Sheegradarshan tickets were not available after 7.30 pm on 3rd Sep ( last saturday ) to clear huge backlog of free darshan ( sarvadarshana ) for which the waiting time was 18 hours. We drove into tirumala at 8.30 pm and were forced to spend the night inside the car. Many returned to tirupati as getting rooms in tirumala is next to impossible.

Next morning ( sunday / yesterday), we were in the Rs 300 queue at 4.30am and came out after darshan at 7.45am.

Please do not be assured of Rs 300 darshan at all times on long weekends / festival days as priority is given to clear queue of lesser denominations / free darshan.

As per a TTD board in front of the queue complex, on weekends ( sat, sun and mon ) the shreegradarshan timings are 4am to 5am, 7am to 7pm, 9pm to 11pm and other days is restricted to 7am to 2pm. This is not to be believed as we found out. Darshan timings for these are relaxed or extended or shortened as per wish depending upon rush at vaikuntam queue complex.

[KrisSree]

Had been to Tirumala on 1st Sep - Vinayak Chaturthi day. Stood in the queue for the Sheegradarshan at around 0600 Hrs -Sheegradarshan on Thursdays starts only by 0900, this was relaxed by an hour or so that day. Came out after Darshan at around 0915. Yes this is no more "Sheegra" Darshan but as far as I can understand if you are going without any special sevas or not as a VIP, 3 hours for darshan should be considered normal. Regarding the accomodation, there are many Mathas behind the temple where we could book the stay. Getting a stay or booking a Seva through TTD Portal has become next to impossible! Stayed in Vyasa Raja Matha this time. Have their contacts and would pass on if some one needs it. Got an AC room with 5 beds for INR 1200.

~Cheers

[ravib]

Visited tirumala and took seegradarshanam today morning.
Entered queue at 7 am and came out at 11 am. Just 4 hours, inspite of being a sunday !

Please note that from Feb 15 onwards seegara darshana timis were changed.
Check it out before planning.

Didn't had camera or mobile to take a snap of new timings as i left it in tirupati itself.

This is what i recollect from memory, but i am sure all this is not 100% accurate except sat & sundays.

Saturday & Sunday => 7 am to 9 pm
Tuesday & Wednesday => 8 am to 2 pm
Monday, Thursday & Friday => 9 am to 5 pm

-Ravi

[SPEEDY_RACER]

Hi All,

This is the post which would help all the BHPIANS if there are any plans to go to Tirumala in this month, then Please plan your travels little bit later.

Just saw the news in the local channels which tells that there were around 5 to 6 cases recorded(including a pregnant women) affected with Swine Flu in Tirumala who felt sick when they were going for the Darshan.

note that none of the six persons were linked each other.

These people were from different parts of India. not sure exact places, but if you are visiting then please take precautionary measures before you go.

[narayans80]

Not a Seegradarsanam, but a Tirupati query: We are planning on walking up to Tirumala. Does anyone know if there is paid car parking available near Alipiri ?

[SPEEDY_RACER]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Not a Seegradarsanam, but a Tirupati query: We are planning on walking up to Tirumala. Does anyone know if there is paid car parking available near Alipiri ?

Yes

There is a paid Parking near to the place where the Steps starts.

you can even park your car in the parking of General Hospital next to the steps starting point. but again its a private parking.

just 1 km away its all around.

[himavanth_m]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Not a Seegradarsanam, but a Tirupati query: We are planning on walking up to Tirumala. Does anyone know if there is paid car parking available near Alipiri ?

Originally Posted by SPEEDY_RACER

Yes

There is a paid Parking near to the place where the Steps starts.

you can even park your car in the parking of General Hospital next to the steps starting point. but again its a private parking.

just 1 km away its all around.

As speedy racer mentioned, there is a paid parking. But I would not suggest to keep it there because my friends car got scratched. ( May be it is a one off incident )
My options are:
1. The safest way is to keep the vehicle hotels like Bhimas Residency in Tirupathi by taking a room here. (Might be expensive option).
2. Leave the car at home. Reach Tirupathi by public transport.
3. Bring a driver along with you. Ask the driver to get the car to Tirumala while you take the steps. (You can also get a friend who is not interested in taking the 4400 odd steps to the peak )

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by SPEEDY_RACER

There is a paid Parking near to the place where the Steps starts.you can even park your car in the parking of General Hospital next to the steps starting point. but again its a private parking.

Thats wonderful Info. I never knew of this option. Will use it whenever I decide to walk up to meet the Lord.

Originally Posted by himavanth_m

My options are:
1. The safest way is to keep the vehicle hotels like Bhimas Residency in Tirupathi by taking a room here. (Might be expensive option).
2. Leave the car at home. Reach Tirupathi by public transport.
3. Bring a driver along with you. Ask the driver to get the car to Tirumala while you take the steps. (You can also get a friend who is not interested in taking the 4400 odd steps to the peak )

I think all your suggestions are offtopic and not really helpful to the original query

[manavdotcom]

Just before You reach Alipiri Circle, there is a Bus parking area on left. I have parked it there several times "free of cost".Have seen some other vehicles also parked.