[deep_bang]

What is the best way to book tickets for sheghradarshanam now a days? Is online booking the only way?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by deep_bang

What is the best way to book tickets for sheghradarshanam now a days? Is online booking the only way?

Online booking is most common way for self managed darshan.
Alternatively you can book through APSRTC or IRCTC packages which is an organized / time bound pilgrimage package to get seegradarshan managed by tour operators.

-Ravi

[nareshtrao]

August Slots are available right now just in case anyone is looking. Just noticed so thought I should inform. Pretty much all weeks have slots available except Saturdays.

[BRV]

Originally Posted by deep_bang

What is the best way to book tickets for sheghradarshanam now a days? Is online booking the only way?

Originally Posted by ravib

Online booking is most common way for self managed darshan.
Alternatively you can book through APSRTC or IRCTC packages which is an organized / time bound pilgrimage package to get seegradarshan managed by tour operators.

-Ravi

+1 KSRTC too have packages, check it out

Alternatively check out other options in #675 (Tirumala / Tirupati Seegradarshanam query)

[saisree]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Has anyone availed break darshan facility ( srivani trust donation amount of ₹10,000)? Does this darshan allow us to see the Lord from close instead of the usual Special entry darshan ones ? Can we donate and book darshan for August now? Thanks in advance for your answers!

Quota is opening tomorrow

[sairamboko]

Originally Posted by saisree

Quota is opening tomorrow

Thanks ! Booked it. Will update my experience after the visit. One question - are there good restaurants in tirumala? Accommodation i have got is in Tirumala hill.

[shipnil]

I visited Tirumala couple of weeks back for my Suprabatham Darshan. As this is one of the morning Seva, I could go till the first door close to the Lord and had a nice darshan.

But I had not so happy experience with accommodation allotment. I had booked 1700 rupee A/C room in Tirumala considering it is June. As per the new process, I am supposed scan the receipt at Alipiri toll gate. But I missed that and then had to visit CRO. The receipt was scanned there and I was told I'd get allotment sms in 15 mins. It did not. I checked again and he helper who was standing outside the window scanned again and asked to wait. No message. I waited for 1 hr still no message. Irritated, I complained to the person sitting in the cabin on the other side of scanning window. He checked and gave me the allotment details. I wasted 1 hr in June heat in this whole "Automated" process. After I checked in the guest house, I received the sms with allotment time of 1 hour prior.

About the room, although it had AC, the upkeep of the room was poor. The walls were damp, the bathroom was okayish. No AC remote was given. We were supposed to just turn it on and use it but no temperature control. The room definitely wasn't worth 1700.

I think if you are taking normal Darshan, it is better to stay in Tirupati and just travel up for Darshan only. If it is middle of the night / early morning seva, then no option but to stay in Tirumala. I'd suggest not to waste money on this not well maintained AC rooms but make do with any simple 100/500 rupee room of TTD.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by shipnil

I think if you are taking normal Darshan, it is better to stay in Tirupati and just travel up for Darshan only. If it is middle of the night / early morning seva, then no option but to stay in Tirumala. I'd suggest not to waste money on this not well maintained AC rooms but make do with any simple 100/500 rupee room of TTD.

This was one of the reason why i stopped staying up in Tirumala for last several years. Although its great place to stay especially in winter, but too much of hassle to go through the TTD / CRO process. After that much, we get badly maintained rooms. Its not about money, but basic hygiene was missed many times.

Also even for basic food/coffee/tea, we have to drive up several kms.

Thus we are staying in Tirupati in our own budget/comfortable accommodation. Even for an early morning seva for Suprabhatam darshan in 2016, we took bath late in the night, climb up to Tirumala pretty late in the night 11.30 pm or so, reach there, park vehicle, have some food, relax and then join the queue to keep ourselves occupied and awake. Thus we try to fill up the time

-Ravi

[jkrishnakj]

+1. I just can’t stay at Tirumala. Even if your rounds are okish, there aren’t any decent places for food. Most of my trips are same day returns from Bangalore. If at all I stay, there are a few good hotels at Tirupati. Recently, we had to stay back and found the ‘Marasa Sarovar’ a good one.

My next trip will be in August. Have to check what dates I booked the slot. Hoping that august might see less rush.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by ravib

we took bath late in the night, climb up to Tirumala pretty late in the night 11.30 pm or so,

Somehow this might not work for me. I belong to old school where if the Darshan is after 12 am, it is next day for me and I need to take a bath before Darshan post 12 am. Even this time, I woke up at 1 am and took bath before going for Suprabatham.

If I stay in Tirupati, I don't think it is easy to go up after 1 am as the road is closed for few hrs in the night.

[kraken]

Originally Posted by saisree

Quota is opening tomorrow

Pardon my ignorance, but what is Break Darshan and when can I use it ? I checked the site, but the term Break Darshan keeps confusing me. I have opted for Seeghradarshanam and have been very happy with the darshan, but the chance to see the Lord so close has been a dream.

[saisree]

Originally Posted by kraken

but the chance to see the Lord so close has been a dream.

Break Darshan, is were both seegra darshan and the dharma darshan (free) is stopped completely and only a few are allowed to have darshan up close. This you can get through a recommendation through a letter from MP's and MLA's of Andhra Pradesh state ONLY and the other option is to do a donation to any of the schemes through Srivani Trust (shared in couple of posts above).

The other option to have a close up darshan is to try listing yourselves for the Srivari Seva Tickets (Suprabatham, Thomala, Astadala Pada Padmaradhanamu, Archana) and pray to get selected in the DIP like this.

[sairamboko]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Thanks ! Booked it. Will update my experience after the visit. One question - are there good restaurants in tirumala? Accommodation i have got is in Tirumala hill.

Had a very good darshan! Went on 30th June and darshan was scheduled on 1st July at 8:15am. I booked accommodation at Mathrushri vakula Devi rest house which is in tirumala.

Regarding the darshan, if one can get break darshan or Srivani trust darshan, then this is a really good way to see the Lord! We were allowed till almost near The Balaji! Aarathi , theertham and jadari were given. Prasad was given inside itself , a banana was given to all devotees. The darshan was really blissful! I couldn't do anything except wondering the Lord. Such a magnificent and powerful deity he is for me. Very happy to have had such a close darshan!
No rush but took us close to 1.5hours to have the darshan. Slow moving queue.

Regarding the accommodation, it was good. The rest house was near the temple and some decent restaurants nearby. We could manage it for the night.

[adisan]

Quotas of September 2022 open for:

• SED
• Tirumala accommodation

[itwasntme]

Can any recent visitors comment on the following please? We have a Special Entry Darshan (SED) slot at 2230 in mid-July.

1. BLR - TPT road conditions. Any recent changes or effect from the monsoons?
2. Alipiri checking time / congestion
3. Current SED timelines for a 2230 slot.
4. Current ghat road closure timings.
5. I'm guessing we won't be able to complete in time to head down.
6. In such a case, where do people wait out those 3 hours?
7. Is there a crazy rush to head down as soon as the road is open?
8. Should I bother to book a hotel at Tirupati at all or simply nap in the car, and head straight back to BLR?

Any responses will; be highly appreciated!