[audioholic]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

Another peculiar thing I notice from last month is that nowadays the slots prior to 1 or 2 pm on most days are not open. The first slot on most days is 2 pm. Is this a result of some changes made or are they selling 9 am to 1 pm slots in some other format? Anyone knows this?

Better not choose these slots until evening since there will be quite some sevas going on all day till 4-430pm which will lead to some backup of crowd and longer darshan times.

And other thing is, it seems the people managing ticket checking dont give two hoots to the darshan slot. You can go +/-4hrs and still manage to be let in without questions. The hairdresser I visit had booked a 10pm slot last thursday and went for darshan at 11am without anyone batting an eyelid

[pram_ind]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

Another peculiar thing I notice from last month is that nowadays the slots prior to 1 or 2 pm on most days are not open. The first slot on most days is 2 pm. Is this a result of some changes made or are they selling 9 am to 1 pm slots in some other format? Anyone knows this?

Most of the morning tickets are reserved for package tours conducted by APSRTC & KSRTC.

[Akash86M]

Visited Tirumala on 19 Sept 1400hrs-1500hrs - Free Darshan

As can be seen from my previous posts that I was planning to visit temple on said date. I could not get ₹300/- Special Darshan tickets online. Myself and wife had been trying to book tickets for last few months. When slots opened, all were booked/blocked by the time we went to payment page.
I had to get my daughter's tonsure done before October end when she turns 1yr old. After going through the advices from fellow BHPians, we decided to chance a visit. If lord wants us to enter temple, we will find a way.
Reached Tirupati on 18th night, checked into homestay that I had booked through AirBnB smoothly. This was my first time using a homestay so I was in doubt whether it'll be any good. Turns out it's better than staying at a hotel. With two kids, a 5yr old and a soon to be 1yr old, this was perfect for us.
19th Sept, 0430hrs, I was in Srinivasan complex to get free Darshan tickets. There was long queue so went out for tea and printouts of aadhar cards. Printout shop guy told me everyone has to come for tickets as there will be photo taken at counter. Wanting to confirm this information, went in Srinivasan complex and found No Queue and counters were open. It was almost 0525, Walked upto counter window and got my free Darshan token. Was allotted 1400hrs slot for same day. I had handed him all aadhar card copies, so he asked me where are the others. I told him they have not come. He told me to call them as photos have to be taken. There is no bypassing this requirement.
Called up wife to come to Srinivasan Complex asap as there is no queue. They arrived some 15-20 minutes later. And by 0605hrs we were walking out of complex with tokens in hand.
Booked a full day Innova to visit Tirumala, he charged me ₹3500/- for full day*.
By 1300hrs, Tonsure was done. Had lunch nearby and 1420hrs we were entering free Darshan gate. By 1510hrs we were in hall number 11. 1630hrs, hall gates were opened to join the queue. We made our way to temple.
I had asked my family members to keep on right most lane once we are entering temple, so that all can get direct front view of lord. Staff keeps pushing bhakts ahead to keep the line moving, So had kept everyone in ahead of me so that I can move slowly and they can have good darshan.

Myself being 6'3 and heavy built was not pushed easily. As we were in front of lord. Lane stopped moving as it was aarti time. Were told to stop moving. Spent good 3-4 minutes in front of lord which is a rare experience.
We were truly blessed to have this experience. At one point we were about cancel our trip but our faith took us there and had divine darshan.
In about three hours we had completed our free Darshan.

*Was paying ₹3500/- for a day trip to Tirumala ok or was I overcharged?

[saisree]

Originally Posted by Akash86M

Visited Tirumala on 19 Sept 1400hrs-1500hrs - Free Darshan

Lane stopped moving as it was aarti time. Were told to stop moving. Spent good 3-4 minutes in front of lord which is a rare experience.
We were truly blessed to have this experience.

*Was paying ₹3500/- for a day trip to Tirumala ok or was I overcharged?

Consider that 3500/- charge for that 3–4-minute darshan which even the VIP darshan might not get.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by Akash86M

Visited Tirumala on 19 Sept 1400hrs-1500hrs - Free Darshan


*Was paying ₹3500/- for a day trip to Tirumala ok or was I overcharged?

I am surprised they stopped the queue during Aarti and let you stay there for so long. I was of the assumption that during this period they will stop people at the Vendi Vakilu. On the other hand, regarding the cab, if the charges were 3500 considering he spent the whole day with you, thats quite reasonable since whenever I have rented Innovas on outstation duty the charges were usually in the range of 3500-5000 per day of use without overnight stay. In your case since the actual distance driven is less, the driver would have quoted 3500.

Originally Posted by saisree

Consider that 3500/- charge for that 3–4-minute darshan which even the VIP darshan might not get.

[dass]

Originally Posted by Akash86M

Reached Tirupati on 18th night, checked into homestay that I had booked through AirBnB smoothly. This was my first time using a homestay so I was in dou

Can you please share details of this homestay/Air BnB place you stayed at?

[Akash86M]

Originally Posted by saisree

Consider that 3500/- charge for that 3–4-minute darshan which even the VIP darshan might not get.

Asked to get general idea of fare.

Originally Posted by dass

Can you please share details of this homestay/Air BnB place you stayed at?

Stayed at Truelife Homestay. Property is 8months old. Very Clean and staff was very helpful. Located at start of newly inaugurated Flyover.

[sharatravan]

Hi fellow bhpians, needed some information regarding the Seeghra Darshan tickets. I'm planning a visit to Tirumati from Hyderabad around 17th-18th of Nov with my family, which includes my 2yr old daughter and senior citizen parents. Looking at the online bookings status, it appears that I've missed the bus for getting the online tickets. The only other options I have is going through Telangana Tourism flight package, which I'm not finding to be value for money, or through IRCTC Train/Flight packages which again are either not available for those dates or have some or the other issues.

What I wanted to understand was, do the local operators in Tirupati help with the Darshan tickets? I can reach Tirupati on my own and I'm okay to hire a one/two day cab for sight seeing and visiting other temples nearby, as long as the operator is offering a Seeghra Darshan Ticket along with it for Tirumala visit. Has anyone here tried this option, and if yes, are there any recommendations that I can use?

Any other recommended ways to get the darshan on the said dates?

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by sharatravan

What I wanted to understand was, do the local operators in Tirupati help with the Darshan tickets?

I don't think any local agents have any such packages. All the others you mentioned are through some kind of government agencies.

If you are willing to stay for couple of days then best is to reach there and go for free/sarva darshan. They would give you a slot of same day or next day. You can use the free time to do local sightseeing.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by sharatravan

Hi fellow bhpians, needed some information regarding the Seeghra Darshan tickets. I'm planning a visit to Tirumati from Hyderabad around 17th-18th of Nov with my family, which includes my 2yr old daughter and senior citizen parents. Looking at the online bookings status, it appears that I've missed the bus for getting the online tickets. The only other options I have is going through Telangana Tourism flight package, which I'm not finding to be value for money, or through IRCTC Train/Flight packages which again are either not available for those dates or have some or the other issues.

What I wanted to understand was, do the local operators in Tirupati help with the Darshan tickets? I can reach Tirupati on my own and I'm okay to hire a one/two day cab for sight seeing and visiting other temples nearby, as long as the operator is offering a Seeghra Darshan Ticket along with it for Tirumala visit. Has anyone here tried this option, and if yes, are there any recommendations that I can use?

Any other recommended ways to get the darshan on the said dates?

Please follow what Shipnil mentioned. that's the best option you have currently. Don't get fooled or lured by any local agents saying, they will get darshan for "a price". They are all frauds and you are risking way too much when going with family and little kid, more than losing money.

-Ravi

[srimath]

Originally Posted by sharatravan

Hi fellow bhpians, needed some information regarding the Seeghra Darshan tickets. I'm planning a visit to Tirumati from Hyderabad around 17th-18th of Nov with my family, which includes my 2yr old daughter and senior citizen parents.............
..................

Any other recommended ways to get the darshan on the said dates?

Hi
The other option you can try is the Virtual Seva route. You need to Book a Virtual Seva (Srivari Seva Online) and then select the darshan dates. The date of the and darshan need not be same.

At this moment, there are 5 darshan tickets available for the 17th of Nov, but in different slots.

You can book the Online Seva like Unjal or Arjita Brahmotsavam or Sahasra Deepalankarana for each person and then select the darshan for each person.

You can also opt for the Srivani Darshan route. This costs Rs 10500 per person but the darshan you get in this is very divine.

[aston_martyr]

Originally Posted by srimath

Hi
You can also opt for the Srivani Darshan route. This costs Rs 10500 per person but the darshan you get in this is very divine.

Was looking at this option for my family.
The cost for srivani darshan route applies only for adults?
i.e 2 adults = 21k
Cuz i have kids below 7 years. I could not find any guidelines on this aspect.

[srimath]

Originally Posted by aston_martyr

Was looking at this option for my family.
The cost for srivani darshan route applies only for adults?
i.e 2 adults = 21k
Cuz i have kids below 7 years. I could not find any guidelines on this aspect.

Kids below the age of 12 years don't require a ticket.

[concorde24]

I am planning to visit Tirumala via car & planning to climb up the hills via Steps (Srivari mettu).

Wanted to know if there is any safe place to park the car near Alipiri or in Tirupati overnight so that I can pickup on return via bus. I have booked my rooms in Tirumala and so parking will be needed for a day.

[adisan]

Originally Posted by concorde24

Wanted to know if there is any safe place to park the car near Alipiri or in Tirupati overnight so that I can pickup on return via bus.

This is a big parking area very near to Alipiri. So far, not faced any issues leaving the car there.