[car_addict]

Originally Posted by shipnil

+1.
BTW, can anyone share list all such festivals which are big in South India, where Tirumala would see minimum crowd?

I usually shoot for midweek 3-5 days immediately after the Brahmotsavam. Most of the crowd who wanted to see would have come during the Brahmotsavam and most of the laggards after the big event would have dissipated. With the ₹300 ticket also I have had very quick darshans without much rush.

I have now switched over to the ₹10k Srivani Trust VIP Break darshan.
a) Covers my charitable donations for the year to an organisation which uses it wisely.
b) Absolutely empty temple & visit at very sane times. This year I waited only for 10 mins.
c) The "Jaragandi" magically changes to "Please" and you are allowed to be with the lord for longer period of time.
d) Tax deductible. So I get a tax write-off on the donation.

[nareshtrao]

Originally Posted by car_addict

I have now switched over to the ₹10k Srivani Trust VIP Break darshan.

Please can you provide the details of the process to book this. I find the menu options and the switch between Purple and Orange screens and the sub-menus very confusing. Especially how to go about selecting Darshan Slot after making donation.

Appreciate the guidance. Thanks in advance.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

Please can you provide the details of the process to book this. I find the menu options and the switch between Purple and Orange screens and the sub-menus very confusing. Especially how to go about selecting Darshan Slot after making donation.

Appreciate the guidance. Thanks in advance.

Once a while , I too go with Rs. 10,500 Srivani Donor Tickets to see the lord in close proximity and a guaranteed darshan time of less than 2 hours.

You need to login in the Orange screen site
https://tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in/#/userLogin


After you login, from the right side, 3rd option is SRIVANI Trust Donations.
For February, only 8 days tickets are available as of today.

You can check availability of tickets for preferred dates, before donation.

-Ravi

[nareshtrao]

Originally Posted by ravib

After you login, from the right side, 3rd option is SRIVANI Trust Donations.
For February, only 8 days tickets are available as of today.

You can check availability of tickets for preferred dates, before donation.

-Ravi

This is very helpful. Thank you. However, one question: Where exactly the available dates are visible? The left side bullet says that Feb slots will open on 23rd. This is where it gets confusing. Apologies for back to back questions.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

This is very helpful. Thank you. However, one question: Where exactly the available dates are visible? The left side bullet says that Feb slots will open on 23rd. This is where it gets confusing. Apologies for back to back questions.

Feb month quota was opened and available for booking from Nov 23rd onwards.
You need to click the SRIVANI Trust donations link, click proceed to donate link and accept the terms and conditions and then , you will see hyperlink to check availability for tickets, in which you will see full RED status for Dec & Jan and Feb, majority of the dates are RED and only 8 dates in last 2 weeks showing green, with number of available tickets.

-Ravi

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by ravib

Feb month quota was opened and available for booking from Nov 23rd onwards.

The ticket bookings for Rs 300 darshan is always a hit or a miss. Earlier the ticket bookings for one month was available, gradually it became 2 months and now 3 months tickets are opened up. I am amazed at how the tickets get booked instantly within secs of the portal opening for booking, even beats the IRCTC booking process.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

The ticket bookings for Rs 300 darshan is always a hit or a miss. Earlier the ticket bookings for one month was available, gradually it became 2 months and now 3 months tickets are opened up. I am amazed at how the tickets get booked instantly within secs of the portal opening for booking, even beats the IRCTC booking process.

@ghodlur, the above one that i mentioned is for SRIVANI donor tickets , not for Rs. 300 SED.
However, for SED, can't agree more. Its amazing how it became so worse , especially post covid and became too hard to get tickets.
Even before covid, there was huge crowd, but it was not this difficult to get tickets. But now, its totally different. I don't think the increase in crowd/demand is the reason for that "super fast" sold out situation.

Sorry for the whine!

-Ravi

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by ravib

I don't think the increase in crowd/demand is the reason for that "super fast" sold out situation.

Sorry for the whine!

-Ravi

Agree completely with this. But then what gives?

Pre-Covid, 300 SED used to remain available even upto the Darshan date. Now it is even faster than train Tatkal. I don't think TTD have allowed pilgrims to spend more time in front of the Lord. The capacity per hour stays the same. Have they given a far bigger allocation to different state RTCs or travel agents, compared to Pre-Covid?

[srvm]

Originally Posted by ravib

....
However, for SED, can't agree more. Its amazing how it became so worse , especially post covid and became too hard to get tickets.
Even before covid, there was huge crowd, but it was not this difficult to get tickets. But now, its totally different. I don't think the increase in crowd/demand is the reason for that "super fast" sold out situation.
....
-Ravi

Originally Posted by shipnil

Agree completely with this. But then what gives?
Pre-Covid, 300 SED used to remain available even upto the Darshan date. Now it is even faster than train Tatkal. ....

Just sharing what I know from personal experience.
I have a cousin who books and visits Tirumala every month for SED. Probably uses different IDs / phone numbers each month. And he is not alone. He is part of a bigger group, probably 6-10 guys. And this all started after Covid. Wonder how many such groups are around

PS: Whenever I call him, he seems to be going to or coming back from Tirupati. So much so that, I chide him for 'Working from Tirupati' instead of 'Work from Home'

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by srvm

Probably uses different IDs / phone numbers each month. And he is not alone. He is part of a bigger group, probably 6-10 guys. And this all started after Covid.

This is the modus operandi of the IRCTC agents.

Earlier KSRTC used to have a tie up for the darshan, even they stopped after things normalized post covid.

IRCTC does have a package for Tirupati darshan but then you know you never will get those tickets on the IRCTC website. Seems like all hopes lost.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by srvm

Probably uses different IDs / phone numbers each month. And he is not alone. He is part of a bigger group, probably 6-10 guys.

Not sure what other IDs you can use until unless you are forging Aadhaar. Previously you had an option to use Aadhaar or Voter ID. So you could use two IDs and book darshan. But now Aadhaaar is the defacto id. The filtering would be happening by Aadhaar number and not mobile number.

[ravib]

What i heard recently update (about 10 days back ) was , per latest TTD Board discussion, the new chairman had ordered to stop all RTC for all states quota as there was rampant corruption and people are misusing that quota.

Nevertheless, that number is about 4500 tickets or so, but still even otherwise, we see tickets getting sold out in minutes in TTD portal, regardless of these travel agent quotas.

Lord only knows what's going on behind the scenes as there is lack of transparency at this time !

-Ravi

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by ravib

... in which you will see full RED status for Dec & Jan and Feb, majority of the dates are RED and only 8 dates in last 2 weeks showing green, with number of available tickets.

Thanks for this tip. Looks like Feb-end tickets are still available. Does a single 10K donation entitle only a single (named) individual for a single time only?

Originally Posted by shipnil

Now it is even faster than train Tatkal.

Tell me about it. Either the portal itself hangs or one doesn't get the OTP or the payment gateway is too slow! As a result, the choice tickets are invariably sold out leaving the late evening ones only.

Originally Posted by shipnil

Not sure what other IDs you can use until unless you are forging Aadhaar.

Keen to know the modus operandi.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

IRCTC does have a package for Tirupati darshan but then you know you never will get those tickets on the IRCTC website.

We went as a family of 4 (with young kids) way back. Well organized if a bit tiring for the kids. But the excitement of the train journey was a blessing for them.

[jkrishnakj]

For the 10k priced ticket question - You are right. It's one person for a one time 10 k donation for a one second glimpse of the lord!

[nareshtrao]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

For the 10k priced ticket question - You are right. It's one person for a one time 10 k donation for a one second glimpse of the lord!

So if I donate 50K, am I entitled 5 visits (named - ONLY for me) or can I use all 5 for a family for a single visit?

This is not very clear either on the website nor on any other forum or discussions here. Hence asking if anyone here knows.