[Prithvi]

Went on thursday at 8:30am and in 45 minutes had a fantastic darshan of the Lord thru quick darshan done by ITDC package. Also the weather was wonderful. Nice and cold for a change on tirumala. Over the months it will get very hot. Saw a little mist in the hills too.

[Su-47]

Originally Posted by ravib

Quick update on darshan timings.

Took Seegradarshan queue yesterday (5th Feb 2011).

Entered queue at 9:15 pm, had darshan at 11:50 pm. Probably because it was a saturday.

-Ravi

On the same day, I entered the queue at 5:00 PM and came out at approximately 9:15. Was wondering if Seegradarshan is a misnomer. That said, I think saturday evenings are more crowded. A friend who went in at 8:00 AM had darshan within 1 hr in the same Seegradarshan queue.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Su-47

On the same day, I entered the queue at 5:00 PM and came out at approximately 9:15. Was wondering if Seegradarshan is a misnomer. That said, I think saturday evenings are more crowded. A friend who went in at 8:00 AM had darshan within 1 hr in the same Seegradarshan queue.

Wow ! Just couple of hours before me and my entry & your exit coincided.

Probably we should try saturday mornings next time, but it depends on season of the year. One of my friend had darshan in less than 1 hour last sunday. But we both are not that lucky !

I would say, anything less than 1.5 or 2 hrs to get darshan is a good time, in general.

-Ravi

[paharino1]

Planning to reach Tirupathi by car on Friday April 22nd & try out the Seegradarshan. It being a long weekend do you think it would be crowded ?
Have a 18 months daughter ? & hows the weather
Plan to drive back on Sunday..is it doable ?

[GSMINC]

Originally Posted by paharino1

Planning to reach Tirupathi by car on Friday April 22nd & try out the Seegradarshan. It being a long weekend do you think it would be crowded ?
Have a 18 months daughter ? & hows the weather
Plan to drive back on Sunday..is it doable ?

Please remember,
babies upto 3 years old along with both parents are allowed to have FREE direct darshan like any VVIP through the Mahadwaram/Rajagopuram entrance once every 2 hours, just go near the mahadwaram & wait till the alloted time.
This facility is also available for handicapped/aged persons,
So, Parents with little children dont suffer in the long queues, avail this facility
Namo Venkatesha

[ravib]

Originally Posted by paharino1

Planning to reach Tirupathi by car on Friday April 22nd & try out the Seegradarshan. It being a long weekend do you think it would be crowded ?
Have a 18 months daughter ? & hows the weather
Plan to drive back on Sunday..is it doable ?

paharino1, yes its certainly will be heavily crowded because of summer holidays and schools are closed for vacation. As GSMINC mentioned, please make use of the facility, but i would caution you although you enter directly from main gopuram, after you cross the Dwajasthamba & Silver door, there will be chaotic rush and the queue will not be proper till the darshan is complete. So take care in that area for about 15 to 20 mts.

-Ravi

[rishie]

Originally Posted by GSMINC

Please remember,
babies upto 3 years old along with both parents are allowed to have FREE direct darshan like any VVIP through the Mahadwaram/Rajagopuram entrance once every 2 hours, just go near the mahadwaram & wait till the alloted time.
This facility is also available for handicapped/aged persons,
So, Parents with little children dont suffer in the long queues, avail this facility
Namo Venkatesha

As far as I know, only babies upto 1 year age, along with parents, are allowed to have free direct darshan. I went with my kid last year november, during his 9th month.

[srimath]

Babies upto 1 year only are eligible for the special darshan. This entry is also moved from Mahadwaram when I was there last month.

[GSMINC]

Originally Posted by rishie

As far as I know, only babies upto 1 year age, along with parents, are allowed to have free direct darshan. I went with my kid last year november, during his 9th month.

Originally Posted by srimath

Babies upto 1 year only are eligible for the special darshan. This entry is also moved from Mahadwaram when I was there last month.

Babies upto 3 years allowed along with both parents,
Trust me, I sure I'm not mistaken here.

[ghodlur]

I wish there would be some discipline followed by the devotee when they enter the sanctum sanctorum. Its absolutely crazy in that section when the jostling gets too much. How does one manage with a one year old baby in that space. Its absolutely maddening crowd out there.

In my last 5-6 visits I have observed one thing and it may sound strange. The telugu speaking people visiting the temple feel they have the first right to see the Lord and they are quite vocal about it. Has any one felt this?

[rishie]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I wish there would be some discipline followed by the devotee when they enter the sanctum sanctorum. Its absolutely crazy in that section when the jostling gets too much. How does one manage with a one year old baby in that space. Its absolutely maddening crowd out there.

In my last 5-6 visits I have observed one thing and it may sound strange. The telugu speaking people visiting the temple feel they have the first right to see the Lord and they are quite vocal about it. Has any one felt this?

I agree, its a bit tough handling babies in that crowd.

Its not only telugu speaking people, its mainly people from villages (remote areas), who will be pushing the whole queue, and squeezing themselves for a faster darshan. I had simiar experience with people from karnataka and tamil nadu, along with people from andhra, for almost 4-5 times till now.

No offence to anyone, but I found most of the people from northern India are more organised compared to most of the south Indians.

[sdp1975]

Planning a trip to Tirupati with family ( with 2 babies ) and would like to stay in Tirumala. What are the options available ?

I tried to book a TTD cottage through Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams --> e-accomodation , but it shows only the availability and I can't do the actual booking.

[srimath]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

Planning a trip to Tirupati with family ( with 2 babies ) and would like to stay in Tirumala. What are the options available ?

I tried to book a TTD cottage through Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams --> e-accomodation , but it shows only the availability and I can't do the actual booking.

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

[IUNKWN]

Originally Posted by rishie

No offence to anyone, but I found most of the people from northern India are more organised compared to most of the south Indians.

Well, I don't want to spark off a debate on something off topic, but couldn't resist myself from commenting. That is certainly not true. Its just the issue of being local to some place. See Indians abroad, how law abiding they become in a foreign land. I am from north India, frequent traveller to the NCR belt and have seen how they behave in their home state. That doesn't mean it applies to everyone there.

I visited Tirupathi last year with my 3 months old kid. They have a separate entrance for couples with children, faster than the Rs. 300 shigra darshan and its free of cost. Open to general public who come with children unlike in Shirdi where you must bring a letter from some MP/MLA/Neta or show your IAS/IPS I-card to get into the quick darshan queue.

The facilities at Tirupathi are better than any other religious place in India I must say, but certainly not enough to cater for the amount of pilgrims that visit it everyday from all over.

[ghodlur]

I visited Tirupathi last year with my 3 months old kid. They have a separate entrance for couples with children, faster than the Rs. 300 shigra darshan and its free of cost.

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.

Open to general public who come with children unlike in Shirdi where you must bring a letter from some MP/MLA/Neta or show your IAS/IPS I-card to get into the quick darshan queue

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

The facilities at Tirupathi are better than any other religious place in India I must say, but certainly not enough to cater for the amount of pilgrims that visit it everyday from all over.

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