Planning trip to Tirupati

1. Reach Tirupati by Train:
   1. Decide number of passengers and have tickets booked online as detailed in Booking Indian Railway Tickets Online via NetBanking.
   2. Do NOT ever plan for return journey without reservations on Weekends (i.e., Saturdays and Sundays) because there would be great rush for general booking
   3. If you are planning sudden chose the non-regular trains (like AP SAMPAR KRANTHI, Special Trains).
   4. In AP SAMPAR KRANTHI, in fact general booking also gets seats as it runs in Day time and starts form Delhi, very less people know about it and/or prefer it.
2. In case of any Emergency/Problems in Tirumala, you can contact TTD on Toll Free number: 1800-425-4141
3. Take Sudarshan Tickets
   1. These will ONLY be available at Tirupati APSRTC bus stop dedicated for Tirumala Buses (at the last corner in the station)
   2. Each ticket costs Rs. 50 per head (you may find folks selling them @ Rs.100 in case there is  a huge queue in which you don’t want to wait)
   3. There will be NO Sudarshan Tickets selling at Tirumala. But there will be a Special Darshan Ticket costing Rs. 300 per head.
4. Special Darshan timings for Physically Handicapped and Senior Citizens
1. 10 AM, 3 PM, 10 PM
2. You need to register your names 2:00 hours before each time slot
3. This darshan entry would be starting directly from the way in front of Main temple entrance
4.  
5. Reach Tirumala Hills
   1. From railway station, take Left and then right side at the coming junction and there you will reach bus stop. It may take upto 10-15 mins by walk.
   2. There is NO free transport (bus) service available to Tirumala.  However, you will find free buses services till Alipiri ghat.
   3. The only choice is to go by express buses to Tirumala which costs Rs. 30 per head per adults.
   4. You’ll have a concessional ticket covering to and fro at cost of Rs. 54 per head per adult. This ticket is valid till next three days of ticket purchase.
   5. It’s always good to start from RTC bus stop instead from Alipiri as you won’t get seats there.
6. Decide on accommodation and park your luggage there.
   1. There will be a Free Accommodation shelter called GOVARDHAN Satram
   2. You need to deposit a caution amount of Rs.350 which will be refunded
   3. These Tickets will be given only to gents
   4. The Tickets queue will be just left to Sudarshan Complex (Kalyana Katta)
   5. Tickets counter open at 8:30 am
   6. You need to collect back the deposit money  from a bank outlet near by
   7. A few hours extra stay is allowed at no issues but room should be vacated in 24 hrs ideally
7. There are also other cottages which will be allowed for 24 hrs to 48 hrs
1. Garudadri Nagar Cottages (GNC), CRO, ANC, HVC, SGGH, RBGH,TBC, SPGH, VSGH, Sannidanam GH, MBC-34, Museum and III NC and Kalyani Choultry
2. The Tokens for GNC will be given at the same place where you get for GOVARDHAN Satram
3. The Cottage should be occupied within one hour of time after allotment
4. Allotment is for 24 hrs or otherwise enhanced rent should be paid at 200% after 48 hrs (2 days) and @ 400% after 72 hrs (3 Days)  
5. NO EXTENSION WILL BE GIVEN
6. Collect the caution deposit amount  within 12 hrs after vacation otherwise it will be credited to Sri Vari Hundi A/C
7. NO Accommodation will be given to Single Persons. Unmarried people NOT allowed.
8. Collect your caution deposit in full at the time of vacation. The Caution Deposit will be refunded only to the pilgrim whose Thumb impression and Photo Scanned at the time of room allotment was made  
9. Vacate your allotted  room after you have assigned on the cottage Allotment slip duly declaring your belongings/Cash/Jewels not  left in the room  
10. Caution Deposit collection counters Break times are: 9:00 to 9:30 (Breakfast time) and 1:30 to 2:00 (Lunch time)
11.  
8. If you plan to offer hair cutting (tonsure)
   1. You can go to main kalyan katta complexes just right on the left side of the way (open lobby) you enter the Tirumala mandir entrance
   2. You will be given a computerized ticket along with a half blade. This ticket will be valid till the respective tonsure counter worker shift operates.
   3. In case the ticket turns invalid, you need to again go back into the queue and collect one more afresh.
9. Bath in Pushkarini
   1. You need to cross over Tirumala main entrance to reach the Pushkarini
10. Visit and offer prayers to Laxmi Varaha Swamy in temple just side to Pushkarini
11. For people planning to attend the Darma Darshanam (Free Darshan)
    1. Enter either of Vaikuntam Queue Complex 1 or 2
    2. There will be around #28 waiting compartment lobbies for queing the devotees
    3. There will be an announcement about the possible darshan schedule if it’s going to cross beyond ~6 hrs
    4. You will be given a gatepass to come out of the queue, check out other activities and report back at queue within the allowed duration
12. Darsham rules
    1. No electronic good will be allowed to take inside.
    2. You have to surrender all your luggage at the counters at the queues and collect back. there are absolutely freee services
13. Laddus
    1. You need to carry your own bag for laddus or buy a plastic cover at  Rs. 2 at a separate counter
    2. For every person in darma darsham, there will be a max of two laddus given at a cost of Rs. 10 each
    3. For more laddus, you need to queue in the laddu prasadam queue and collect back in dispensary counters
       1. Rs. 100 for #4 (this is the minimum set)
    4. You need to collect the Laddus within #3 hours from the time of issue of the slip
14. Offering other seva’s to Tirumaleesha.. as I enquired I found that all the seva’s are booked till 2030 (i.e., for next two decades) and further schedule aren’t released to book.
    1. You need to book your sevas online as detailed here http://www.tirumala.org/Advance%20Booking.htm
15. NityaAnnaPrasadam
    1. Just on right of open lobby (i.e., opposite to kalyana katta), there is TTD NityaAnnaPrasadam bulding
    2. Unlimited rich tasty full meals will be served daily in two schedules as given below
       1. 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
       2. 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm
16. The Free luggage hosting is available nearby Andhra bank ATM on the way to VQC-1
17. Visit Mangapatnam/Thiruchur
    1. Take bus from Tirupati APSRTC bus. The to and fro ticket for individual costs Rs. 10
    2. You have Daiva darshan, Rs. 10, Rs. 40 and other special darshan queues.
    3. Prefer to go for Rs. 40 darshan as it will be quick and also that there is less security at this temple.
18. Visit SriKalahasti
    1. From APSRTC, take bus to SriKalahasti. Each ticket costs Rs. 22 for one side trip.
    2. From SriKalahasti Railway station, you’ll have Krishna Express (wit hmore passenger bhogies) in the morning
       6 am to HYD which reaches HYD at 8:30 pM
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FYI.