In Andhra Pradesh, in Tirumala, Lord Shri Venkateswara Swami resides, who is also called the form of Lord Vishnu. So how can you come to Tirupati and what facilities are there for staying and eating here?
Along with this, where will you get online and offline tokens for darshan? After having darshan of Tirupati Balaji, at which places can you go here? Such as Tirupati Balaji’s Charan Paduka, Shila Thoranam Garden, and Shri Venkateswara Zoological Park.
Saptashrungi Temple Darshan Booking 2024: Timings, Prices & aarti
Cheapest and Best Way to Reach Tirupati
The cheapest and best way to reach Tirupati is by train. If you are coming to Tirupati by train, then in Tirupati there is Tirupati Railway Station. Direct trains come to Tirupati from many big cities. If you do not get a direct train for Tirupati Railway Station, then 10 km before Tirupati is Renigunta Junction. You will definitely get a train for here. As soon as you come out of Renigunta Junction, from here you will get a bus for Tirupati whose charges will be ₹30.
Vishnu Nivasam Complex and SSD Tokens
Just in front of Tirupati Railway Station is the Vishnu Nivasam Complex. From here you get the token for darshan. Here you may have to wait 2 to 3 hours to get the token. The token we will get from here is called SSD Token – Slotted Sarva Darshan Token. To get the token, each person will have to come here with their Aadhaar card. Their live photo is clicked here and entry is made. After that, the token is provided. Inside the token, the darshan timing will be given to us. Along with this, on Tirumala hill the darshan lines will start from ATC Circle. So we have to reach ATC Circle on Tirumala hill 2 to 3 hours before our timing.
In Vishnu Nivasam Complex itself, you will also get the facility of rooms for staying, free lockers, and food facility at Prasadam. You can also stop for a while in Vishnu Nivasam. If you do not get a token from Vishnu Nivasam, then you can come to Srinivasam Complex built just in front of Tirupati Main Bus Stand. From this Srinivasam Complex you will also get the token for darshan. Along with this, you will also get the facility of staying and lockers here.
Shri Padmavati Ammavari Temple
It is believed here that before having darshan of Tirupati Balaji, you must have darshan in Shri Padmavati Ammavari Temple. To go to Shri Padmavati Ammavari Temple, just in front of Tirupati Railway Station, you will get a bus whose fare will be ₹20. This is friends, Shri Padmavati Ammavari Temple. You will have to enter inside from Gate Number 3 for darshan. Inside the temple, bags, mobiles, etc. are not allowed, so you will also get the facility of lockers here.
If you want to do quick darshan, then you can also take a darshan pass of ₹50 in which you get darshan within half an hour. Tirupati Balaji had two wives. Among them, one was Padmavati Devi, who was angry with Tirupati Ji and came out of Vaikuntha Dham taking human form on earth. Then Tirupati Balaji also came to earth taking human form and remarried Padmavati Devi. That is why friends, before having darshan of Tirupati Balaji on Tirumala hill, you must have darshan in Shri Padmavati Ammavari Temple built in Tirupati.
After darshan in the temple, when you exit from the exit gate, here a laddu counter is built where you will get laddu prasad for ₹25.
Tirumala Hill Darshan
Tirupati Balaji Temple is 22 km away from Tirupati city on Tirumala hill. So we will have to go from Tirupati to Tirumala hill. And if you want to stay in Tirupati city, then you will get many hotel options. And if you want to stay on Tirumala hill, then stay in the video. Further we will tell you where you will get rooms for ₹50 to ₹100.
From just in front of Tirupati Railway Station, we get AC and non-AC buses which take us from Tirupati to Tirumala hill. The fare of this is – AC bus adult ₹100, child ₹90, and senior citizen also ₹90. If you want, you can also go from Tirupati to Tirumala hill by your private vehicle. But from 12 o’clock at night to 3 o’clock in the morning, in these 3 hours, vehicles are not allowed to go up.
Footpath Routes – Alipiri Metu and Srivari Metu
Apart from this, from Tirupati city to Tirumala hill there are also two footpath routes made. The first is Alipiri Metu. This Alipiri Metu is 3 km away from Tirupati Railway Station and is the longest and most famous footpath. To go to Tirumala hill from here you have to climb 3550 steps and its distance is about 9 km. On the way you will get medical facility, water facility, food facility, and also tokens for darshan.
The second footpath is Srivari Metu, whose distance from Tirupati Railway Station is 19 km and it is a short and straight route. To go from here you will have to climb 2388 steps and its distance is about 2.1 km. Here also on the way you will get tokens for darshan, medical facility, everything. To go to the starting point of both Alipiri Metu and Srivari Metu footpaths, you will also get bus facility from Tirupati Railway Station.
Security Check at Sapthagiri
While going from Tirupati to Tirumala, on the way comes this Sapthagiri Check Point where all private vehicles are checked. Along with this, if you are going by bus, then carrying your luggage you have to get down and get all your luggage checked. You cannot take items like beedi, tobacco, gutkha, plastic bottles ahead from this point. Here there will be your proper security checking. After security checking, you again sit in the bus and leave towards Tirumala.
CRO Office and Rooms
After a beautiful journey of about 1 hour, the bus will drop us at Tirumala Bus Stand. And as soon as you come out of the bus stand and move ahead towards the temple, in front you will see the big idol of Shri Venkateswara Swami Ji. And just next to this idol is the big building of CRO Office where you will get very good rooms from ₹50 to ₹1000 and here you may also have to wait 2 to 3 hours.
Apart from this friends, if you do not get rooms here, then you can also stay in Tirupati city. Around Tirupati Railway Station, you will also get many hotel options.
Kalyanakatta and Hair Donation
After having darshan of Shri Venkateswara Swami Ji, as soon as you move a little further, on the left side you will see the Kalyanakatta building. Here friends, people donate hair. After the wishes of any devotee are fulfilled, people come here and donate their hair. If you want to donate your hair, then you can go inside this Kalyanakatta building and donate your hair.
And just ahead of Kalyanakatta building is our Tirupati Balaji.
Main Darshan Experience
In front of Balaji’s temple, here people break coconuts before darshan. Along with this, lamps are also lit here. After that, people go inside the temple for darshan.
On the left side of the temple is Srivari Pushkarini where devotees take a royal bath and then go for darshan in the temple. Just next to Srivari Pushkarini is the temple of Shri Varaha Swami Ji. So along with darshan of Tirupati Balaji, you should also have darshan in Shri Varaha Swami Ji Temple.
Just next to Srivari Pushkarini is Ann Prasadam Center where you also get free prasadam. This runs from morning 8:00 AM to night 10:30 PM. And here food is given to you on banana leaves.
After that friends, taking your token you have to reach near ATC Circle. From here the lines for darshan start. For darshan it normally takes 5 to 6 hours. If there is more crowd of devotees, then it may also take 10 to 12 hours. Here your token is properly checked.
After walking a little in the line comes the locker counter where you have to deposit your luggage and mobile phones. After that you go ahead and are seated in a big hall where you get all the facilities of food and drink and for darshan it may take you about 6 to 7 hours.
After entering the temple from the main entrance, comes the big silver entrance. Then comes the big golden entrance. After that we get darshan of Shri Tirupati Balaji.
Inside the temple the idol is not made by anyone. It self-manifested and in the heart of Balaji resides Shri Lakshmi Mata Ji. And it is said that the hair on Balaji’s idol is real hair and it is said that Balaji sweats. Every day Balaji’s idol is properly cleaned and dried. But after a while, again moisture comes on the idol and the idol becomes slightly wet.
After having darshan in the temple, as soon as you exit from the exit gate, here is the laddu counter. From here you can take small laddu for ₹50 and big laddu for ₹200. Do take this laddu for your home. This is a very good prasad of Balaji.
Shopping and Nearby Temples
As soon as you come out of the temple premises, here a very big market is built where you can do a lot of shopping. After having darshan of Tirupati Balaji, here are six more temples. You can also go for darshan here. For this you can also hire a private taxi. Or just in front of Tirumala Bus Stand, from here you will get a sharing taxi whose charges will be ₹200 and with this taxi you can visit all these six places.
We also took a taxi for ₹200 per person because going by bus takes a lot of time but bus fare is less.
Places to Visit After Darshan
- First Point – Srivari Padalu: These are the footprints of Tirupati Balaji. When Tirupati Balaji came to earth in human form, he placed his first step on Narayanagiri hill among the seven hills built here. That is why here are built the footprints of Tirupati Balaji – Srivari Padalu.
- Second Point – Shila Thoranam Garden: Here you will see a natural stone arch. Along with this, in this garden you will see many idols of God. Apart from this, you will also see birds here.
- Third Point – Tirumala Chakra Teertham: Just ahead of Shila Thoranam Garden is Tirumala Chakra Teertham. It is said that Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra fell here, due to which this teerth was created. That is why this place is called Chakra Teertham. Near this Chakra Teertham you will see this huge stone which is balanced on a small place. And here is also built an ancient temple of Mahadev Ji.
- Fourth Point – Shri Venu Gopal Swami Temple: Before entering the temple, you have to take a ticket of ₹5. Then you get entry for darshan in the temple. Just in front of Shri Venu Gopal Swami Temple is Shri Sankatmochan Hanuman Ji Temple so you must also do darshan here.
- Fifth Point – Akash Ganga: Here are Shri Anjana Devi and Shri Balanjane Swami Temples. From this place, water is taken to perform abhishek of Tirupati Balaji. It is said that once Acharya Ji was bringing water from far away for abhishek. Then Lord took the form of a child and asked him for water. But Acharya Ji refused that this water is for abhishek. Then Lord shot an arrow here and created a water stream and said you can use this water for abhishek.
- Sixth Point – Papavinasam Teertham: It is believed that the water flowing here comes from the feet of Lord Vishnu and whoever bathes here, their sins are destroyed. Here is also Shri Ganga Devi Ammavaru Temple.
Kapila Teertham
The next day friends, you must come for darshan at Kapila Teertham built in Tirupati. It is 4 km away from Tirupati Railway Station. Kapila Teertham is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is at this place that Rishi Kapil Muni established a Shivling. So you must also come for darshan at Kapila Teertham in Tirupati. And from these Seshachalam hills, a waterfall also comes here and this water falls directly into Kapila Teertham.
Shri Venkateswara Zoological Park
Now we have come to Shri Venkateswara Zoological Park. This park is 8 km away from Tirupati Railway Station. The entry fees here are ₹70 for adults and ₹30 for children. Here you can also roam by buggy. And you can also roam here by your private vehicle. First you will see a very big bird section where you will see many species of different birds. In this zoo you will see big animals from tiger to lion, elephants and many more. So definitely come to this zoo with children.
Here you can also do Lion Safari in which adult ticket is ₹50 and children ticket is ₹30. In this you are seated in a bus and taken for a complete Lion Safari where you see lions roaming freely around your bus.
If you want to book offline or online tickets, then this is the official website of Tirupati Balaji. From here you can book everything.
Ending Note
So friends, with this our Tirupati journey is complete. If you liked the video even a little, then please like the video and do subscribe to the channel. May your Tirupati journey be auspicious and do write Govinda Govinda in the comments.
Overview Table
| Facility/Place | Location | Charges/Fees | Timing/Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSD Tokens | Vishnu Nivasam / Srinivasam | Free | Daily | Aadhaar compulsory |
| Padmavati Ammavari Temple | Tirupati city | ₹20 bus, ₹50 quick darshan | Gate No.3 entry | Laddu prasadam ₹25 |
| Rooms (CRO Office) | Tirumala Hill | ₹50 to ₹1000 | 2–3 hrs wait | Aadhaar required |
| Laddu Counter | Exit gate of main temple | ₹50 small, ₹200 big | After darshan | Must take home |
| Zoological Park | 8 km from Tirupati Station | ₹70 adult, ₹30 child | Morning to evening | Lion Safari ₹50/₹30 |
FAQs
1. How can I get free darshan tokens in Tirupati?
You can get SSD (Slotted Sarva Darshan) tokens from Vishnu Nivasam or Srinivasam Complex. Aadhaar card is mandatory.
2. What is the cheapest way to reach Tirupati?
The cheapest and best way is by train to Tirupati Railway Station or Renigunta Junction, then a bus for ₹30 to Tirupati.
3. What are the footpath options for Tirumala darshan?
There are two footpaths – Alipiri Metu (3550 steps, 9 km) and Srivari Metu (2388 steps, 2.1 km). Tokens, water, and medical help are available on both routes.
4. How much do laddus cost at Tirumala?
Small laddu costs ₹50 and big laddu costs ₹200 at the laddu counter near temple exit.
5. Which other places can I visit after Tirupati Balaji darshan?
You can visit Srivari Padalu, Shila Thoranam Garden, Chakra Teertham, Venu Gopal Swami Temple, Akash Ganga, Papavinasam Teertham, Kapila Teertham, and Shri Venkateswara Zoological Park.