Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Venkateshwara Temple
Devotees flock to Tirumala to see Venkateshwara, an avatar of Vishnu. Among the many
powers attributed to him is the granting of any wish made before the idol at Tirumala.
Many pilgrims also donate their hair to the deity - in gratitude for a wish fulfilled, or to
renounce ego - so hundreds of barbers attend to devotees. Tirumala and Tirupathi are
filled with tonsured men, women and children.
Legends about the hill itself and the surrounding area appear in the Puranas, and the
temple's history may date back 2000 years. The main temple is an atmospheric place,
though you'll be pressed between hundreds of devotees when you see it. The inner sanc-
tum itself is dark and magical; it smells of incense, resonates with chanting and may make
you religious. There, Venkateshwara inspires bliss and love among his visitors from the
back of the sanctum. You'll have a moment to say a prayer and then you'll be shoved out
again. Don't forget to collect your delicious
ladoo
from the counter: Tirumala
ladoos
(sweet ball made with chickpea flour, cardamom and dried fruits) are famous across India.
'Ordinary
darshan'
requires a wait of anywhere from two to eight hours in the claustro-
phobic metal cages ringing the temple. Several kinds of special-
darshan
tickets (?300)
will get you through the queue faster, though you'll still have to brave the gauntlet of the
cage, which is part of the fun, kind of… Head to the Supatham complex or the Seeghra
Darshan counters at Vaikuntam Queue Complex 1 for these tickets. There are special
hours for special entry; call ahead.
Upon entry, you'll have to sign a form declaring your faith in Lord Vishnu.
HINDU TEMPLE
Tours
If you're pressed for time, APTDC (
Click here
)
runs three-day tours (?2300) to Tirumala
from Hyderabad. KSTDC and TTDC offer the same from Bengaluru and Chennai, re-
spectively.
APTDC
(
8.30am-8pm)
also has a full-day
2289126; Sridevi Complex, 2nd fl, Tilak Rd;
tour (?310) of temples in the Tirupathi area.
Sleeping & Eating
The TTD runs vast
dormitories
(beds free)
and
guesthouses
(r ?50-6000)
around the temple in Tiru-
mala, but these are intended for pilgrims. To stay, check in at the Central Reception Of-
fice. Huge
dining halls
(meals free)
on the hill feed thousands of pilgrims daily; veg restaurants
also serve meals for ?25.
