Hassle-Free Facilities for Darshan
As the saying ‘Manava Sevaye Madhava Seva’ goes, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is committed to providing basic services to the common pilgrim visiting the abode of Sri Venkateswara, including free darshan, food, drinking water, travel and tonsuring.
There are numerous facilities offered by TTD for the benefit of pilgrims visiting the hill shrine. As many as 60000 to 80000 devotees take darshan of Swamivaru on average every day, which needs an efficient crowd management mechanism and hassle-free token allotment system, which the TTD has effectively mastered.
While there will be just a couple of choices for devotees in other temples, the major factor that distinguishes the TTD is the large number of options to choose from while opting for Darshan.
The TTD provides a multitude of services to ensure pilgrims have a smooth and fulfilling experience during their pilgrimage from Tirupati bus station/railway station to Tirumala and back. Of course, the devotee has to carry some minimum amount towards payment of caution deposit for the room/locker, which will be returned while vacating.
Note: The TTD may change the facilities from time to time depending on the exigencies of the situations. Readers are requested to note this point and follow the TTD website www.tirumala.org from time to time.
Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD)
There are many avenues through which a devotee can opt for Darshan. The first choice opted by most devotees is the SSD (Slotted Sarva Darshan) Tokens, which are free tokens allotted for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.
Most devotees arriving at Tirupati on an unscheduled visit can get SSD tokens at the counters in Srinivasam (opposite RTC Bus Station), Vishnu Nivasam (opposite Railway Station) and Bhudevi Complex (Alipiri Link Bus Station). Based on the time slot, they can reach Tirumala at the scheduled hour and have an eyeful of Darshan of Srinivasa.
Special Entry Darshan (SED)
The second major option that is used by devotees is the SED (Special Entry Darshan) Tickets. These tickets can be booked online on payment of Rs.300 per person. This ticket is the most affordable for middle-class devotees who intend to visit Tirumala as per their itinerary and who want to stick to their travel plan.
Unscheduled Sarvadarshan is also available for those who neither plan their schedule nor book their SSD slot. Such devotees will be allowed into the queue line at regular intervals, but priority is given to those who have booked Darshan or Sevas.
Divyadarshan
Divyadarshan’ is another format that is useful for the devout who have taken a vow to trek the hills. A huge chunk of the devotees reaching Tirumala come on foot, which they believe will endear them to Lord Venkateswara and get his blessings. Because of the tiredness and fatigue involved in trekking the hills, such devotees find it difficult to spend long hours standing in the queue lines.
It was to reduce their strain that the TTD management offered these ‘Divyadarshan’ tickets to the pilgrims as a token of relief for trekking the hills. Trekking devotees will have to get these tickets issued at the foot of the hill and get them validated/checked at a designated point mid-way, on the trekking route in Srivarimettu.
At present Divyadarshan tokens are being issued only in Srivarimettu (soon the old method will be resumed in the Alipiri footpath also).
SRIVANI ticket
The TTD gives priority in Darshan to those who donate to Sri Venkateswara Alaya Nirmana (SRIVANI) Trust formed to construct and maintain Sri Venkateswara temples across India. The trust also supports the conduct of various festivals and religious rituals, besides taking up repair, renovation, maintenance and preservation of Gopurams and archaeological buildings that reflect the glory of Indian culture.
As a token of appreciation for the commitment exhibited by the donors who contribute Rs.10000 or above to SRIVANI TRUST, the TTD provides a one-time privilege of VIP Break darshan, which costs an additional Rs.500.
Senior Citizens and Differently abled
According to special concern to age and physical disability, the TTD offers special privilege to the senior citizens and the differently abled persons by providing them a separate slot in the queue lines, so that they need not undergo pushing and jostling with the regular crowd. Such people can avail darshan of Lord Venkateswara by booking tickets under the head ‘Senior Citizen/ Differently Abled/Medical cases’ at the TTD website.
The senior citizen must have completed 65 years of age and the spouse is allowed as an attendant. Similarly, the Differently abled person should possess a certificate provided by the state or central government, and their spouse will be allowed to accompany as an attendant.
As a special privilege to those having tough medical conditions, the TTD allows those who have undergone/are undergoing kidney transplantation, open heart surgery, dialysis, liver transplantation, brain surgery, cancer or spine surgery (unable to walk). Such cases should bring a medical certificate from the concerned surgeon or specialist. His/her spouse will be allowed as an attendant.
In all the above cases, a maximum of 1000 persons will be allowed from Monday to Saturday at 3 pm per day.
Srinivasa Divyanugraha Homam
The newly launched ‘Srinivasa Divyanugraha Homam’ at the Alipiri Goshala offers yet another Darshan opportunity for the devout. The Homam is performed by the TTD for global well-being and general prosperity of all humans. Sri Venkateswara Vedic University has been entrusted with the task of providing qualified and skilled manpower to perform the ritual.
Those willing to participate in the Homam can do so on payment of Rs.1000 per couple, for which they will be allowed entry through the queue line meant for SED tickets (on purchase of tickets for Rs.300 each). The Homam is getting popular day by day and is getting huge responses not only for getting the divine grace of Srinivasa, but also due to its popularity as a reliable mode of Tirumala darshan.
Srivari Sevak/Parakamani
The TTD invites the public to render voluntary service to the devotees and involves them in several of its activities in the temple as well as outside the shrine such as in maintaining queue lines, vigilance, health, Annaprasadam distribution, garden, medical, transport, Kalyanakatta, book stalls etc.
The duties are allotted to the volunteers based on the electronic dip system and as such, everyone may not get duty within the temple complex. The registered devotees will have to apply for the Seva and render voluntary service at the spot allotted to them.
As a token of appreciation for their voluntary service, Darshan will be provided to them. Similarly, those volunteering to monitor the Parakamani (counting of currency and coins dropped in Srivari Hundi) will also get a Darshan opportunity.
Angapradakshinam
Anga pradakshinam is the process of rolling one’s body around the sanctum sanctorum in the ‘Praakaram’. This is a centuries-old practice in vogue, performed to appease the Lord of Seven Hills. Pilgrims can perform Angapradakshinam by booking the ticket well in advance through the TTD website.
For this, the devotees should first take a bath in Pushkarini and arrive at the temple in wet clothes. They have to produce the identity card mentioned while booking to get into the temple for this purpose.
The Other Facilities for pilgrims
The TTD provides various facilities for the devotees visiting Tirumala. Right from drinking water to Annaprasadam, hot milk for infants and adults, toilets to lockers, everything is free.
For the pilgrims patiently waiting in the various queue lines for their turn of darshan, milk and Anna prasadam are supplied at regular intervals. This helps them maintain calm and chant the holy names of Lord Venkateswara during their period of stay, without having to worry about the waiting time.
Annaprasadam (food) is served at Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasada Kendram during most parts of the day. No pilgrim is required to spend a penny to buy food as the TTD provides steaming hot food to every visiting devotee. The high quality of food draws laurels from the devotees.
Similarly, pilgrims need not have to buy potable water to quench their thirst during their stay at Tirumala. Reverse Osmosis (RO) treated water is made available at regular intervals throughout the areas visited by pilgrims on the hills. Tonsuring of the head is done since time immemorial in fulfilment of a vow at Tirumala. Offering hair is considered one of the most significant contributions to Lord Venkateswara. It is hence tonsuring is done free of cost for the devotees.
For patients travelling to Tirumala and also for those falling sick during the journey, there is a free emergency medical facility at Aswini Hospital and Vaikuntam queue complex. People in need of emergency and superior treatment are rushed to Tirupati downhill for the same. There are ambulances kept ready on both the ghat roads to meet such exigencies.
Trekking devotees bringing heavy luggage need not bother about physically carrying them to the hills, as the TTD offers a free luggage transportation service. Once the baggage is handed over to the centre at the foot of the hills, it will be transported by road to a similar point at the hilltop, where the trekkers can pick up their bags.
Once a pilgrim arrives at the bus station or railway station downhill, there are free buses available to drop them at Alipiri and Srivarimettu, from where they can trek the hills. Similarly, free buses will be continuously roaming on Tirumala hills, which can be used by the pilgrims to reach their destination. Pilgrims will have to pay only if they are travelling by bus on the ghat road.
For pilgrims coming by own transport, the TTD has developed several parking lots across the hill town. The parking places are planned and made available at regular intervals that thousands of cars arriving on a single day can be parked with ease.
The TTD has also made available battery-operated vehicles for the senior citizens and the disabled to move around the temple. The vehicles are used to ferry the aged and sick persons from the car parking up to the temple entrance.
GOVINDA App
The TTD has come up with a mobile app ‘GOVINDA’, which provides booking of all services at a single click. Pilgrims are advised to download the free app and get the facilities within minutes.
Final Word
Because of the dynamic situation at Tirumala, all the services and facilities offered by the TTD are subject to change in the last minute. Pilgrims are advised to check for the services ahead of planning their travel.
Pilgrims are suggested to make their arrangements for pilgrimage well in advance and also make use of all the facilities available at Tirumala.
In a nutshell, a well-planned trip to Tirumala is always fruitful, comfortable and gratifying..!
AVOID PLASTIC
- Devotees are requested to avoid plastic materials like covers, water bottles and other plastic-based materials at Tirumala to safeguard the environment.
- Devotees walking along footpath routes are requested not to carry plastic bottles.
- They should not throw plastic covers and other related items in the ghat roads.
- Keep Tirumala clean and tidy.
