Discover divine serenity and boundless blessings on your journey to Tirupathi.
Hello fellow adventurers,
Embarking on a pilgrimage to Tirupathi, a sacred abode nestled amidst the verdant hills of Andhra Pradesh, is an experience that transcends the ordinary. It's a journey that intertwines spirituality with adventure, where every step taken is a step closer to divine grace. This blog aims to share our spontaneous trip to Tirupathi, filled with unexpected twists and unforgettable moments.
Day 1: A Spontaneous Tirupathi Trip
Journey started on 20th of Dec 2024 with three friends, including myself, we just made a plan before one day to visit Tirupathi. Out of the four, one of us had been there before. We left home for majestic bus stand at 9:00 PM. We skipped advance bookings, depending on the ever-reliable KSRTC lcoal buses. Initially, we faced disappointment as Volvo buses were fully booked, but finally, we got seats on a KSRTC local bus from Terminal 1. Our journey began at 10:45 PM, with each ticket costing only RS.332.
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Day 2: The Ascend Begins
We reached the Tirupathi bus stand at 4:00 AM. From there, we had two options: either take a bus to the Tirumala Balaji Temple, located 22 km away, or walk the entire distance. Naturally, we chose the latter for the adventure and spiritual experience. To start our trek, we took an auto-rickshaw to Alipiri, the base point where the steps to Tirumala begin. Alipiri is about 4 km from the bus stand. Upon reaching Alipiri, we deposited our luggage and footwear at a local center. Conveniently, this service ensured that our belongings would be safely delivered to the endpoint of the trek — and it was completely free of charge!
There were a total of 3,550 steps to climb. We began our trek to the temple at 5:30 AM, brimming with energy and excitement for this spiritual journey. Our simple rule was to avoid overexertion. We took breaks whenever we felt tired, making the trek both enjoyable and memorable. Along the way, numerous small stalls offered refreshments like water, tea, coffee, and basic meals such as dosa, puri sambar, tomato rice, and idli. Additionally, there were stalls selling fresh fruits like mangoes, oranges, and cucumbers, adding a refreshing touch to our journey.
Another great feature was the availability of toilets for both ladies and gents every 500 steps. Despite being public facilities, they were surprisingly clean and well-maintained, and all of them were free to use. Additionally, there were drinking water taps conveniently placed every 500 steps, ensuring pilgrims stayed hydrated throughout the climb. Since we visited in December, the weather was perfectly pleasant—not too hot, not too cold—making the trek even more enjoyable given Andhra Pradesh geographical location.
As we made our way to Tirumala, nestled in the hills, we encountered various animals like langurs, sambar deer, and wild squirrels. It’s also said that some pilgrims have come across cheetahs and bears in rare cases. Though there are 3,550 steps in total, the path isn’t just steps; it also includes stretches of flat road. Thousands of people undertake this climb every single day, all year round.
We completed the 3,550 steps by around 11:00 AM. Without wasting time, we headed straight to the luggage center to claim our bags and then rushed to the CRO office to register for a room provided by TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) at a subsidized rate. There were two room categories: RS. 50/100 or Rs.1000 rooms. However, rooms are not allotted to individuals or pairs—there’s a strict condition that a minimum of three people must share a room.
After standing in the queue for about 30–35 minutes, I successfully registered for a room. Only one person’s Aadhar card is required for the registration process. No payment is made at this stage. Once registered, a serial number is issued, and we waited for our turn to get a room allotment. The process usually takes some time, but TV screens placed in multiple locations continuously display updates on room allotments along with the serial numbers. We were eager to get our room, both to take proper rest and to ensure the safety of our luggage.
Afternoon at Tirumala:
While waiting, we lay down for some rest, had our lunch, and explored the nearby shops where we bought a few souvenirs. Around 5:30 PM, we finally got our room allotment and received a text message on the registered mobile number confirming that GNC-661C had been assigned to us. "GNC" stands for Garudadri Nagar RH, with our room being in Building No. 661, Room C.
Building 661 had six rooms (A, B, C, D, E, F), and each room was equipped with two beds, pillows, blankets, and an attached washroom with a geyser and western-style toilets. The room cost us Rs.50, along with a refundable deposit of Rs. 500. We checked in at 6:05 PM. Rooms are allotted to pilgrims for 24 hours only. If we checked out before 6:05 PM the next day, our deposit would be refunded. However, exceeding the 24-hour limit incurs a penalty: a 100% extra charge for the first additional day and a 200% extra charge if the stay exceeds two days.
We all took turns to freshen up, and by around 7:30 PM, we left our room. Our journey to the temple was not over yet. The temple was about 1.5 km from our location, so we took the free TTD government bus service. The bus dropped us off at the starting point for the designated free darshan path.
We opted for the free darshan, although there are several options available. The RS.300 ticket provides a quick darshan, typically taking 1–2 hours. On the other hand, the free darshan involves standing in longer queues, often requiring 4–8 hours or more depending upon the no. of devotees . For those using the free darshan service, a specific darshan time is printed on their ticket.
Since we chose the free darshan, we walked along the designated path for about 40 minutes before reaching a waiting hall. Here, we were locked inside, and prasadam was distributed. During my previous visit, they served khichdi (a rice and lentil pudding), but this time, they provided upma. We stayed in this hall for about 1–1.5 hours before the gates were opened again.
We resumed our walk for another hour, passing through multiple security checks. Along the way, we were given a coupon for one free ladoo prasadam. Eventually, we were directed to Room 24, where about 100 other pilgrims were gathered. By the time we arrived, it was 10:00 PM. A TV screen displayed updates about the darshan progress, with another screen showing which room was currently in line for darshan. When we entered Room 24, Room 16 was next in line.
Realizing it would take some time, we quickly secured a spot to lie down and rest. Exhausted from the day’s activities, we fell asleep almost instantly.
Day 3: The Divine Encounter
Around 2:30 AM, the door to our room (Room 24) was opened. We then started walking slowly in a queue for another hour. The distance wasn’t much, but due to the sheer number of devotees visiting every day, the temple authorities had created designated paths to help manage the crowd and slow the pace. At exactly 3:30 AM, we were blessed to have our darshan. Standing before the deity, everything we had endured on the journey felt completely worth it. Our entire existence seemed meaningful in that moment. We were also in awe of the temple’s magnificent architecture. We bowed down to the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and sat there for a while, feeling even more connected to the Almighty.
As we exited the garbhagriha and began our parikrama (circumambulation), we were greeted by a strong fragrance of ghee, the smell of ladoos. By this time, we were eager to receive the prasadam. After taking the blessings of Lord Vishnu, we joined the queue to collect our ladoo prasadam. Eating the prasadam felt like the sweet reward for all the hard work of the journey. Every effort to reach the temple now seemed so worthwhile. Words couldn’t fully express our gratitude to God for bringing us here.
Next, we headed to the prasadam counter, where we could purchase ladoos for ourselves and to take home for our families. There were ladoos of different sizes, with prices varying accordingly. We bought the smaller ladoos, each costing Rs.50. They were about the size of an adult’s fist. We also took seven additional ladoos and received four free ladoos with the coupon we had collected earlier.
After receiving and purchasing the prasadam, we decided to head back to the TTD room, rest, and return the key before 6:00 PM. As we were leaving the temple, we realized we couldn’t possibly leave without a photograph. The twist was that we had left all our belongings, including our phones, in the room. So, we asked someone to take a photo of us and share it over Whats App. He kindly agreed and took some great photographs.
Post-Darshan Bliss:
We reached our room around 7:30–8:00 AM and rested for about four hours. After that, we decided to go for Annaprasadam. We freshened up and walked about 100 meters to catch the free TTD bus, which dropped us off at the Annaprasadam location, around 1–1.5 km from our room.
When we arrived, we saw a huge queue—about 100–200 people waiting for the meal. We joined the queue, and it took around 25–30 minutes to enter the hall. The sight inside was nostalgic—rows of mess tables with attached chairs that reminded us of college days. People were serving prasadam on banana leaves, and we took our seats and enjoyed the meal. It was, without a doubt, the best prasadam I’ve ever had. The taste, quality, and quantity were simply unbeatable, and the meal was unlimited. It consisted of rice, sambar, rasam, aloo sabji, dahi, and chutney.
After the prasadam, we explored local natural ice cream and pizza in the mountains. We then returned to the free bus stop, where the TTD bus would drop us back to the area near our room.
Returning Home:
Once we reached the room, we packed our luggage, cleaned the washroom, made the bed, and folded the blankets to return the TTD room key to the GNC building. Time was ticking, and we had to submit the key before 6:00 PM (24 hours) to get our Rs.500 deposit back. We completed the necessary formalities, and the staff verified everything, assuring us that the refund would be processed within an hour.
Afterward, I stepped outside and found a taxi nearby. I negotiated the fare and managed to settle on Rs.500 instead of the Rs.700 he initially asked for. The taxi took us to the Tirupathi bus stand in 1–2 hours. The drive included 28 turns from the top to the bottom, and the taxi dropped us close to the bus stand, where we could easily find public and private buses to Bangalore and other locations. We booked four seats on a public bus for Rs.325 per seat. The bus departed at 12:00 AM, and it took around 4–5 hours to reach Bangalore.
This is how our journey unfolded—from Bangalore to Tirupathi and back. For any queries or questions, please feel free to drop a message via email or in the comments section, and we’ll try to respond as soon as possible.
Secrets & Key Facts of Tirupathi Balaji:
Bus Availability: Buses to Tirupathi are easily available at Majestic in Bangalore and at Tirupathi bus stand for returning to Bangalore.
Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Tirupathi is during winter (December to February).
Start Early for Darshan: It's recommended to start your journey early in the morning for a smoother experience.
Booking Rooms: To book a room at Rs.50 for 24 hours, reach the booking counter at the top as early as possible. A minimum of 2–3 people is required to secure a room.
Darshan Tips: If possible, get a token for darshan to save time; otherwise, free darshan might be time-consuming.
Annaprasadam: Don’t miss out on the Annaprasadam, as it’s a highlight of the visit.
Share Your Journey or Collaborate with Us
If you are a passionate traveler, an avid trekker or hiker, and you love to share your adventures and insights with the world, I'd love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out to me at contact@walk-alone.in to share your travel stories, tips, and experiences.
Additionally, if you represent a travel agency, tour guide, trek leader, or have a story which you wanted to portray to the world and are interested in collaborating for generating leads or exploring potential partnerships, I welcome you to get in touch with me at contact@walk-alone.in. Let's work together to inspire more individuals to explore the wonders of our world. Happy trekking and safe travels! 🌍✨
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