Thirumalai 2025

 Thirumala Tirupati trip was decided in December when the TTD app opened up for March bookings. We managed to get a booking for Sunday night, 7pm. Wanted to spend the weekend in Tirupati so left Chennai in the early hours of Saturday. We reached Tirupati around 9:30, had breakfast at P4S and drove towards Ammavari Temple. It was quite crowded as usual, we had to take the Rs.200 ticket to get a faster darshan. This queue was comparatively less so we could get the darshan of the Goddess and come out in 20 mins. Got the temple prasad - laddu and came out to the last corridor of the temple. Here we have to show our tickets for one free laddu for each ticket. The Ammavari laddu is made differently compared to the Thirumala laddu and it tastes different too. 

Our initial plan was to stay in Tirupati and go to Thirumala next day as per the ticket timing. But a change of mind wanted to try for accommodation at Thirumala itself. Hence reached the  entry plaza, got the security check done and took the ticket to go up. Within 30 mins we reached up. Many vehicles sped past us in spite of the rule. On reaching Thirumala we parked the car near the cottage area opposite to the CRO and walked all the way to the CRO office to book the accommodation. After a wait of 20 mins in queue we were able to book the accommodation with just the ID proof. All air conditioned rooms were booked. We were given booking receipt Rs.50 per day room. Next one has to wait in the CRO display room for our no. to come up. With in 10 mins of display, sms would also be sent. 

We had our lunch at Saravana Bhavan. Went to the Varahaswami swami temple and worshipped the Lord. This is a small temple near the pond and a queue wait for 30 mins was required. We also went to the pond and had the theertham. By then due to summer it was getting difficult to the walk in the stone steps.

Till 6 pm, we did not get our number. Due to weekend rush, all accommodations were full. As suggested by a CRO official we went and enquired in the Padmavathy guest house enquiry office. There after 6:30 we were allowed to pick the available rooms. Guest houses built in the hill by various conglomerates are let out in rent through the Padmavathy guest house office. We were given a room in Sudha Krishna Nilayam for Rs.6800 per night. Only online payment is possible here, 2x the rent have to be paid. Once done we have to go the guest house with the receipt.

After checking in to the room we received the sms on the cro room allocation. The guest house room was a state of the art accommodation with four poster bed, touch shelves and lightings. After a comfortable night's sleep we walked to the near by restaurant and had breakfast. Came back and relaxed till 1pm. By 2pm we reached the Vaikundam complex and started in the darshan queue. By 3.30 pm we were put in the waiting box. We were given sambhar rice prasadam here, which became our lunch. The day being the ekadasi further delayed our darshan of the Lord. Once we were out of the box, in the next 1 hour we got our darshan. All the wait was over in the 2 second darshan of the Lord Venkatesa. Laddu prasadam was given all the devotees after the darshan. After getting our laddus for the ticket we were asked to walk towards the back side of the temple due to the festivities in the temple pond. We waited there for sometime and was finally allowed inside the pond. It was privilege, we worshipped Lord Rama, Lordess Site and Lord Lakshman in the pond going around for 8 times. It was one of the best moments for any devotee.

We walked all the way to the Thirumala bus stop, had dinner there - worth the price. Took a taxi to GNC - Garuda cottages for Rs.50. Each cottage had 3 rooms, bathroom and toilet. 2 cots with mattress and blankets were provided. CRO also provides rooms for Rs.100 and ac accommodations for Rs.1000. We stayed there for the night and left by 5 AM the next day morning to Chennai. Had breakfast at P4S Tirupati and reached home by 10 am. On the whole a satisfied spiritual trip.