Tirupati, Tirumala-Online. Review on Tirupati

The greatest Hindu temple on this earth is also one of the richest temples in the world. This is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in all India because of Vaishnavaite temple of Venkateshwara i.e. Lord Krishna or Vishnu. He is the one with his eyes covered (since his gaze would scorch the world) and garlanded in so many flowers that only his feet are visible.

It is one of the few temples in India, which allows non-Hindus into the sanctum sanctorum. Tirupati Tirumala is easily accessible by train, road and air from Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. It is very near to Chennai around 150 kms.

Among the powers attributed to Venkateshwara by his devotees is the granting of any wish made in front of the idol at Tirumala. It is on the basis of such a legend that pilgrims flock to this temple. On an average 50,000 pilgrims come to Tirumala every day. Such popularity makes the temple one of the richest in India and the whole amount is administered by a trust called TTD (Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam). The money is spent back into hundreds of choultries and charities such as homes for the poor, orphanages, schools, colleges, Engineering & Medical, hospitals and so on.

The temple is excellently managed by the trust TTD in a very systematic way. There are various kinds of Darshans of Balaji like Sarv Darshan, Darshan with tickets called special darshan etc. Every pilgrimage that wishes to have a darshan will pass through a computerized scanning machine where his/her photo is taken with fingerprints scanned. A computer-generated number with time of darshan on a tag is then wrapped on the hands of piligrim. This time will allow and enable the devotee to enter the temple at that particular time. Prior to this few years before devotees have to wait for hours and days for darshan. In this system a devotee can have darshan within two hours. This kind of darshan enables one devotee to have darshan only for few seconds the oblivious reason is that there are thousands of other pilgrims waiting behind him in the queue.

People who want to have a close darshan prefers for morning darshan. This darshan is restricted to a few hundred. Morning darshan like Suprabhat, Thomala and Archana are the most popular. But the tickets for these darshan will never be available a day or two before. TTD accepts drafts for these morning darshan at least three months before. The latest feather in the cap is online booking on the site https://tirupati.org. One can book ticket on line by paying through credit card on a secure site. But truly speaking chances of getting a morning darshan ticket now a days is extremely difficult as thousands of people book there tickets years before.

Those people who are coming to Tirupati for a day or two without advance booking are some times disappointed to have a darshan. This generally happens during festival or holiday seasons when number of devotees exceeded and computer generated tag gives a time after two or three days. Then they complaint of mismanagement at TTD.This is not all true as it is a very transparent and fair system.

If some body wants to have an Abhishek of Balaji then chances of getting this darshan ticket is not less than 5-6 years. This darshan is performed only on Fridays at 3.00 AM for a few people. But it is hundred percent true that if some body plans his visit months in advance there is no problem at all.

There are hundreds of choultries at Tirumala, which can be booked in advance for a mere amount by sending a draft or through, online. There are good places to eat at Tirumala and among them the best one is Hotel Mayura.This restaurant serves excellent varieties of South Indian dishes. Hotel Mayura also provides accommodation at Tirupati downhill where a non-ac room to ac room varies from 650 to 1000 Indian Rupees.

The place is excellent to stay with a great restaurant. There are new hotels also coming at Tirupati-Welcome group, hotel Bliss Inn and hundreds of cheaper hotels. Buses run from Tirupati to Tirumala every fifteen minutes and once you reach Tirumala free buses by TTD takes around Tirumala. Free meals are provided to pilgrims after the darshan by TTD.Every day 30,000 pilgrims go for free darshan.

If you buy a special darshan ticket of Rs 40 or Rs 50 you will be given free laddus (sweet candy). The laddus are very famous and full of dry fruits. Since number of people are in thousands every day so there will be a queue even at laddu collection center. Devotees both male and female offer their hairs to Balaji after their wishes are fulfilled. The enchanting sound of bells and prayers in Sanskrit early morning at Tirumala makes the environment thrilling. There are certain Do?s and Don?ts once you reach Tirumala.

One has to follow these rules and should keep on chanting ?Om Shri Venkateshai Namah? once he is in the darshan line.

''OM SHRI VENKATESHAI NAMAH''