Tirumala

Physically Challenged Darshan Tirumala TTD – Tickets, Timings, Booking, and Entrance

December 6, 2022, Sasidhar Darla Filed Under: Tirumala

Physically Challenged Darshan Tirumala – Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has facilitated special darshan for physically challenged people. Our guide explains the ticket booking procedure, proofs needed, the entry point for darshan, time taken, who can accompany physically disabled and restrictions.

Who can have darshan under the physically challenged category in Tirumala?

A physically challenged/ handicapped person or a person having any physical disability can have darshan under this category.
A specially-abled person can avail of this benefit by showing a relevant medical certificate. Photo ID proof is also mandatory to get this benefit.
Specially-abled person’s guardians, spouse or kids will be allowed to accompany the specially-abled person for any assistance.
Only one attendant is allowed to accompany the specially-abled person.
The wheelchair facility is also available for transportation.
Srivari Sevakulu will also be assisting the devotees during the Darshan timings.
The pilgrim who availed Darshan under this special category cannot avail Darshan for the next 90 days.
The special tickets will have a quota of 700 tickets each for morning and evening. Only 700 Devotees in the morning and 700 devotees in the evening will be allowed for the special darshan.

Tirumala Timings, Sevas and History – READ FULL ARTICLE

Days	Darshan Timings	No. of Tickets	Slot
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	10 AM	700	1st
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday	3 PM	700	2nd
Wednesday & Friday	3 PM	1000	1st

What are the Darshan Timings for Physically Challenged in Tirumala?

Specially abled are allowed darshan daily in 2 time-slots. The first darshan schedule starts at 10 AM and the second schedule starts at 3 PM.
However, on Wednesdays & Fridays, darshan will be allowed only in the afternoon i.e 3 PM slot.

Where we can get the specially-abled tickets for darshan in Tirumala?

The tickets are available at “Senior citizen / Specially-abled Ticket Counter” near Vaikuntha Queue Complex, VQC-2, Tirumala.
Ticket issuing starts from 7 AM daily and counter closes by 3 PM.
There is a limit of 700 tickets for each slot. Tirumala management issues the tickets on a first come first serve basis.
The cost of the ticket is free. Specially abled or a person with a disability can have darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple free of cost.

What is the entry point for Physically Challenged darshan?

Specially abled should enter for darshan from Supatham entrance. Supatham is just 50 meters away from the Vaikuntham Queue Complex entrance. Darshan will take around 1-2 hours depending on the crowd.

Sahasra Kalasabhishekam Tirumala – Procedure, Timings, and Booking

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 17 Comments Filed Under: Pujas, Tirumala

Here is everything you want to know about Sahasra Kalasabhishekam in Tirumala.

What is Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

Sahasra Kalasabhishekam seva is offered at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam to Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthi – the silver replica deity of Mula Virat, the processional deities of Sri Malayappa Swamy varu along with his two consorts, Sri Viswaksena – the chief commander of Lord. This seva is performed to the deities after the second bell in the morning at the Bangaru Vakili.

Who should perform Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

Here’s who should do Sahasra Kalasabhishekam:

Any person seeking the divine blessings of Lord Balaji should perform this seva.

What are the best days to do Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

The best days to perform Sahasra Kalasabhishekam are:

This pooja is performed only on Wednesday.
One should make prior booking to get the dates to perform this pooja.
It should be performed early in the morning, the best time to do this pooja is 5.30 a.m.

What is the procedure for performing Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

Here’s how to do Sahasra Kalasabhishekam:

The Bhoga Srinivas Murthy who was the main deity was connected by using the thin silk rope with the Mula Virat in the sanctum (Garbhalayam)
One end of the thin silk rope is kept near Kathithasta of the Mula Virat and the other end is attached to the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy feet, symbolically is represents “Establish a new relationship in between the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy and the main deity to achieve 2 purposes”.
First one, it is very clear that Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy represents the Mula Virat
And the other one, it becomes clear that the Sahasra Kalsabhishekam puja is offered to the main deity who is also known as the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy.
The Viswaksena idol is kept at the life side of Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy outside the Bangura Vakili.
Sri Malayappa Swamy varu along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi is kept at the right side of the main deity Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy outside the Bangura Vakili.
During the seva the archakas arranged 1008 silver vessels that are filled with pure water (Known as Abhisheka Tirtha or Parimala Teertham) that includes sandal paste and there will be 8 Parivara Vessels & 1 Gold vessel that are filled with water are kept in the Mantapam before the Bangura Vakili.
In this seva the Pancha Suktas and the Pancha Shanthi Mantras are enumerating by the archakas. After that the Thirumanjana Abhishekam is presented to the main deity Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy, Viswaksena and Sri Malayappa Swamy and his consorts.
Mainly this seva is offered to the main deity Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy and the content from kumbham is sprinkled on the feet of Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy.

Where to perform Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

A devotee can perform this pooja in the tirumala temple premises. It is performed only on Wednesday.

What is the cost of Sahasra Kalasabhishekam?

The pilgrims who wish to be a part of Sahasra Kalasabhishekam seva, they need to book tickets either online through tirumala website or offline. Ticket cost is approximately Rs. 850/- per person. The pilgrim can book for 6 persons at a time.

Lord Venkateswara Swamy Tirumala – Story and Miracles

July 30, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 2 Comments Filed Under: Tirumala

Lord Venkateswara is a Hindu God, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Venkateswara is the presiding deity of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh in India. He is also known as Srinivasa, Balaji, Venkata, Venkata Ramana, Tirupati Timmappa and Govinda.

What is the meaning of the word Venkateswara?

Venkateswara actually means Lord of Venkata. The word is actually a combination of two words. The first word ‘Venkata‘ is the name of a hill in Andhra Pradesh where the Lord resides and the second word ‘Isvara‘ means Lord. Also, “Venkata” is a Sanskrit word meaning “destroyer of sins” where ven means sins and kata means to destroy.

What is the story of Lord Venkateswara?

Payback of Kubera’s Loan – As per the legend, Lord Venkateshwara took a loan from Kubera for his wedding arrangements with Padmavathi. A large Hundi is present inside the temple complex where devotees offer money and gold to God. Devotees donate with the belief that he can pay back the loan to Kubera.

What is the miracle of Lord Venkateswara?

An amazing miracle happened at the midnight of 7th November 1979 at Tirumala Tirupati Temple. At that time, the whole town of Tirumala was in a deep sleep.

Suddenly, the huge bronze bells, that were hanging in front of Lord Venkateswara inside the Sanctum, started to ring loudly on their own without anyone touching them. The sound of the Bronze bells shocked the Purohits, security staff, temple staff, and the pilgrims.

How many wives does Lord Venkateswara have?

Lord Venkateswara has two wives. The first wife is Goddess Lakshmi and the second wife is Goddess Padmavathi.

Wives of Lord Venkateshwara — **Lord Venkateshwara presents with two wives – Goddess Lakshmi & Goddess Padmavathi.**

Who was the son of Lord Venkateswara?

According to the Vishnu Purana, Kamadeva– the Lord of love and sexuality was the son of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Also, Naraka Asura was the second son of Lord Varaha with his wife Bhudevi.

What is the appearance of Lord Venkateswara?

Lord Venkateswara is shown as having a dark complexion and four hands. In his upper two hands, Lord Venkateswara holds a discus (a symbol of power) and a shell (a symbol of existence). His lower hands are inclining downwards wherein the Lord asks the devotees to have faith and surrender to him for protection.

Why Lord Venkateswara’s eyes are covered?

Lord Venkateswara’s idol wears a white mask that covers his eyes. It is believed that the devotees cannot face the powerful radiation arising from the eyes of the Lord. Hence, the eyes are covered on most days except on Thursdays when the size of the eye is relatively smaller.

How tall is Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala?

The height of the statue of the Lord Venkateswara is around 9′ 9″ (nine feet and nine inches) which includes the crown over his head. Also, the statue stands on a stone pedestal which is 18 inches in height.

Which day is for Lord Venkateswara?

Wednesdays are ideal days for worshipping Lord Venkateswara. Lord Venkateswara is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Wednesday is considered ideal for planet Mercury whose related God is also Lord Vishnu.

Is Tirupati Balaji and Lord Hanuman same?

Yes, Balaji and Hanuman are the same God in different forms. In the Northern area, most of the people call Bal Hanuman as Balaji Maharaja. However, in South India, Balaji is being referred to Lord Venkateswara only and not Hanuman.

Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva Tirumala

June 28, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 7 Comments Filed Under: Pujas, Tirumala

Here is everything you want to know about Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala Tirupati.

What is Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva is conducted after the second bell in Tirumala Temple. This ritual was initially introduced in Srivari Temple in 1984 when a Muslim devotee presented Lord Srinivasa with 108 gold lotuses. The Archana begins by offering dhupa to the key deity followed by reciting Devadasa (108) names of the Lord.

Each chant is followed by one golden lotus offered at the holy feet of the lord Srinivasa.

Ashtadala Seva — Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana

Who should perform Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

Here’s who should do the Seva:

A single person or a couple can perform this pooja for their successful life.

What are the benefits of performing Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

Here are the benefits of the Seva:

The Devotee can financial stability and get the divine blessings of the Lord.
People also believe that by doing this pooja they can get good health, harmony success, and fulfillment of desires.

What are the best days to do Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

The best days to perform the seva are:

This pooja is performed on every Tuesday in the Tirumala temple.
One should make prior bookings to get the dates to perform this pooja.
It should be performed early in the morning, the best time to do this pooja is 5.30 a.m.

What is the procedure for performing Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

Here’s how to do the Seva:

The Archana begins with the puja by offering dhupa and diva to the key deity.
Then the pujaris enumerate the Devadasa names of the Lord.
While reciting each name of the Lord, one golden lotus is offered at the feet of Lord Srinivasa.
On completion of the Archana for the main deity Archana is then offered for Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Padmavati.
After that Ratha aarti is offered first, followed by usual aarti.
During this special puja, the arjitha ticket holders are seated in the Antalya corridor that is located between the Kulasekhara padi and Bangaru Vakili.

What are the materials required for Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

The basic materials required for Ashtadala Seva are turmeric powder, sandalwood powder, Kumkum, betel leaves, supari, rice, camphor, mango leaves, and the most important golden lotus. Apart from these if any other materials are required, they are provided after booking the ticket for this pooja.

Where to perform Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva?

A devotee can perform this pooja in the Tirumala temple premises. It is performed only on Tuesday. Devotees can take a seat inside Garbha Griha, once they are seated in the garbha griha the curtains will be closed at the Jaya Vijaya statues which is the last door.

What is the cost of Ashtadala Seva?

The cost of performing this pooja is Rs.1,250 per person. They can get the tickets from the Tirumala temple website.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Guide – Timings, Sevas and History

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 48 Comments Filed Under: Andhra Pradesh Temples, Tirumala Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is the most popular Vaishnavite temple in the world. It is located in Tirumala in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity, Lord Venkateshwara, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to have appeared to save humankind from Kaliyuga effects.

Who is Lord Venkateswara?

Tirupati Balaji Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Venkateshwara
Location	Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh
Significance	Vaishnavite Temple
Best Time to Visit	September to March
Darshan Timings	3 AM to 1 AM
Entry Fee	Free
VIP Darshan	Rs.300 per person
Senior Citizen Darshan	Free
Dress Code	Indian Traditional
Festivals	Brahmotsavam, Teppotsavam

The temple is located at the peak of Tirumala hill, also known as Venkatadri. The Venkatadri is one of the seven hills (Saptagiri) considered holy by the Hindus. These seven hills are – Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri.

Tirupati Balaji Darshan

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is also known as Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple or just Tirumala Temple.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Timings

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple opens as early as 3 AM in the morning. The temple closes at 1:30 AM the next day although General Darshan stops after 1 AM.

Here are the different kind of Darshans and their respective timings:

General Darshan (Sarva Darshanam) – This Darshan is open for the general public. The timings are different each day of the week.
- Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday – The Darshan starts from 7:30 AM – 7 PM in the evening. It resumes from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
- Wednesday and Friday – The Darshan starts from 9 AM till 7 PM in the evening and again from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
- Thursday – The Darshan starts early from 8 AM till 7 PM and then again from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
VIP Darshan (Sheeghra Darshan) – It is for immediate Darshan. The ticket cost is Rs. 300 per person. Pilgrims can also make an advance booking on the official website at www.ttdsevaonline.com. This Darshan starts from 9 AM daily till 3 PM.
Tirumala Darshan by Walk (Divya Darshan) – This Darshan facility is only for those pilgrims who walk up the hill to reach the temple. Alipiri Mettu and Srivari Mettu are the two routes.
Special Darshan for Senior Citizens – Pilgrims can have darshan in two-time slots of 10 AM and 3 PM daily. However, they must show proof of their age to the authorities.
Special Darshan for Physically Challenged – Pilgrims can have darshan in two-time slots of 10 AM and 3 PM daily. However, they must show proof of their disability to the authorities.
Infant Darshan: TTD has facilitated special darshan for parents carrying infants under one year of age.
Newly Married Couple Darshan: There is also a special darshan for newly married couples through the Supadham entrance.

General Darshan
↳ Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday	7:30 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
↳ Wednesday and Friday	9 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
↳ Thursday	8 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
VIP Darshan	9 AM to 3 PM
Special Darshan for Handicapped	10 AM and 3 PM

Tirupati Balaji Darshan Procedure

Pilgrims are can contact any one of the three counters present inside the temple premises.
- Vaikuntha Queue Complex
- Rambagicha Complex
- Amenities Complex
Here, pilgrims will receive their respective Sudarshan bands at a minimal cost. These bands will inform the pilgrims of the time at which they can have the Darshan of God.
In this way, pilgrims do not have to wait in long queues. They can explore the Temple Complex area meanwhile. And they can report to the queue only when it is their turn to have the Darshan.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Darshan Entrance — **The Golden Gate Entrance to Tirupati Balaji Temple is used by the pilgrims.**

Tirumala Temple Dress Code

The Tirupati Balaji Temple Devasthanam administration introduced a dress code for men and women from 2013.

Men are required to wear traditional dhoti or pajama with a shirt or kurta. Women are required to wear either a saree or a Churidar pajama with a kurta.

Poojas and Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple

Here is a list of all Poojas and Sevas at Tirupati Balaji Temple. We can divide them into three types: The Daily Sevas, the Weekly Sevas, and the Periodical Sevas.

Tirumala Daily Sevas

Suprabhatam – This Seva is done at 2:30 AM in the morning to wake the Lord from his sleep. After that, the priests carry the idol from Sayana Mandapam (sleeping place) to the Ananda Nilayam (main shrine). The ticket costs Rs. 200 per person.
Thomala Seva – This Seva starts at 3:30 AM and lasts for 30 minutes. Priests decorate the idols with garlands made of Tulsi and various flowers. Pilgrims can watch this only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The ticket price is Rs. 220 per person.
Venkateshwara Sahasranama Archana – This Archana starts at 4:15 AM. In this Pooja, devotees recite the 1008 names of Lord Vishnu. Priests also call the blessings in the names and Gothra of the pilgrims taking part in the pooja. Pilgrims can perform the Seva on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The ticket price is Rs. 220 per person.
Ekantha Seva – It is the last Seva of the day and starts at 1:30 AM. The priests lay down the silver image on a golden cot in a sleeping position.

Poojas & Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji — **Priests performing Daily Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple**

Tirumala Weekly Sevas

Vishesha Pooja on Mondays – This Pooja starts from 7:30 AM to 9 AM. Priests recite several stotras and perform an Abhisheka. Then, they place 14 Kalash in front of the deities. They consist of oil, milk, curd, rice, and holy water in them.
Ashtadala – Pada Padmaaradhana on Tuesdays – This Seva starts from 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM. Priests recite 108 names of the Lord Vishnu, each name accompanied by a Lotus flower. People also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi and then a Ratha Aarti. The cost of the ticket is Rs. 2500 for 5 persons.
Sahasra Kalabhishekam on Wednesdays – The ritual starts from 6:30 AM till 8:30 AM. In this unique ritual, priests fill 1008 silver vessels, 8 Parivara vessels, and one gold vessel with various things. They place them in the main Mandapam. Devotees also recite various Pancha Suktas and Shanti Mantras. The ticket costs Rs. 5000 for 6 persons.
Tiruppuvada Seva on Thursdays – This Seva begins at 6:30 AM. Priests remove all the ornaments and flowers from the deity. Then, they dress the idol only in a Dhoti and an Uttareeyam. The cost is Rs. 5000 for 6 persons.
Srivari Abhishekam on Fridays – It starts at 4:30 AM – 6 AM. Priests give a bath to the deity in holy Ganga along with milk, ghee, sandal, and saffron. The ticket costs Rs. 750 per person.

The Periodical Sevas

Arjitha Kalyanotsavam Seva – The ritual signifies the marriage of Lord Venkateshwara with Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi. The ticket costs Rs. 1000 for 2 persons.
Arjitha Brahmotsavam – People worship Lord Venkateshwara with Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi. They also recite several stotrams in this ritual. The ticket costs Rs. 1000 for 5 persons.
Unjal Seva – The priests place the idols of the three deities on a swing against the backdrop of lamps. The ticket cost is Rs. 1000 for 5 persons.

Offerings and Donations at Tirupata Balaji

Hair Tonsuring (Mundan) – Devotees shave their heads and give the hairs as an offering to God. It signifies the sacrifice for their Lord.
Thula Bharam Seva – Under this Seva, a Thula (Weighing scale) is arranged. On one side, the devotee is seated whereas on the other side, an equivalent weight of offerings are made. It is ensured that both sides are at an equal level. The devotees then donate the offerings to the temple administration.
Payback of Kubera’s Loan – As per the legend, Lord Venkateshwara took a loan from Kubera for his wedding arrangements with Padmavathi. A large Hundi is present inside the temple complex where devotees offer money and gold to God. Devotees donate with the belief that he can pay back the loan to Kubera.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Architecture

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Architecture — **Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Gopuram which is the top of the temple.**

The temple follows the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple has three entrances leading to the main shrine (Ananda Nilayam).
1. First entrance – Mahadwara Gopuram with a brass door.
2. Second entrance – Nadimipadi Kavali with the silver entrance.
3. Third entrance – Bangaru Vakili with a golden door.
The main idol of the Lord is in a standing position on a platform called “Brahmasthana.” Goddess Lakshmi is present on the right and Goddess Padmavathi on the left. The Gopuram (the entrance tower) over the main sanctum is covered with a golden vase. An idol of Vimana Venkateshwara is also present on the top of it.
Priests can never displace the main idol of the Lord. Hence, small idols of several Gods are present in the sanctum to worship. They are Bhoga Srinivasa, Ugra Srinivasa, Koluvu Srinivasa, Sri Malayappan, and Sri Chakrathalvar. Sri Krishna, Sri Rama, Mata Sita, Lakshmana, Sugreeva are also present.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Significance

The common belief is that the Lord appeared on the Venkatadri hill to save humankind from the ill effects of Kaliyuga. The idol here is worshipped since the beginning of the Kaliyuga. Therefore, people call this place as Kaliyuga Vaikuntam.
Most-Visited Place of Worship – Around 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually) visits this temple. On the day of the Brahmotsavam festival, the count increases to 500,000 pilgrims daily.
The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras. The word Swayambhu means that Lord Vishnu himself has turned into a statue here rather than installed by someone.
Tirupati Balaji is also listed as 106th Divya Desam among the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. It is the last earthly Desam of Lord Vishnu before he left earth for Vaikuntha.
It is believed that one can hear the sound of an ocean by pressing an ear at the idol of the Lord. Also, the temperature of the idol always remains too high even after bathing it with water and Chandan.

Tirumala Tirupati Brahmotsavam Significance — **Brahmotsavam Festival at Tirupati Balaji attracts more than 5 Lakh pilgrims daily.**

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is the wealthiest temple in the world in terms of donations received. Top Ten Richest Temples – Read More

History of Tirumala Temple

Tirupati Balaji Temple is believed to have been built by King Thondaiman at the end of 8th century AD. He was the ruler of the Tamil ancient kingdom called Thondaimandala.
The temple also received patronage from several dynasties like the Pallavas (9th century), the Cholas (10th century) and highly from the Vijayanagara kingdom in the 14th century.
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara kingdom donated abundantly and renovated the temple periodically by adding new structures to it.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji - History of the Temple — **Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Kingdom renovated the temple.**

Legends of Tirumala Temple

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple and its legends are mentioned in various historical manuscripts and also in various Puranas.

Legend of Lord Varaha Swamy

The legend says that Venkateshwara took the land of Tirumala hill from Varaha Swami. In return, Venkateshwara gave him a promise that he would be paid the first darshan.

Legend of Adishesha

Lord Vishnu gave a boon to Adisesha. The boon was that he would join the Venkatadri hills and become an abode of Lord Vishnu. Adisesha accepted and became Venkatadri.

Legend of Lakshmi and Padmavati

Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Srinivasa, met Padmavati in the forests during a hunt. They fell in love with each other. Later, they married each other after Akasa Raja’s approval. After six months of the marriage, Lakshmi returned to Vishnu in disbelief.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji – Full Legend – READ MORE

Festivals celebrated at Tirumala

Tirumala Brahmotsavam – This festival is celebrated for 9 days every year during the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sep/Oct). This festival attracts millions of pilgrims for nine days.
- The deity is taken out in procession on different Vahanam every day like Shesha Vahanam and Singha Vahanam. By watching the parade, one gets the protection of Lord and Punya in life.
- The last day is the Birth Star day of Lord Venkateshwara. The celebration ends with Dhvajavarohanam, lowering of the Garuda flag.
Teppotsavam – This festival is celebrated for five days in the month of Chaitra (March). The deities of Tirumala temple are taken for a ride in the Swami Pushkarini Tank.
Vasanthotsavam – This festival is celebrated for three days in March/April. King Achyutaraya introduced this festival to mark the beginning of the spring season.
Pavithrotsavam – The festival is celebrated for three days in the month of Shravan (July/August). The priests seek forgiveness from Lord Venkateshwara for all the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly while performing the daily rituals.
Jyesthabhshekam – The festival is celebrated in the month of Jyestha (June). Lord Venkateshwara appeared with a protective armor to fight against evil in Kaliyuga. On this day, people do Abhisheka and Poojas to that armor.

Teppotsavam Boat Festival at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple — **Deities of Tirumala temple taken for a ride in Swami Pushkarini Tank on Teppotsavam Festival.**

Here are other major festivals celebrated at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. These are Pushpa Pallaki, Padmavathi Parinayam, Pushpa Yagam, and Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam.

How to reach Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple?

By Air – The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, at a distance of 40 km from the temple. Chennai is the second nearest international airport.
By Rail – The nearest railway station is Tirupati, 26 km away from Tirumala. The AP Sampark Kranti Express connects to Bhopal, Gwalior, and New Delhi.
By Road – Several direct buses are available from cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Vellore. Regular buses are available from Tirupati to Tirumala.

Where to stay nearby?

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has constructed several cottages and guest houses for the benefit of the pilgrims. These are-
1. Padmavathi Guest House
2. Sri Venkateshwara Guest House
3. Varaha Swamy Guest House
Besides the guest houses, they have also constructed several choultries for the free stay of pilgrims.

The pilgrims can book the rooms by contacting the Central Reception Office, near Tirumala Bus Stand. The advance reservation can be made online by visiting the official website ttdsevaonline.com

Several private hotels are also available as an option for pilgrims.

Where to eat nearby?

The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Devasthanam (Temple administration) provides full meals to all devotees under the Nitya Annadanam Scheme.
Pilgrims can also get free tiffin, coffee, tea, and milk in the temple complex.
The meal is pure-veg.

What are some famous temples near Tirumala?

Explore Places Near Tirumala Temple — **Explore Famous Places and Activities Near Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple**

Varaha Swamy Temple – It is located at the banks of Swami Pushkarini near the Tirumala Temple. According to legend, Lord Varaha Swamy granted land to Lord Venkateswara to stay in the hill. In return, Lord Venkateswara promised the privilege of first Darshan to Varah Swamy.
Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple – This temple is located opposite to Tirupati Balaji Temple. As per the legend, young Lord Hanuman (Anjaneya) wanted to leave home in search of a camel. His mother Anjana Devi then tied his hands. The idol present here is also showing the hands of Hanuman tied.
Padmavathi Devi Temple – This temple is located 5 km away from Tirumala Temple in the town of Tiruchanoor. The presiding deity is Goddess Padmavathi, the wife of Lord Srinivasa. People also call this temple as Alamelumangapuram.
Prasanna Venkateshwara Swamy Temple – It is located 16 km from Tirupati. The uniqueness of the Temple is the presiding deity Venkateshwara who is in the “Abhaya Hasta” posture. This Temple is the marriage site of Srinivasa and Padmavathi.
Govindaraja Swami Temple – The temple is also located in Tirupati and was built by Ramanujacharya. The presiding deity Govindaraja was the elder brother of Venkateshwara. It is believed that worshiping him can result in better management of one’s finances.
Kapileswara Swamy Temple – This temple is also located in Tirupati. As per the legend, this is the place where Lord Shiva appeared before Maharishi Kapila. The Shiva Linga is believed to have been self-manifested here.
Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple – The Chola dynasty and Vijayanagara Empire built this temple. The presiding deities are Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshman.