[srvm]

Originally Posted by ravib

Very happy to hear you had finally got appointment from the lord to see him after 2.5 years
How was the darshan experience and timings?

Glad to know the flyover is finally open for public. it should help a lot.

-Ravi

Thanks Ravi.

We reported for SED (Rs.300 ticket) at 5pm at ATC Parking lot. Darsan of the Lord was over by 6.45pm. Theppotsavam is going on everyday between 7pm and 8pm (from 13-17 March)(details here)

We were out from Darsan and near Pushkarini just in time to have a glimpse of the Lord & His consorts during their third and final round of Theppotsavam (float festival) for the day. Fantastic view and atmosphere.

Crowd is more or less back to normal. I heard that TTD was allowing around 90,000 pilgrims to Tirumala per day. Up significantly from 2000 per day during peak pandemic times. I think the plan is to increase gradually up to 1.3 lakhs per day in time for summer vacations.

Places we visited during this trip in chronological order:
15th March:
Govindaraja swamy Temple (Tirupati)
Navajeevan blind relief center and school (Tiruchanoor)
Sri Varahaswamy Temple (Tirumala)
Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple (Tirumala)

16th March:
Lord Narasimha shrine, Radha Krishna shrine and Lord Hayagriva shrine - all in North Mada Street of Tirumala Temple.
Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple & Baba Hathiramji Samadhi (on Papanasam road, Tirumala)
Aakasa Ganga (Tirumala)
Goddess Padmavathi Temple (Tiruchanoor)
Srinivasa Mangapuram (near Chandragiri)

[adisan]

Originally Posted by srvm

I think the plan is to increase gradually up to 1.3 lakhs per day in time for summer vacations.

Heard that they might resume in-person Sevas as well from April.

[srimath]

Originally Posted by adisan

Heard that they might resume in-person Sevas as well from April.

It is confirmed news that in person sevas will start from 1st April. Lucky dip for Suprabhatam, Thomala, Archana, Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana and Nijapada Darshanam as well as booking for the other sevas opens on the 22nd at 10 am.

[ghodlur]

Experts,

Have got the seegra darshan booked for 8th April and 1600 slot. Will be driving from Bangalore, can somebody share the best route, road conditions with good option for Breakfast halt? Will be starting at 5.30 am from Yelahanka, breakfast halt around 8.30 am. Anything to keep in mind when entering the ghat section of Tirumala, do they have strict checks at the entry gate? What is the parking availability at Tirumala?

Sorry for asking too many questions.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Will be starting at 5.30 am from Yelahanka, breakfast halt around 8.30 am. Anything to keep in mind when entering the ghat section of Tirumala, do they have strict checks at the entry gate? What is the parking availability at Tirumala?

With a 0530 start, just take the normal ORR via KR Puram. Should be a breeze.
Watch out for nasty rumblers around Hoskote.
Be careful with your speed near Kolar. Usually, interceptors can be found between ~0900 to ~1700.
Alipiri checks are very strict and time-consuming with a minimum of 20 minutes. Just saw this too : https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-...ncrease-734100

I usually clear out the entire contents of the car including all spray bottles, oil cans etc, and carry only the essentials required.
Parking is ample at ATC circle. Just follow Google Maps.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Experts,

Have got the seegra darshan booked for 8th April and 1600 slot. Will be driving from Bangalore, can somebody share the best route, road conditions with good option for Breakfast halt? Will be starting at 5.30 am from Yelahanka, breakfast halt around 8.30 am. Anything to keep in mind when entering the ghat section of Tirumala, do they have strict checks at the entry gate? What is the parking availability at Tirumala?

Sorry for asking too many questions.

Glad you got your appointment to see the lord on 8th april

1) Route is standard and good : Bangalore K.R.Puram-Hoskote-Kolar-Mulbagal-Nangli Toll-Palamaner-Bangarupalayam-Chittoor bypass-Tirupati. No issues till KA border at Nangli toll plaza. After that once you enter AP, in concrete roads, watchout for bumpy ride especially in all bridges. So slow down the speed to avoid bumpy ride especially for rear seat passengers. Once you cross Mahasumudram toll plaza, and drive for couple of kilometers, you have to go in left side below the bridge to join the Tirupati highway and NOT to climb the bridge in Chittoor bypass. The moment you take left, you are greeted with fantastic 10 lane highway all the way till tirupati.
2) If you are starting at 5.30, and planning to have breakfast at 8.30,you are almost near to Tirupati. In case, if you want to stop for breakfast around 7 am or 7.30 am , you can stop at Highway star food court after Kolar which is on left. There are many restaurants available on opposite direction which needs a U turn.
3) Once you enter Alipiri, budget for 30 minutes easily to cross the Alipiri toll including security checks. Now the time increased due to significant influx of pilgrims. You should drive the ghat up hill in 28 minutes minimum. Don't drive too fast and reach earlier, because it is possible that they will fine you (although it was not there for last few months due to covid and less pilgrims), but i expect all restrictions to be back again. Likewise, while climbing down, you have to drive down for minimum 40 minutes and watch out for pedestrians cross the road in multiple sections.
4) There are plenty of parking available in Tirumala. However, it is also possible for people to forget where they parked as we won't be carrying mobile phone while entering darshan queue. So make a note and remember where exactly you parked the car and leave the valuables, all electronic gadgets including smart watches in the car itself.

This car parking is the closest : https://goo.gl/maps/6Dy5BpB37Ao2scMJ6
It is opposite to Arya vyasa samajam and next to Srimath Andavan Ashram (for identification and remembering it).
But while going to enter the queue,you have to walk about 2 kms, but once you are done with darshan and collect laddues, you can quickly reach the car back.

HTH
-Ravi

[srvm]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Experts,

Have got the seegra darshan booked for 8th April and 1600 slot. Will be driving from Bangalore, can somebody share the best route, road conditions with good option for Breakfast halt? Will be starting at 5.30 am from Yelahanka, breakfast halt around 8.30 am. Anything to keep in mind when entering the ghat section of Tirumala, do they have strict checks at the entry gate? What is the parking availability at Tirumala?

Sorry for asking too many questions.

Originally Posted by ravib

Glad you got your appointment to see the lord on 8th april

1) Route is standard and good : Bangalore K.R.Puram-Hoskote-Kolar-Mulbagal-Nangli Toll-Palamaner-Bangarupalayam-Chittoor bypass-Tirupati. No issues till KA border at Nangli toll plaza. After that once you enter AP, in concrete roads, watchout for bumpy ride especially in all bridges. So slow down the speed to avoid bumpy ride especially for rear seat passengers. Once you cross Mahasumudram toll plaza, and drive for couple of kilometers, you have to go in left side below the bridge to join the Tirupati highway and NOT to climb the bridge in Chittoor bypass. The moment you take left, you are greeted with fantastic 10 lane highway all the way till tirupati.
.....

ghodlur, I went to Tirumala last week. So please refer to my post #1334 for details on route and time taken. Agree with ravib in the above post except for one minor detail (highlighted in bold above). While going, I too assumed that the entire stretch between Chittoor and Tirupati bypass has been widened (6 lanes + 4 service lanes). Actually there are still 2 incomplete sections where one has to drive on the old undivided highway before merging onto the completed sections. Nothing worrisome, except it can catch one by surprise if he/she is a newbie on this route and is not expecting it.
Also agree with ravib regarding restaurants. Don't know if you are a vegetarian or not. But with a gap of 3 hours since start from Yelahanka, you are likely to be close to Tirupati bypass. In general, good restaurants are on the opposite carriageway (Tpty-Blr side) which may need 2 U-turns.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by srvm

Actually there are still 2 incomplete sections where one has to drive on the old undivided highway before merging onto the completed sections. Nothing worrisome, except it can catch one by surprise if he/she is a newbie on this route and is not expecting it.

Very true. Please be careful and also note that people drive like crazy on these incomplete and potholed sections. I have had multiple scares with either people rushing to see the Lord or ecstatic after seeing him.

Rest of the Chittoor to Tirupati section is divine.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

drive like crazy on these incomplete and potholed sections. I have had multiple scares with either people rushing to see the Lord or ecstatic after seeing him.

Originally Posted by srvm

Actually there are still 2 incomplete sections where one has to drive on the old undivided highway before merging onto the completed sections. Nothing worrisome,

Where are these two sections exactly? As far as I know, the stretch between Chittoor bypass all the way till Rangampet cross is completely greenfield. Is it here that there are incomplete sections or in the earlier stretch between Rangampet cross and Tirupati?

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Where are these two sections exactly?

Apologies, not very familiar with the place names. Tried to check on Maps too but the imagery is not updated.

I do recollect that one section has a railway underpass, while the other 2 (or 3?) deviate back on to the old road.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Where are these two sections exactly? As far as I know, the stretch between Chittoor bypass all the way till Rangampet cross is completely greenfield. Is it here that there are incomplete sections or in the earlier stretch between Rangampet cross and Tirupati?

Chittoor bypass (Varigapalli) to Puthalapattu is the greenfield section as you rightly mentioned and is complete.

The two incomplete sections are between Puthalapattu (which you refer as Rangampet cross) and Chandragiri. While going from Bangalore to Tirupati: the first incomplete section comes some distance after Puthalapattu and is shorter. The second incomplete section is longer and comes before Heritage Parlor near Kasipentla (most regulars on this route might remember this parlor).

Both incomplete sections are doable, even in night (watch out for few speed breakers and potholes) if speeds are reasonable (60-70 kmph).

[adisan]

Originally Posted by srvm

The two incomplete sections are between Puthalapattu (which you refer as Rangampet cross) and Chandragiri.

The total distance of both these incomplete sections put together is about 10 km.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by adisan

The total distance of both these incomplete sections put together is about 10 km.

Yup, that's right.
One known person went to Tirumala last saturday 19th and it took ~4 hours for him to get darshan for SED Rs. 300 tickets. They were not asked to wait in the waiting halls, but were standing all 4 hours , stop, wait and go type of movement - due to very heavy rush. Just FYI, so whoever is going can plan accordingly and budget the time.

-Ravi

[adisan]

Meanwhile, the toll fees at Mahasamudram and Gadanki toll plazas have been quietly increased. It used to be 85 for single journey (both places) and 125 and 130 respectively for return journey. Now it is 90 and 95 respectively for single journey, and 140 and 145 respectively for return journey.

[sriturl]

Originally Posted by adisan

Meanwhile, the toll fees at Mahasamudram and Gadanki toll plazas have been quietly increased. It used to be 85 for single journey (both places) and 125 and 130 respectively for return journey. Now it is 90 and 95 respectively for single journey, and 140 and 145 respectively for return journey.

Normally the NH toll agreements with operators have a contract for yearly increase (coinciding with FY start - April) rounded to nearest 5 rs.
Should be part of that yearly increase. Everything increases