[jkrishnakj]

No.
You’re good to go without any epass requirements.

[saisree]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Planning a Tirupati trip in January first week. Do we need E-pass now from KA to AP?

No need for entering AP.

[Jagann13]

If someone can help, are we allowed to take car's smart key into the temple (dharshan)?

We are planning a 1 day round trip and so we didn't get any accommodation sort of thing.

[saisree]

Originally Posted by Jagann13

If someone can help, are we allowed to take car's smart key into the temple (dharshan)?

We are planning a 1 day round trip and so we didn't get any accommodation sort of thing.

You can take it in and they know about it. I generally give it to my wife to keep it in her hand bag. Goes into the scan machine and no question asked.
Another note, Don’t wear smart watch they will not allow it.

[ravib]

Cross posting about my Rs. 300 darshan on Jan 1st, 2021.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post4968891 (Bangalore to Tirupati : Route Queries)

-Ravi

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

5. Though TTD says children less than 11 and elders above 65 are not allowed , we did see lots of them.

That restriction has been officially relaxed. Probably why you saw them.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...n-2235206.html

[gadadhar]

We are booked online for the evening 7 pm Seegradarshanam on Saturday evening.

1. Plan is to climb by foot through Srivari Mettu route. I along with 3 lady family members are planning to start climbing by around 3 pm and reach the top by 5 pm.

- Since the crowd is thin during these days, is it safe to take the Srivari Mettu route with family during the 3 to 5 pm window?

- Group is used to physical activities, hope 2 hours is a relaxed time to climb this route?

- Is there mobile signal coverage on this route?

2. Few other family members are planning to drive up and meet us at the top of the hill.

- We would like to meet them at the parking to leave mobile and other stuff in the car. After completing the climb, Are car parkings near the seegradarshanam queue complex accessible when you climb through Srivari Mettu? We have never taken this route and doesn't have a clue where it joins near the temple.

- If going to the car park is a challenge, are there safe deposits counters available to deposit mobiles? We need to carry mobiles to the hill top to coordinate with the other team

- Plan is to come down in the car and not by foot.

Sorry about the multiple queries, though we have visited Tirupathi multiple times, it's the first attempt by foot and could not find much information on the climb through Srivari Mettu. Any other tips will be of great help

[ravib]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

We are booked online for the evening 7 pm Seegradarshanam on Saturday evening.

1. Plan is to climb by foot through Srivari Mettu route. I along with 3 lady family members are planning to start climbing by around 3 pm and reach the top by 5 pm.

- Since the crowd is thin during these days, is it safe to take the Srivari Mettu route with family during the 3 to 5 pm window?

- Group is used to physical activities, hope 2 hours is a relaxed time to climb this route?

- Is there mobile signal coverage on this route?

2. Few other family members are planning to drive up and meet us at the top of the hill.

- We would like to meet them at the parking to leave mobile and other stuff in the car. After completing the climb, Are car parkings near the seegradarshanam queue complex accessible when you climb through Srivari Mettu? We have never taken this route and doesn't have a clue where it joins near the temple.

- If going to the car park is a challenge, are there safe deposits counters available to deposit mobiles? We need to carry mobiles to the hill top to coordinate with the other team

- Plan is to come down in the car and not by foot.

Sorry about the multiple queries, though we have visited Tirupathi multiple times, it's the first attempt by foot and could not find much information on the climb through Srivari Mettu. Any other tips will be of great help

Short answer to all of your questions is YES.
1) YES it is safe to climb Srivari Mettu in day time. No issues. Remember the entire stretch is steps and no walking required (like in Alipiri route) and it will take you very close to 300 rupees darshan ticket entry point road.

2) Two hour is comfortable enough to climb up for average person. Many people climb between 1 to 1.5 hours itself.

3) Most of the route has mobile coverage, but there are few places it is not there too.

4) Yes, there are sufficient car parkings near the entry point where Srivari Mettu joins, but they are usually full. You may have to search around and get a place.

5) Srivari Mettu joins very close and walkable distance near to 300 rupees seegradarshan entry point. Here is the link.

https://goo.gl/maps/R6hShjhsJyi4rn4h9

6) There are many safe deposit counters available to deposit mobile and luggage. However, you may have to collect it from different place which is a central storage location, AFAIK. It was the practice long back, but not sure what is the current state. But you can very well keep mobiles in the car itself and park it. Except for car keys, don't carry any electronic items including smart watch.

7) Many information about Foot path travel by Srivari Mettu or Alipiri path are shared and discussed in Bangalore-Tirupati thread.

Few other pointers / info that may be helpful to you as you are climbing up for first time.

1) It takes about 30 minutes drive from Tirupati central bus stand to Srivari Mettu entry point. Suggest you to take an auto which will cost about Rs. 400/- or so. Or alternatively, your other group can drop you in Srivari Mettu entry point and then drive back to Alipiri and climb up via road, instead of taking an auto.
2) There are 2388 steps in Srivari mettu and as you climb up it gets more and more steep. Take sufficient breaks to keep the heart pumping rate in control.
3) Only very limited options to purchase any drinks or snacks to eat while climbing steps. If required carry Glucose and water bottles in a back pack and hydrate yourself sufficiciently.
4) Please don't climb steps with chappals/shoes or foot wear. Srivari Mettu is considered as very holy sacred foot path where Perumal climbed up to Tirumala after marrying Padmavathi thaayar. So carry plastic covers or bags to keep the chappals / shoes and take them along in the hand or in back pack.
5) Sufficient toilets/rest rooms are available en route in foot path, so its not a concern.


Hope the above information helps. Have a great darshan !

-Ravi

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by ravib

Short answer to all of your questions is YES.
1) YES it is safe to climb Srivari Mettu in day time. No issues......

Hope the above information helps. Have a great darshan !

-Ravi

Many thanks for a very detailed reply, it is very very helpful

Meanwhile I heard from a friend about a robbery attempt that happened on this route last week, but he to assured now it is very safe due to enhanced security measures after the incident

[NPV]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

Sorry about the multiple queries, though we have visited Tirupathi multiple times, it's the first attempt by foot and could not find much information on the climb through Srivari Mettu. Any other tips will be of great help

I visited Tirumala on 6 Jan with friends and we did take Srivari Mettu, it was the first time for all of us. Right now there is repair work in progress on the Alipiri steps and that makes it uncomfortable is what we were told by locals.

We parked the car at Alipiri parking lot, lots of space there and it looked safe. We carried our mobile phones and took an auto to Srivari Mettu base which is about 15-16 km away from Alipiri. Saw a few cars parked at the base but not too many people there so we felt it was a good decision to park at Alipiri. This made sense for us since we took the APSRTC bus from Tirumala down to Alipiri on the return.

Almost the entire path has shelter now and all the steps are even size and granite. Just be alert if it rains/drizzles because the combination of turmeric, kumkum and slush/mud can be slippery at some places. You can also find a few vendors selling water, soda, juice etc on the way. It was not a very difficult climb and we took about 1hr 20 minutes with a relaxed walk taking couple of 5 minute breaks en route.

We deposited the mobile phones at the 300 rupee Darshan entrance and got an acknowledgement. When coming out of the temple we need to walk outside to the road where we can collect luggage/phone deposited.

**Srivari Mettu is open from 6am-4pm, plan accordingly.

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by NPV

I visited Tirumala on 6 Jan with friends and we did take Srivari Mettu, it was the first time for all of us.....

We deposited the mobile phones at the 300 rupee Darshan entrance and got an acknowledgement. When coming out of the temple we need to walk outside to the road where we can collect luggage/phone deposited.

**Srivari Mettu is open from 6am-4pm, plan accordingly.
[ATTACH=IMG_20210120_125907.jpg]Timings[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the very useful update.

I think we can start the climb around 2.30 pm, this should give us enough buffer and time to meet my folks at the top, take care of the belongings and settle down and then join the seegradarshanam queue counter.

[kavensri]

Recently got a whatsapp forward about this temple, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudimallam_Lingam and http://know-your-heritage.blogspot.c...66V02vKtHWTvKq.

And the location is very near to Tirupati, https://goo.gl/maps/aWSS3wRRwJw1aKBDA.
Has anyone visited this temple? Looks really interesting though.

[sairamboko]

Tamil news portals are reporting that COVID negative report is needed for all darshans in Tirupati. I checked the TTD portal. Nothing of that sort is posted. Does anyone have any updates on this? Is this verified ?

[prabhusati]

Originally Posted by sairamboko

Tamil news portals are reporting that COVID negative report is needed for all darshans in Tirupati. I checked the TTD portal. Nothing of that sort is posted. Does anyone have any updates on this? Is this verified ?

For darshan in Tirumala, Covid negative report is not required.

[shipnil]

I see the Special Entry Darshan getting full weeks in advance, which wasn't the case earlier. I think this might be due to less number of people being allowed. Currently there are no slots available for July and August quota is yet to be released.

Does anyone know when the August quota is released? Does it follow any day like 1st day of July or something like that?