Destination Tirumala

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Blast from past!
So my last trip of 2010. It was fitting finale with a trip to  the richest abode in the world - Tirumala Venkateshwara.

What can i say which is not already be said about this famous temple town. Though i have made countless trip before it still delights me to go there in spite of the crazy crowds.

We generally take the conducted tour from APSRTC from which the sheegrah darshan tickets are available even couple of days before you plan to go. So one can avoid the elaborate process of getting tickets well in advance from TTD. The tour starts around 8.30pm and with a short break for dinner, we are at Tirupathi by 5-6  hours.We are given rooms in the pilgrim amenities center for couple of hours and then set out very early in the morning to Padmavathi Temple. After the darshan and quick breakfast we head out to Tirumala and by 9.00 am. We are in the line for darshan. After the darshan, head back home and in Bangalore by 6.00pm.

Previously the tour offered the early morning darshan. These days it is the 9.00am seegrah darshan which is priced at 300/-. Amazingly for the first time  with the crowds behaving well, we finished the darshan within 45 minutes.

I will certainly be revisiting this place as often as possible.

Location: Tirumala Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh
Date of travel: December 2010

Tip: Always carry a hand sanitizer.
Must do: Darshan ...of course!!!
First: Every darshan of Venkateshwara is like the first time!
Location: Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

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