Hi
I am visiting india in FEB and will plan to visit TIRUPATI - BALAJI. Can anybody have idea or share their experience ti visit Balaji.

Thanks in advance

Hi,
If you have some local contacts, trey & obtain Darshan tickets, these are for various pujas they perform starting from 4.30 amm(approx), this is the Suprabhatam I beleive, by having this darshan tickets you are allowed to sit in the room where darshan is performed for atleast 30 min, till the time puja is performed, and you get the chance to be with lord for that long.
It is not satisfying if you are pushed out of the darshan room within seconds , and this is the darshan you are waiting for years, and have taken the long journey from canada.

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Whenever you experience joy, peace, security, equanimity or purity, it is only because you are aligned with ALMIGHTY.

HI

Thank you very much for your reply.

I would like to know the travelling distance between Chennai - Tirupati through Rental CAR.

Can please provide me with this information.

Thank You

TIRUPATI is 150 km from Chennai via Kalahasti and 250 km from Bangalore.
The journey takes about five hours by BUS. About four by Private Vehicles.

Tirupati has the third largest bus station in Andhra Pradesh. It has nearly 50 platforms. Tirupati has another bus station near Alipiri. For every 2 minutes, there is a bus facility from Tirupati to Tirumala. Tirupati has bus facilities connecting almost each and every important city and town. Tirupati has good infrastructure. The by-pass laid by NTR is a six lane road covering most of the parts in the city. Tirupati is criss-crossed by National Highways.

For every 3-4 km, traffic signals are present to control the traffic. Traffic signals are so well synchronised, that you don't see them anywhere else in Andhra Pradesh. Yet, in some parts traffic is haphhazard. Many non air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses are operated by the government-run APSRTC and other private operators connecting Tirupati to other major cities and towns directly.

Tirupati is:
* 137 km from Chennai (via Red Hills, Utthukottai, Nagalapuram, Puttur and Renigunta)
* 145 km from Chennai (via Poonamalli, Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, Nagiri and Puttur)
* 152 km from Chennai (via Red Hills, Tada and Sri Kalahasti).

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) run daily buses between Chennai and Tirupati. The frequency is between half-an-hour to one-and-a-half hours. The journey time is 5 hours, and the fare is INR 55.00 per head.

Return journey tickets can also be bought at the Chennai Bus Station.

THE MOST AUSPICIOUS DAYS IN FEBRUARY 2009
RELIGIOUS EVENTS – FEBRUARY, 2009
SUNDAY FEB. 1 RATHA SAPTHAMIMI
SUNDAY FEB. 8 TAI PŪSAM POORNIMA Please note that the full moon is on the 9th Feb.
THURSDAY FEB.12 SANKATAHARA CHATURTHI
MONDAY FEB. 23 MAHĀ ŚIVARĀTRI
Rathasapthami (Magha Shuddha Saptami) is another festival, celebrated during February. It is held between the 1st Feb and 8th Feb. Please call and confirm.

IMPORTANT: Darshan: TTD has built the Vaikuntam Queue Complex and recently rolled out the queue management system to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims. (about Re.120/-)

Private Rental Vehicles are O.K. too

You are all set to travel now. Raise and put both your hands together and start off.

Freddie.

Amazing facts Fredie.. thanks a lot.

In regards to the Darshan, I would recommend to get tickets for Suprabhatam, Ekantaseva and Archana Anantahara Darshanam. All these sevas are amazing. Tirupati is a Heaven on Earth.

Sanjay,

Did you visited temple. How was experience specially travelling & lodging ?

Can you share with us ?

I know Freddie has already wrote so much info, but still..

I am planning to visit Banglore next month & thinking of visiting Balaji Temple

I know its roughly 250km

So which option is better, by BUS or private rental car
Also where we should stay & what is better time for Darshan ?

I heard from people about taking Darshan early morning say before 5 am

I don't mind paying few hundred rupees if one gets atleast some reasonable time in the temple

Darshan after 5am is not possible or temple closes in the morning?

Can I complete this Journey from Banglore in one day

Please share information with me ?

Thanks

there are many package trips from bangalore, i would suggest you to book a AC volvo bus (APSRTC) it starts around(near race course) 10PM reach tirupati by 3am, they would have booked a no frills hotel(room) for you to freshen up and then proceed to tirumala, all along there will be a guide who will give instructions,tickets,food info etc by 7am you would have completed the darshan and reach bangalore by 3pm.
Note - Weekend bookings are always full, need to book well in advance.
If you tip the guide he can get you extra ladoos

If you rent a car do not travel during night time, it is risky