Tirupati Balaji darshan: booking, footpath routes and tips
How to book Tirupati darshan online, the special entry ticket, the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu footpaths, dress code, laddu prasadam and the best time.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
About the temple
The Sri Venkateswara temple sits on the seven hills of Tirumala above Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. It is among the most visited places of worship in the world. Planning ahead decides how long you wait.
Darshan bookings
- Special Entry Darshan (₹300): booked online on the official Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) website. Quotas open months ahead and sell out within hours
- Sarva darshan: free, with time-slot tokens issued in Tirupati
- Divya darshan: for pilgrims who climb the footpath
- Seva tickets: limited, through the online lucky dip
Carry the ID used for the booking.
Footpath routes
- Alipiri: about 3,550 steps, three to four hours
- Srivari Mettu: about 2,400 steps, shorter, starting near Srinivasa Mangapuram
Leave luggage at the base. TTD carries it up for free.
Dress code
Men wear dhoti or kurta-pyjama, women saree, half-saree or churidar with dupatta. Western wear is not allowed for darshan. Phones and cameras go into lockers.
Getting there
Tirupati airport has flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Tirupati station has trains from across India. Chennai is about three hours by road.
When to go
September to February is pleasant. Brahmotsavam in September or October, Vaikuntha Ekadasi in December or January and long weekends bring the largest crowds. Weekdays are quieter.
What it costs
Our Tirupati Balaji Darshan trip and Tirupati with Srikalahasti and Kanipakam start from the prices on their package pages, with hotels, car and darshan assistance.
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