tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post4559328008336921752..comments2007-11-12T05:58:34.211-05:00Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10061571310044863286noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post-62692903027582809212007-11-12T05:58:00.000-05:002007-11-12T05:58:00.000-05:00Tour to Tirupati? It’s an amazing idea. This city is nestled in the verdant Eastern Ghats and is a treasure house of ancient temples, waterfalls and other places of interest. You can really enjoy visiting places like the Swami Pushkarini, The Papa Vinashanam, Sri Bedi AnjaneyaswaTemple, Sri Kalahasti. Horsley Hills, Kailasakona Waterfalls, etc. A pilgrimage and a pleasure trip is what Tirupati offers you. Your trip would become more entertaining by staying at Fortune <A HREF="http://www.fortunehotels.in" REL="nofollow">hotels in Tirupati</A>. This <A HREF="http://www.fortunehotels.in" REL="nofollow">budget hotel in Tirupati</A> gives you all the pleasure of comfortable stay here. This <A HREF="http://www.fortunehotels.in" REL="nofollow">hotel in Tirupati</A> provides an ideal <A HREF="http://www.fortunehotels.in" REL="nofollow">hotel accommodation</A> in the pilgrim city. The rooms are aesthetically designed with all the necessary comforts.budget hotels accommodation in tirupatihttp://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?url=www.fortunehotels.in/hotel_tirupati.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post-1048476243989085692007-07-04T18:34:00.000-04:002007-07-04T18:34:00.000-04:00That's a wonderful depiction of the trip. Well, I would like to present another depiction as well - from a perspective of a guy who was born near the hills and now stays in Bangalore!<BR/><BR/>First make out if the trip is going to be dedicated to the divinity, perhaps a single-day trip to the shrine or if you want to make a weekend count. For the first, I feel it's best to follow the one above. I have seen people go to Tirumala for a darshan; but it's worth a trip too for a good getaway. Here's how:<BR/><BR/>1. Reaching Tirumala:<BR/>If you plan to explore on your own without a package then: <BR/>Bangalore - Tirupati - Alipiri - Road/Walk to Tirumala<BR/><BR/>Take a bus to Tirupati. If you had boarded an AP bus, you could request the driver to drop you at Alipiri - the foot of the hills - the starting point. If you can't then get to the Tirupati busstand. At the busstand, there are plenty of budget hotels where you can re-energise yourselves. But if you dont mind that extra bucks for a good rejuvenation from the tiring hot journey, Hotel Sindhura Park and Hotel Kalyan Residency* in about a kms radius from the busstand offer a great refreshment. Then, make your way till Alipiri - you have both state and town services for that. You could also bargain an auto-rickshaw for less than 40 rupees - worth the trip. This is the base of the hills. It's the startpoint or rather the entry point to the hills. If you would like some trekking, take the stairway. But beware its a tough job that takes around 3 hours for an amateur! And, also note that you can drop your luggage with the carrier service at the entry-point for the steps which will safely put your luggage at the exit-point in Tirumala from where you can take them back. If you don't want to take this, then the best option than taking the buses would be to share a jeep to the hills. They give you a wonderful experience. Lots of private jeeps keep plying to-and-fro the hilltop - so you could share one if you stand by the road side - a little yards further on the road, in the direction of the front side of Garuda's statue. I guess it costs around 30 rupees per person uphill; if you would not like to share then you could negotiate a price for 5 persons and have the ride for yourself. Now you reach Tirumala.<BR/><BR/>2. Accomodation:<BR/><BR/>PLEASE MAKE NOTE that accomodation without prior RESERVATION is almost impossible! Fortunately TTD has opened up the online booking - the site is - http://www.ttdsevaonline.com/eBooking/BookingHome.aspx<BR/>If you could carry an MP/MLA recommendation letter for accomodation too - it works; you will have to go to the office near the busstand and get the accomodation registered - and of course, it's a little painstaking process.<BR/><BR/>3. Darshan:<BR/>You have many SUDARSHAN counters that tie the darshan-bands - that is, the time for your darshan is stamped and tied to your hand after you make the payment at the counters. The darshan ranges from free(longest and most tiring that may also last for more than 8 hrs!) to around 500 rupees, if I am right - we usually go for the 100 rupees ones as they are the ones that give you the feel! These counters are also available at Tirupati bus-stand, Alipiri base. You can get the bands with time of your choice subject on availability.<BR/><BR/>4. TIPS:<BR/>After the darshan, do not forget to walk around Tirumala, it's one place where serenity is in it's full glow, preserved by the divinity. It's not a very big place too....A walk through is a big solace to the soul. A leisure squat in front of the temple-entry in the evening too is very refreshing - you have a huge LCD screen that telecasts some TTD stuff.<BR/><BR/>5. OTHER PLACES TO VISIT:<BR/>Papavinasanam, Akasaganga are some of the few places which are accessible by free buses and some local trax-services. One place less known and less crowded is the Japali Teertham - you must trek to reach there and it's worth it; the location reminds you of the old hindu mythological locations!<BR/><BR/>After you are back at Tirupati, ISCKCON right near the base(Alipiri) is a wonderful place to visit. And then you can make your visit to KapilaTheertham - a waterfall which is dry most of the year. Then you could either opt for a night's stay at Tirupati and visit the other shrines - Padmavathi shrine... or make your way back. Kalyan residency is a good option for those who wish to stay in Tirupati - it costs around 1k for a double per night; and in the budget range - hotel Maurya(NOT MAYURA in front of the busstand!) about half-a-km away is a wonderful place to stay - it costs around 300 rupees for a double per night. And beware, the busstand at Tirupati at night is a place to absolutely avoid unless you are travelling out!Sudheendharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06800789272058101708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post-14047697995528717732007-06-05T08:08:00.000-04:002007-06-05T08:08:00.000-04:00This is an excellent write-up on visiting Tirupati thru the Organized tours. We are using this as destination guide for Tirupati in our website - <A HREF="http://TravelPaisa.com/" REL="nofollow">Budget Accommodation and holiday ideas</A>.<BR/>Our website lists budget accommodations across India and also provides practical and pragmatic holiday ideas. <BR/>Our Motto - Spend Less and enjoy moreTravelPaisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152087927336499382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post-68338968267805907832007-05-07T05:40:00.000-04:002007-05-07T05:40:00.000-04:00andy i am going to be in bangalore from 18h to 28th june for my exams.. have allowed myself four days in bangalore after the exam..do u think it wud be a gud idea to visit tirupati at tht time?loveleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727463251991696573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30781833.post-38141411742420896982007-05-03T07:01:00.000-04:002007-05-03T07:01:00.000-04:00After reading your blog, I have decided to go to Tirupati. Its very well documented and I feel it clarifies a lot of queries and helps one to be well prepared.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work ;-)<BR/><BR/>gshagshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18112599125962966697noreply@blogger.com