My trip experience

                  Bangalore to Thirupathi

Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is a bustling hub of technology and culture. Known for its pleasant climate and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Bangalore offers an array of attractions for both locals and tourists. One of the popular destinations near Bangalore is Tirupati, a temple town located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Tirupati is known for the Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of the most visited temples in the world. If you are planning a trip from Bangalore to Tirupati, here's all you need to know.

Modes of Transportation:

The distance between Bangalore and Tirupati is approximately 250 kilometers, and there are several modes of transportation available to reach Tirupati from Bangalore.

1. By Road: The most popular mode of transportation from Bangalore to Tirupati is by road. Several buses operate between the two cities, both state-run and private. You can also hire a taxi or self-drive to Tirupati.
2. By Train: Another convenient option is to take a train from Bangalore to Tirupati. Several trains operate between the two cities, including the Tirupati Express and the Kanyakumari Express.
3. By Air: The nearest airport to Tirupati is the Tirupati Airport, which is well-connected to major cities in India. However, there are no direct flights from Bangalore to Tirupati.

Places to Visit:

Tirupati is known for its religious significance and the Sri Venkateswara Temple, which is a major attraction. The temple is located on the seven hills of Tirumala and is visited by millions of devotees every year. Other places to visit in Tirupati include:

1. Sri Vari Museum: The museum showcases the history and culture of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the Sri Venkateswara Temple.
2. Talakona Waterfalls: Located amidst the lush greenery of the Eastern Ghats, Talakona Waterfalls is a must-visit destination near Tirupati.
3. Chandragiri Fort: Built in the 11th century, the Chandragiri Fort is a popular historical attraction near Tirupati.
4. Sri Kalahasti Temple: The temple is located in the town of Srikalahasti, around 40 kilometers from Tirupati, and is known for its architectural beauty and religious significance.

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit Tirupati is from November to February, when the weather is pleasant and ideal for temple visits and sightseeing. Summers can be hot and humid, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. Monsoons are also not a great time to visit, as the region receives heavy rainfall, leading to landslides and roadblocks.

My experience:

I started my journey towards Tirupati via train(CMNR TPTY EXP-16219) at 8:30 PM and reached my destination at 4 AM. We have looked for a hotel nearby and booked but if you are going to Tirupathi temple by bus or other vehicles, I would like to suggest you to book a hotel near the temple. We planned to climb the steps so, we booked a hotel near the railway station. I wrote this blog so that many people will have a proper idea of transportation because I searched google for information and those were not updated and not useful in a real-time experience.

The first step to Tirupathi temple starts from Alipiri, which is 4kms from the railway station, auto ride or taxi may cost you from 100rs to 500rs per head, we can get buses also which cost you of 20rs. 

Once you reach alipiri, people will suggest you to remove your slippers, but we wore slippers and went until the temple. It is individual choice and belief but there are no restrictions as such from the temple(we enquired). Total steps are of 3550 and before the end of 500 steps, there are 4 to 5kms of road path to walk. You will see multiple small temples in between, there are water facilities from the temple side. There are many small shops in between, but we decided not to drink or eat anything until we reach lord Venkateswara, so we chanted govinda until we completed 3550 steps.

Once you reach the temple entrance you need to submit phones and luggages at the entrance and go to free darshan(surva darshan) or if you have tickets(special darshan/VIP) then you will get a different queue. Some of my friends suggested that we can get tickets at srivaru steps entrance so we went climbing the steps but that was two years back, and now we won't get tickets anywhere in between. Once you enter free darshan queue, they will divert you to the waiting room, the food, and drinks will be provided for every 2 hours. There will be a huge crowd and will be eager to see lord Venkateswara, the free darshan might take time for 12hrs to 2 days depending on the day you visit, so we have planned our journey on a weekday(2nd March 23). We reached the free line early morning(10 AM) so our waiting time was up to 5 pm. If you have special darshan /VIP tickets then darshan will be completed in 1 hour.

The lighting of a temple on the evening was eye-catching and did shopping in street shops. After finishing our shopping we returned to our place, you will get buses from Tirupati to the railway station all the time. We stayed in a hotel at night and planned our next journey towards Kalahasti. To know more details of a journey towards Kalahasti then click here.

In conclusion, Tirupati is a great destination for a spiritual and cultural experience, and it's easy to travel from Bangalore to Tirupati by road, train, or air. With a host of attractions and pleasant weather conditions, Tirupati is an ideal getaway from Bangalore.

Note: These details are as per my experience on march, 2023. So if there are any changes at the time you read this article or if you have any other suggestions to add then please comment  below because it will help other tourists.