The following information is provided by the organizers of Ram Katha at Tirumala, Tirupati. There are a limited number of general dormitory stay arrangements made by the organisers, which will be given on first cum first serve basis. All the shrotaas are welcome for Bhajan (Katha) & Bhojan (food).
LOCATION:
- Sri Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar Kalyana Mantapa, Ring Road, opposite Tirumala Museum, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh - 517504.
DATES and TIMINGS
- Saturday December 20th, 2025 to Sunday December 28th, 2025
- Saturday, December 20th, 2025 : 4.00 pm onwards & from
- Sunday, December 21st, 2025 to Sunday, December 28th, 2025: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
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TIRUMALA
- Tirumala is a Hindu religious temple town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the neighbourhoods of the Tirupati city. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (urban) mandal of Tirupati revenue division. The town is strictly vegetarian. It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, a popular shrine of Vishnu. Vishnu is believed to reside here with his full power, as in Vaikuntha, and thus the place is also called 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha'.
DRESS CODE FOR ENTERING THE TEMPLE:
The dress code for the Tirumala temple requires devotees to wear traditional and modest clothing. Men should wear a dhoti or pyjama with an upper garment, while women should wear a sari, half-saree, or salwar-kameez with a dupatta. Shorts, Bermudas, jeans, mini-skirts, and sleeveless tops are not permitted.
- For men
- Required: Dhoti or pyjama with an upper cloth (like a kurta or shirt).
- Not allowed: Shorts, Bermudas, and lungis.
- Permitted: Formal shirts and pants are sometimes allowed, but traditional attire is preferred.
- For women
- Required: Saree, half-saree, or salwar-kameez with a dupatta.
- Not allowed: Modern Western wear like jeans, leggings, shorts, or short tops.
- For children
- Preferred: Traditional Indian attire, similar to the adult guidelines.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- Modesty is key:
- The primary goal is to ensure all devotees are dressed modestly to maintain the sanctity of the temple.
- Enforcement:
- Those not adhering to the dress code may be denied entry or advised to change before entering the temple queue.
REACHING KATHASTHAL – TIRUMALA, TIRUPATI:
Foot Steps
There are two paths to travel on foot from Tirupati to Tirumala. These paths are called Sopanamargas. Devotees ritually take this path to reach Tirumala on foot from Tirupati. Both the paths are completely roofed and passes through seven hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills.
- Alipiri Mettu – The first and Ancient path starts from Alipiri and consists of a total 3550 Steps which makes a distance of 11 km. At Alipiri there is a temple dedicated to Venkateswara called Padalamandapam. There are Four Gopurams(Temple Towers) on the way.
- Srivari Mettu – It originates at Srinivasa Mangapuram, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Tirupati. It is 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) long. This trail has 2388 steps and is shorter than Alipiri Metlu path.
Road
Tirumala can be accessed by road from Alipiri. The distance is 23 kilometres (14 mi). There are two roads from Alipiri to Tirumala, one each dedicated to up and down traffic. The state government-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates frequent Saptagiri and Saptagiri Express buses from Tirupati and Alipiri and also from nearby places. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) runs free buses for transit within Tirumala.
Rail
The nearest railway station is at Tirupati, about 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Tirumala. Tirupati Main railway station is one of the major railway station in the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways, providing rail connectivity to major parts of India. It is under the jurisdiction of Guntakal railway division. Renigunta Junction is another important railway station which lies on the Chennai – Mumbai rail corridor is 38 kilometres (24 mi) away from Tirumala.
Airport
The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Tirumala. It is a domestic and International airport with direct flights to Visakhapatnam and New Delhi. The nearest major airport is the Chennai International Airport, located about 162 kilometres (101 mi) from Tirumala.
TYPES OF DARSHAN AT TIRUMALA :
Types of Darshan:
- Sarva Darshan:
- The general, free darshan line for all devotees. Tokens for this darshan are often available at counters in Tirupati, requiring an Aadhaar card and a personal verification.
- Special Entry Darshan (Rs. 300 Darshan):
- A paid darshan that offers a shorter queue and fixed, pre-booked timings. It can be booked online through the TTD website or app and is open to everyone.
- Divya Darshan:
- A free darshan for those who walk to the temple via the Alipiri or Srivari Mettu footpaths. Devotees can collect a Divya Darshan token on the day of their walk before starting, which has its own reporting time and place.
- SRIVANI Darshan:
- This darshan is associated with donations to the SRIVANI Trust, offering a direct line with minimal queues and exclusive timings.
- Supatham:
- A specific darshan for pilgrims who are physically challenged, elderly, or have other special needs.
- VIP Break Darshan:
- A special darshan available to certain VIPs and for those who make large donations to the Srivani Trust. It provides the shortest queues, usually before general darshan.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS :
- Limited number of General Dormitory accommodation will be available for approximately 300 to 400 shrotas only, which shall be provided on first come first serve basis. Since this is a Holiday season, hence getting more accommodation is difficult.
- Rest of the shrotas shall have to make their stay arrangements on their own.
- People looking for personal rooms/hotels, shall also have to book their stays on their own.
- All are welcome for Katha and Prasad.
Our preferred travel agent for Car, Hotels & Flight/Train booking:
- Holiday Ideas - Mrs. Bindu Vandan Katira (For Car/Flight/Train)
- Tel: +91-9082990628. Email: bindu@holidayideas4u.com
- Car Booking: Mr. Mukesh Prajapati.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
- Tirumala has a humid subtropical climate, with dry winters. As the hill shrine is situated amidst the hills, the temperature will go below 10 degrees in winters.
PLACE OF INTEREST
Key places of interest in Tirumala Tirupati include the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala and other significant temples in Tirupati and nearby areas, such as the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple and Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple. Other attractions are natural sites like Talakona Waterfall and Silathoranam, historical sites like Chandragiri Fort, and scenic spots like Swami Pushkarini Lake.
TEMPLES
- SRI VENKATESWARA TEMPLE
- THE MAIN AND MOST SIGNIFICANT TEMPLE IN TIRUMALA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE TIRUPATI BALAJI TEMPLE.
- SRI PADMAVATHI AMMAVARI TEMPLE
- LOCATED IN ALAMELU MANGAPURAM, JUST 5 KM FROM TIRUPATI.
- SRI KAPILESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE
- A TEMPLE DEDICATED TO LORD SHIVA, KNOWN FOR ITS DRAVIDIAN ARCHITECTURE AND WATERFALL.
- SRI GOVINDARAJA SWAMY TEMPLE
- SRI BHU VARAHA SWAMY TEMPLE
- SRI KALYANA VENKATESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE
- LOCATED ABOUT 38 KM FROM TIRUPATI.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
- TALAKONA WATERFALL
- A SCENIC WATERFALL PERFECT FOR TREKKING AND NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY.
- SILATHORANAM
- A NATURALLY ARCH-SHAPED ROCK FORMATION.
- SWAMI PUSHKARINI LAKE:
- A HOLY LAKE IN TIRUMALA, CONSIDERED TO HAVE PURIFYING PROPERTIES.
- PAPAVINASANAM:
- A HOLY TANK AND WATERFALL.
- AKASA GANGA:
- A NATURAL SPRING WATERFALL.
- TIRUMALA DEER PARK RESERVE:
- A PARK WHERE YOU CAN SEE DEER.
HISTORICAL AND OTHER SITES
- CHANDRAGIRI FORT:
- A HISTORIC FORT AND PALACE COMPLEX LOCATED ABOUT 15 KM FROM TIRUPATI
- SRI VENKATESWARA ZOOLOGICAL PARK:
- TTD GARDENS:
- ISKCON TIRUPATI:
- A TEMPLE AND SPIRITUAL CENTER.
- SRIVARI SIKHARA DARSHANAM:
- OFFERS VIEWS OF THE MAIN TEMPLE FROM A HIGH POINT
CONTACT INFORMATION
- General Inquiry – ramkathasamiti.tirupati@gmail.com
