Tirumala. worth a visit?

gianni66

Since I've started to be interested in India travelling I'm very tempted to visit Tirumala, but in my previous two trips I've never had the chance to go.

I have been in Tamil Nadu and I've loved the temples scene there, and I had also a great time last year in places like Haridwar and Ujjain, with very few western tourists but a lot of Indian piligrims, I expect that Tirumala can be something similar.

I've searched a lot the forum for Tirumala, but still I've not a clear idea of what i could find... someone says it's a great and vibrant place, someone else that it's too crowded and in someway not so impressive as can seem... any direct experience?

Above all, is it worth a LONG train trip from the north?

And what about TIRUVANNAMALAI in Tamil Nadu? Another place which tempts me a lot...

Indizen

Tirumala has no temple "scene" and no architectural marvels to gawk at.
However it is one of the most revered shrines in India and going there is a matter of faith.
Its less of tourist interest and more of a pilgrimage.

Jorge Reverter

Last october 2007 I have visited Tirupati/Tirumala and to be frank I must say tht the visit was absolutely disappointing. There are loads of places much more interesting in Tamil Nadu.

Btw I loved Ujjain and Haridwar but not at all Tirumala.

Jorge

vonkla

We visited Tirupati and Tirumala just a year ago and we liked it. When we went up to Tirumala the deity was carried around the temple. Bystanders told us that we were lucky since this was a special occasion.

From Tirupati we made a bus tour with the APTDC to various temples in the region. Maybe a little to much for us as non hindu people, but still interesting especially the temple in Srikalahasti.

And indeed we hardly saw an western tourist.

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rangss

Here is my view on Tirumala

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freenote

Just a little view of Tirumala which i think is quite nice .If you are in the area ,Srikalahasti , as has been mentioned before , is well worth a visit . One fond memory of the area was that weeks later we were being stopped by people who were follically challenged , with the comment "We saw you at Tiramala" Our fame had spread .....

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iloveindia1234

If you want to visit tirumala/tirupathi then , you must have a lot of patience because it is not easy to see lord venkateshwara. You have to go to tirupathi , stay in a lodge (there are may out there) and you have to purchase a ticket for darshan where they will specify the time when you can enter the temple (remember for the tickets you have to be in the line at about 4 am in the morning depending on the crowd). You will not get the ticket for darshan the same day. it's better you buy the 250Rs ticket as you dont have to be in line for long to see the main idol and they will give you a free room on top of the hill because the timings for darshan on 250 Rs ticket is at 5AM next morning (For 250 Rs ticket i am not too sure they will give the free room if it is for a single person). Well the 50Rs ticket is like general entry and you have to stand in the line for long hours before you are let into the main temple. You can spend the day by climbimg the hill and reaching the top (You have to go around seven hills , it might take abt 5 hrs time, you can also take a bus up the hill if you dont wanna climb). I would prefer climbing because it's a wonderful experience.Then book a room on the top of the hill if you are on a 50Rs ticket or go look for your room if you are on a 250 Rs ticket and you can go to the temple as per your ticket timings, most probably next day morning. You have to be in the line for atleast 4 to 5 hrs depending on the crowd to get a glimpse of the main idol that is lord venkateshwara.
Well...it is just a matter of faith in god...not many foreigners i have seen in tirupathi though there were a few.

gianni66

Thanks to all for your replies, which confirm that IndiaMike is the best and quickest source of information about travelling in India available worldwide!

Definitively I can conclude that Tirumala would deserve a visit if already in that area, but not a long train journey from the north, as I should do to get there.

And the story of the crowds and endless lines (which I already knew) is also a good matter to skip it from my itinerary...

Maybe it will be for my next trip to South India!

Gianni

Jorge Reverter

gianni66,

I think you are absolutely right. I did a long train journey from Rajahmundry to Tirupati on the same day of the cyclons last end of October 2007, too long and big expectations for a very poor result.The only place i have enjoyed in the area was the village of Chandragiri with really impressive walls and some monuments at the outskirst, was probably the only fiasco in my 40 days journey in India.


Jorge

Rasika

You ask about both Tirupati and Tiruvannamalai.

I've been to both. Tirupati is fine if you get a cottage far fromthe madding crowds of the temple, ie if you are in the area and you are tied of staying in dirty hotels and the heat and all that. You will just have to make a sad face if they offer a cottage which is very far from the temple, but be pleased inside. It's nice being up in the hills and it's very green; there must be some nice walks to the temples nearby. The cottages are clean and well maintained, and I think one is expected to stay a week or so. Just the thing to escape the tourist crowd and chill out for a while.

Tiruvannamalai is great if you are a fan of Ramana Maharshi. It is a very well maintained ashram, and westerners get rooms which are a bit more posh than the other ones - and less spicy food, and from what I remember don't have to struggle with eating very wet sambar rice while sitting on the floor. There is the lovely walk around Arunachala hill, nice chanting, and visit to the Siva temple. I found it much more spiritual than Tirupati. My friend came all the way from California particularly to visit Tiruvannamalai and she thought it was worth it; I detoured from Hyderabad and it was worth it. A lot of westerners there.

Shaktipalooza

As has already been stated, the hike up the seven hills is well worth it. I don't remember the exact distance or time but remember very well that we were required to walk it barefoot.

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edwardseco

Tirupati was great. But, I had an infant on my backpack carrier. Its the Indian custom to fall all over babies! I told them I shouldn't go into the inner sanctums because I wasn't a Hindu. They responded, Sahib (the baby!)is a Hindu and must see and naturally the bearer must come. Its less what you see than the people you meet..

batistuta

The OP has concluded rightly. This place can be given a miss.

evilnyberg

i don't get it.

i really loved tirumala and can pretty much guarantee that the experience (albeit not as 'romantic' as many other temple experiences in india) is a totally unique one.

there's some more info in this thread - Accommodation in Tirupati

having said that, tiruvannamalai is a definite favourite of mine, and a completely different experience than tirumala.

i'm not sure travelling across india to visit a single place is ever really such a fantastic idea though, since each experience depends on such a huge amount of factors, large and small (like, say, what edwardseco pointed out about people v/s what you see)... i guess upping the ante on that one particular place can easily lead to disappointment... especially in india!

enjoy your journey, whatever you decide to do.

/a

mere999

Please let me know if there are any 3 to 5 star hotels in thirumala up the hill and how does one get a vip pass can we purchase it in chennai or bangalore.
an individual who is an actress would like to visit Sri balaji
appreciate your help
kind regards