Tirupati in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is sometimes referred to as, “The Vatican of the East”. This epithet is not without reason. Tirupati and more specifically Tirumala, one of the seven hills near Tirupati is home to one of the richest temples in the world, Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Vaari Temple, popularly known as Tirumala Balaji temple or Tirupati Balaji temple. The temple sees annual footfalls in the region of 30 to 40 million and is one of the most sacred and popular pilgrim destinations in India. The temple is managed by a trust called Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams ( TTD ) Tirupati is accessible from all over India by air, rail, and road. Tirupati is the most visited Hindu temple in India and is one of the iconic temples along with the likes of the Somnath temple, Srirangam temple, Meenakshi temple, Shrinathji Temple, temples of Dwarka and Varanasi, etc.. In this Tirupati travel blog, we focus on how one can get from Bangalore to Tirupati for a perfect darshan of the Lord Balaji.
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Best Way to Travel from Bangalore to Tirupati for Tirupati Balaji Darshan
Tirupati has an airport and also a railway station. So there are options for reaching Tirupati by air or rail from different parts of India. Travelling by road to Tirupati from across India is also possible. The nearest major urban centres near Tirupati are Chennai and Bangalore. While Tirupati is at a distance of about 133 kilometres from Chennai, from Bangalore to Tirupati distance is about 252 kilometres.
Travelling From Bangalore To Tirupati By Road
The most preferred mode of travelling from Bangalore to Tirupati is by road. One can choose to drive in your own car or hire a cab. The other option is to use public transport services. Frequent buses ply to Tirupati. Buses are run by KSRTC as well APSRTC, apart from private bus operators.
Bangalore Tirupati Package Tours
Bangalore to Tirupati package tours is very convenient and hassle-free. These packages usually include the Bangalore to Tirupati bus ticket fare, Tirupati darshan ticket, two Tirupati Laddus per ticket, meals, and also cover some places to visit in Tirupati.
The tour packages that offer Balaji darshan from Bangalore are run by both the Government and private tour operators. What is covered depends on the package that one chooses. There are packages that cover just the Balaji darshan and bring you back to Bangalore while there are others that cover some places near Tirupati as well and are of a longer duration. Most of the tour packages have similar Tirupati itineraries.
KSTDC Bangalore – Tirupati Tour Package
We have visited Tirupati many times availing the KSTDC Tirupati tour package from Bangalore and have found it reliable and convenient. The package includes transport in Volvo Airconditioned bus which leaves around 8.30 PM from Bangalore reaching Tirupati at around 3.30 AM. A couple of hours is given for freshening up at a decent hotel before you are taken for morning darshan of Sri Padmavathi at Alamelu Mangapura around 5.30 – 6.00 AM. This is followed by an early breakfast at one of the decent restaurants in Tirupati. At around 7.00 AM you board the Government Bus at the Alipiri Transit Bus stand for Tirumala. Special Darshan is between 8.00 AM to 11.30 AM, usually, the darshan takes between 2-3 hours. After this there some time is given for shopping at the local Tirumala market and then you are taken for lunch in Tirupati. After lunch, you board the bus for the return journey to Bangalore and reach by around 8.30 PM. There is a guide throughout the trip who curates the trip and ensures everything is taken care of. You are also given two Tirupati Laddus per ticket and can also request for more if needed which the guide usually arranges at an extra cost.
There is also another package tour offered by KSTDC that is a 3 days and 2 nights tour, this includes Srikalahasti in addition to Tirumala and Tirupati. One can book the KSTDC tour packages here.
Other Bangalore – Tirupati Tour Packages
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation ( APSRTC ) also offers package tours to Tirupati from Bangalore on the above lines. In addition, there are many private bus operators who run similar package tours. Notable among then are Sugama Travels and Greenline Travels.
Bangalore To Tirupati By Air
One can also fly to Tirupati and then proceed to Tirumala for the darshan of Lord Balaji. There is an airport at Tirupati near Renigunta which is now upgraded to international status. There are flights from and to places like Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc., from here. Indigo has a direct flight from Bangalore to Tirupati while Spicejet has flights via Hyderabad and takes more time because of stopover at Hyderabad. Tirupati International Airport is the nearest airport to Tirupati. It is at a distance of about 40 kilometres from Tirumala.
Bangalore To Tirupati By Rail
One can also travel from Bangalore to Tirupati by train, though the frequency is not much. There are trains. When we talk about Bangalore Tirupati train, we are referring to reaching Renigunta Junction which is just about 10 kilometres from Tirupati. Duronto trains Bangalore to Tirupati are convenient, these run from Yeshwantpur Junction to Howrah Junction and stop for 10 minutes at Renigunta junction. For more information about Bangalore to Tirupati, trains refer to the official railway’s website IRCTC.
Reaching Tirumala From Tirupati
It may be noted that only Government buses are allowed to Tirumala. However one can travel by own car or a hired cab. APSRTC has frequent buses that ply from Tirupati to Tirumala and these can be boarded from the Railway station, Sri Padmavathi Bus Station, RTC Central Bus Station, and the Balaji Link Bus station.
The road from Tirupati to Tirumala is beautifully laid out with asphalt and weaves its way through Ghats as it climbs up the Sapthagiri hills. There are different roads for uphill and downhill travel. The road uphill is about 17.8 kilometres while the road downhill is about 18 kilometres.
It may be noted that the Tirupati Thirumala ghat road is usually closed between 12.00 midnight to 3.00 AM.
Trekking From Tirupati To Tirumala
Many devotees prefer to walk / hike from Tirupati to Tirumala for the darshan of the Lord. Some do it for the experience, some do it as a penance, while some do it as a religious observance. There are two well-laid paths that pilgrims can follow to reach Tirumala. Based on fitness levels and preferences one can decide on which path to take.
One path starts from Alipiri and covers a distance of about 7.80 kilometres which on average takes about 3 hours to reach Tirumala. The other path starts with Srivarimettu and covers a distance of 2.10 kilometres and takes about 2 hours. The path from Srivarimettu involves climbing steep steps and hence should be taken by those with adequate physical fitness only.
All facilities like drinking water, restrooms, food, etc., are provided along both routes. A darshan token for preferential darshan is also given to the trekkers on both the paths. If you are having baggage, you can deposit the same at counters at the start of the trek which will be made available to you at counters in Tirumala when you reach there,
Other Places to Visit Near Tirupati Other Than Venkateshwara Temple
There are many other temples and sights one can visit in and around Tirupati. There are local tours conducted by the Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation ( APSTDC ) which covers local temples. Buses conducting these tours depart every 2 hours from 7.00 AM to 1.00 PM from the Srinivasam Complex which is located opposite the Central Bus Station of Tirupati. The temples covered in this tour are:
- Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanoor
- Sri Govindraja Swamyvari Temple in Tirupati
- Sri Kalyana Venkatewara Swamyvari Temple in Srinivasa Mangapuram
- Sri Kapileswaraswamyvari Temple in Kapilatheertham Tirupati
- Sri Agastheeshwara Swamyvaari Temple in Thondawada
Tours that cover temples in the region around Tirupati are also available and these depart at 9.00 AM and 11.00 AM. The temples that are covered in this tour are:
- Sri Prasanna Venateshwaraswamyvaari Temple in Appalayagunta
- Sri Venugopalaswamyvaari Temple in Karvettingagaram
- Sri Pallikondeshwara Swamyvaari Temple in Surutupalli
- Sri Kalyanavenkateshwaraswamyvaari Temple in Narayanavaram
- Sri Vedanarayanaswamyvaari Temple in Nagalapuram
- Sri Kasivisweswaraswamyvaari Temple in Bugga
- Sri Kariya Manikya Swamyvaari Temple in Nagari
Temples In Tirumala
- The main temple is Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple
- Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swami Temple
- Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple
Temples in Tirupati
- Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanoor
- Sri Kodandaramaswamy Temple
- Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple
- Srivari Padalmandapam Temple
- Sri Lakshminarayana Swamy Temple
- Sri Kapliswaraswamy Temple
- Sri Vinayakaswamy Temple
Other Unique Places To Visit In And Around Tirupati
- Rock Garden Tirupati which has a unique rock formation in the form a natural arch that is a protected area
- Chandragiri Fort which is an 11th-century fort and palace built by the Yadava kings
- Srikalahasti, a town known for its ancient Shiva temple and the art of Kalamkari
Tirupati Map
Bangalore to Tirupati Road Map
Tourist Map of Tirupati
Best Time To Visit Tirupati
If you are travelling to Tirupati for Balaji darshan, any time would be the best time. However summers would be unbearably hot in Tirupati and hence winters are best to travel there, the period from September to February would be ideal to visit Tirupati. The other thing to bear in mind is that Tirupati would absolutely be jampacked on festival days and other auspicious days, including of course during the famous Brahmostavam.
Tirupati Weather
Tirupati is known for its hot and humid summers. Visiting the place during summers can be an ordeal with the temperature at Tirupati soaring past 40 degrees centigrade. Winters are pleasant and the best time to visit as temperatures hover between 15 to 28 degrees centigrade.
Where To Stay In Tirupati
When it comes to accommodation, there are many options available both in Tirupati as well as Tirumala. There are different categories of accommodation available at nominal rates that are managed by TTD including free accommodation in Choultries. We stayed at The Bhimas Residency in Tirupati.
There are many hotels in Tirupati, though there are no private hotels in Tirumala. Budget stays, hotels by the hour, and luxury hotels can be booked in Tirupati. You can do your Tirupati hotel booking right here through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and avail handsome discounts!
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Important Information
The temple of Lord Balaji in Tirumala and other temples and facilities are very well managed and leverage the use of information technology to effectively manage the logistic of the millions of visitors who throng it. Most of the services can be booked online and these include Tirupati darshan online booking, accommodation booking at the TTD managed cottages, booking for Tirupati darshan including different Sevas. For online booking check out TTD.
Getting To Tirupati
If Lord Balaji is calling you and you are planning a trip to Tirupati, you can book a cheap flight right here through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline. If you prefer travelling by road to Tirupati from Bangalore then you can travel there by self-drive car or cab or bus.
There is more to see in and around Tirupati than the famous Balaji temple. You can book your Tirupati tour package, right here. So go ahead and plan your rendezvous with Lord Balaji and book the most popular package tours to Tirupati that cover the must-see places in and around Tirupati.
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From Bangalore To Tirupati – FAQ
How can I reach Tirupati from Bangalore?
One can reach Tirupati from Bangalore by rail, road, or air, the most convenient and preferred mode of travel is by road.
Which are the buses that go to Tirupati from Bangalore?
KSRTC( Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ), APSRTC( Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation ), and private buses ply between Bangalore and Tirupati.
Is there any train from Bangalore to Tirupati?
There are trains available from Bangalore to Tirupati, do check the IRCTC site for schedules and fares.
What is the train fare from Bangalore to Tirupati?
Fares depend on the class and nature of the train, check the IRCTC site for details.
Which airport is near to Tirupati?
Tirupati International Airport is about 40 kilometres from Tirumala.
How long does it take from Bangalore to Tirupati?
It takes about 5 to 6 hours to reach Tirupati from Bangalore by rail or road. Direct flights from Bangalore to Tirupati take about an hour.
What is the distance from Tirupati to Bangalore?
Bangalore Tirupati distance is about 252 kilometres.
How is the road from Bangalore to Tirupati?
The roads from Bangalore to Tirupati are very good and excellent for driving.
Should one stay in Tirupati hotels or stay in Tirumala?
There are plenty of accommodations in Tirupati including hotels and Choultry and one can stay in any of these. However, if your primary aim is Tirupati Balaji darshan, you may prefer to stay in Tirumala itself which also has many accommodation options.
How can Tirupati Darshan booking be done?
Booking Tirupati darshan online is very easy and convenient at the temple’s official website.
What are the Tirupati Darshan timings?
The temple is open for 18 to 20 hours depending on the day of the week, refer to the official temple website for exact timings. If you have done online booking, you need to follow the time slot allotted to you.
We hope you liked our Tirupati blog post and find the information useful to plan your own trip from Bangalore to Tirupati. Do let us know your thoughts through the comments section.
Tirupati-Tirumala photos courtesy tirumala.org.
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Tirupati was almost like a second home to me, what with the deity being our family deity. We have visited several times from the various cities we lived in. Later it was part of my sales territory in my corporate career. Most recently we visited a couple of years ago but this time skipped the temple, choosing instead to visit the other sights. Had a great time. Comprehensive post, Sandy. We took the train and it was amazing.
Thoroughly enjoyed this post buddy, it has all the details one needs to go to Tirupati and I really needed this as mother in law has expressed a desire to go to Tirupati so will plan once the times improve
I love how your post and has each and every minutest of details for visiting tirupati
Thank you for sharing this information. I have heard a lot of jokes of travelling to Tirupati Balaji rather than entering Bangalore city from Airport and after reading your post, I came to know that those stories are actually true.
My friends family plan to visit Tirupati after lockdown and situation gets ok.
This post will help them a lot.
Thank you for always sharing very insightful details about travel, I know my frds who are willing to travel soon to tirupathi.
Thats a very informative and helpful post for travelers who wants go travel to thirupathi.
Lovely place to visit. Last year I visited Bangalore for some work, but didn’t get time to visit the Tirupati Temple. But next time I will surely do.