Day 1
On 19th of July 2010 we went to Tirupati Balaji darshan by the private package tour from Bangalore.Since we heared from manys that during weekend its very rush we had chosen weekday to visit the Balaji.The total cost of the package was 850/person including darshan (balaji & tirumala both ), one Breakfast, one lunch & retuning back to Bangalore.For VIP darshan the ticket was Rs.300 more than the usual package. We were having one VIP Tickets for myself.It was one day trip. For those who are devotees one day is not sufficient to just have a look of lord venkatesha.
After lots of research we had booked Varsha travels for our visit.We picked up by the travels fellow by 7:30 pm from the madiwala junction & reached to Anand rao circle at 9:00 pm. After waiting for half an hr ,we were asked to change the bus which was again not the final bus for Tirupati(With luggage it was quite irritating but of no use as we had already paid the money)
Around 10:00 pm we changed the buses at KR Puram & Left for the jouney.We reached Tirumala at 4:00O'clock in the morning.We were given Half an hour time to had bath. The room was quite fine & clean.
At 4:30 am we left for Ranigata (the exact name i dont remmember)Railway station where we would suppose to take sudarshan ticket(Rs.50/-) for darshan.For tirupati ladoo's lover i must mention - one tickets include 2 laddoos per person.Since the package was including this tickets. The guide informed that the Rs.50 will be return back to us later.
We got time 10 O'clock for the darshan ,we were asked by the guide to cover the time gap we can go for kalahasti temple which is 40 Km from the station.Since it was not in package they collected 150 Rs. per person. After Reaching to the temple we were given 1 hrs to visit the whole campus.The temple was really nice & quite big.
Around 9:00 O'clock again we reach to the same guest house where our breakfast was ready.The breakfast was consist of Idli- Vada, Upma, tea which was ok taste wise.
The travel guide again requested us to change the buses as the AP govt. does not allow private buses to enter the Tirupati.
We left for Balaji darshan at 9:30 & reached at 10:30 am.Some people were left for donating their hairs while others were stand at the darshan queue.The Guide told us with in 2 hrs we will get the darsan then come back to bus stand where our bus was parked.
Surprisingly we came to know that there is no VIP Entry even though we paid Rs 300 more than usual. However the Temple provide option for parents of below 1 years children with Special entry.Thankfully with us one child was there we took the option & our rest of the family members stayed in the normal queue.
We enter the special gate at 11:00 am .Inside you will get a coupon of Rs.10 for Extra ladoo ,one person can buy only 4 coupon at a time.This gate lead us direct to the entry of Temple backside. around 12:45 pm we get the darshan & 1:00 we came back to our bus. Since no body was there, we planned to visit nearby places & shop for somthing. Everything was very high range we bought halka- phulka things for my family members.
Around 3:45 pm my family members & other fellow members came to bus.Since the time was very less the guide told us we had to cancel the tirumala darshan or else if they want VIP darshan we have to pay Rs.200 Extra.
The fellow members were so tired that no body were interested to go further. At the same guest house the lunch was serve which i thought was very bad by menu & taste both.It was merely rice dal/rasam & one curry (limited). We were so hungry that our stomach does not seem to be full.
While returning we had an argue with the guide about taking the extra money for VIP darshan & making fool of us. After 10 min. of talk he paid the money back to us on request that we should not disclose the same to our other fellow member.
We left Tirumala at 6:00 pm in the evening & reached Bangalore at 12:30 am. The overall Trip i felt was not as fruitful & its better to take your own car or KSRTC buses for you Trip.
After lots of research we had booked Varsha travels for our visit.We picked up by the travels fellow by 7:30 pm from the madiwala junction & reached to Anand rao circle at 9:00 pm. After waiting for half an hr ,we were asked to change the bus which was again not the final bus for Tirupati(With luggage it was quite irritating but of no use as we had already paid the money)
Around 10:00 pm we changed the buses at KR Puram & Left for the jouney.We reached Tirumala at 4:00O'clock in the morning.We were given Half an hour time to had bath. The room was quite fine & clean.
At 4:30 am we left for Ranigata (the exact name i dont remmember)Railway station where we would suppose to take sudarshan ticket(Rs.50/-) for darshan.For tirupati ladoo's lover i must mention - one tickets include 2 laddoos per person.Since the package was including this tickets. The guide informed that the Rs.50 will be return back to us later.
We got time 10 O'clock for the darshan ,we were asked by the guide to cover the time gap we can go for kalahasti temple which is 40 Km from the station.Since it was not in package they collected 150 Rs. per person. After Reaching to the temple we were given 1 hrs to visit the whole campus.The temple was really nice & quite big.
Around 9:00 O'clock again we reach to the same guest house where our breakfast was ready.The breakfast was consist of Idli- Vada, Upma, tea which was ok taste wise.
The travel guide again requested us to change the buses as the AP govt. does not allow private buses to enter the Tirupati.
We left for Balaji darshan at 9:30 & reached at 10:30 am.Some people were left for donating their hairs while others were stand at the darshan queue.The Guide told us with in 2 hrs we will get the darsan then come back to bus stand where our bus was parked.
Surprisingly we came to know that there is no VIP Entry even though we paid Rs 300 more than usual. However the Temple provide option for parents of below 1 years children with Special entry.Thankfully with us one child was there we took the option & our rest of the family members stayed in the normal queue.
We enter the special gate at 11:00 am .Inside you will get a coupon of Rs.10 for Extra ladoo ,one person can buy only 4 coupon at a time.This gate lead us direct to the entry of Temple backside. around 12:45 pm we get the darshan & 1:00 we came back to our bus. Since no body was there, we planned to visit nearby places & shop for somthing. Everything was very high range we bought halka- phulka things for my family members.
Around 3:45 pm my family members & other fellow members came to bus.Since the time was very less the guide told us we had to cancel the tirumala darshan or else if they want VIP darshan we have to pay Rs.200 Extra.
The fellow members were so tired that no body were interested to go further. At the same guest house the lunch was serve which i thought was very bad by menu & taste both.It was merely rice dal/rasam & one curry (limited). We were so hungry that our stomach does not seem to be full.
While returning we had an argue with the guide about taking the extra money for VIP darshan & making fool of us. After 10 min. of talk he paid the money back to us on request that we should not disclose the same to our other fellow member.
We left Tirumala at 6:00 pm in the evening & reached Bangalore at 12:30 am. The overall Trip i felt was not as fruitful & its better to take your own car or KSRTC buses for you Trip.
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