Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) operates the online darshan-booking system at ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in (the secure portal) and tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in (the legacy mirror). Five darshan tiers are offered: free Sarvadarshan (no online booking, arrival-based queue), ₹300 Special Entry Darshan (SED), ₹500 Special Entry Darshan (includes one laddu), ₹1,000 Sushubha Darshan, and ₹10,000 VIP Break Darshan. Tickets are released in monthly batches roughly two to three months before the darshan date; the next month’s slots typically open at 10:00 AM on a TTD-announced date. A group booking includes up to six adults; children below twelve enter free with age proof.
Step-by-step online booking
- 1. Register an account. Visit ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in, click “Sign In/Register”, and create an account with a mobile number, email and password. OTP verification on the mobile is required.
- 2. Wait for the quota release date. TTD announces the release schedule on its website and X (Twitter) feed in the last week of the preceding month. For July darshan slots, the booking typically opens in the last week of April.
- 3. Log in at exactly the release time. The portal becomes severely loaded at 10:00 AM on release days. Login and navigate to “Darshan Tickets” within the first five minutes; popular slots fill within thirty.
- 4. Select date, time and number of pilgrims. The calendar shows availability colour-coded; pick the date, the available 30-minute slot, and add up to six adults including yourself. Children below twelve are added separately with proof of age.
- 5. Enter each pilgrim’s name and Aadhaar/passport details exactly as they appear on the ID. A single mismatch at the entry point causes denial; the temple staff cross-check name and ID number against the booking.
- 6. Pay online. Net banking, debit/credit card and UPI are accepted; payment must complete within the time window or the slot releases. Confirmation arrives by email and SMS with a QR-coded e-ticket.
- 7. Download and print, or save the QR on your phone. Carry the printed ticket and the original government photo ID of each pilgrim listed.
Choosing the right darshan tier
- Sarvadarshan (free): walk-in only at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex. Wait times: 4–18 hours depending on day and crowd. Suitable for pilgrims with no time constraints or strong preference for the traditional waiting experience. No booking; arrive, take a token, queue.
- ₹300 SED: three to five hour wait on weekdays, longer on weekends and festivals. The most popular paid tier; books out fastest after each release.
- ₹500 SED: two to four hour wait. Includes one laddu free. Slightly easier to book at the release moment because of higher inventory.
- ₹1,000 Sushubha: one to three hour wait, includes a Suprabhata seva ticket in some packages.
- ₹10,000 VIP Break Darshan: twenty- to forty-minute total time including darshan; one or two release slots per day, typically at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Books out within minutes.
Documents and dress code
Indian pilgrims: original Aadhaar Card (mandatory), driving licence, voter ID, or PAN. NRIs and foreigners: passport. The name on the ID must match the booking exactly. Dress code (enforced at the inner queue): for men, dhoti or pyjama with shirt; jeans, shorts and Bermudas are not permitted in the inner darshan. For women, saree or salwar-kameez; jeans, leggings, sleeveless tops, ripped denim are not permitted. The dress code is enforced at the Vaikuntham Queue Complex and at the SED gate; non-compliant pilgrims are turned back to the cloakroom for a change.
Quota release schedule
TTD splits the monthly quota across three release batches: the SED batch on one announced day, the Arjitha Seva batch (Kalyanotsavam, Suprabhata, Archana, Brahmotsavam, etc.) on a second, and the accommodation batch on a third. Each batch opens at 10:00 AM. The TTD press release ten days before each release lists the exact dates. The release pattern in 2026 has been: SED on the 12th of the preceding month, Sevas on the 18th, and Rooms on the 20th, though small adjustments occur.
After the booking: what to do on darshan day
- Reach Tirumala the night before, or take a 4:00 AM bus from Tirupati if same-day.
- Eat a light meal before reporting; the queue duration after entry is unpredictable.
- Deposit phones, cameras, large bags, watches and metallic items at the cloakroom; the temple does not allow these in the inner darshan.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before the slot at the SED entrance for biometric and ticket verification. The biometric registration uses a fingerprint scan at the queue entry.
- Carry only the photo ID, the printed ticket, a small water bottle, and a handkerchief.
- After darshan, collect the laddu prasadam at the counter outside (for ₹500 and above tickets) or buy laddus at the Annaprasadam complex.
Practical tips for the release moment
For what it’s worth, the single most effective practical step on a TTD release day is being logged-in five minutes before the release time on a stable broadband connection, with the pilgrim names, IDs and contact details already saved in the profile. The portal slows from 10:01 AM as crores of users hit it simultaneously; pilgrims who try to compose their party from scratch usually find the popular slots gone before they submit. Pre-typed details, a one-click family selection, and an instant UPI payment together save the slot. Mobile data is unreliable for this purpose; use wired or fixed-line broadband.
Common questions
What if the slot I want is sold out?
Three options. First, wait for cancellations; TTD releases cancelled slots back into the system within 24 hours, and refreshing the calendar through the day sometimes catches one. Second, opt for the free Sarvadarshan queue, which is always open. Third, choose a less popular day; weekdays in the off-festival months (May–June, September outside Brahmotsavam) typically have slots available even within the booking window.
Can I change a name after booking?
No. The TTD does not permit name changes on a confirmed booking. If a pilgrim cannot attend, the booking lapses; refunds are not given. The remaining group members in the same booking can still attend with their own original IDs. Plan the names carefully before submitting payment.
Are there same-day darshan tickets?
TTD sells “Current Booking” tickets at counters at Tirupati and Tirumala on the day of darshan, subject to availability. These are not bookable online; you queue at the counter. Availability is unreliable on weekends and festival days and reasonable on quiet weekdays. The free Sarvadarshan is the dependable same-day option.
One limitation worth noting
The TTD’s booking interface and rules change occasionally; ticket categories have been renamed and re-priced at intervals in the past decade. The figures and process here are as of the 2026 calendar. For any specific date and the exact current release schedule, the official TTD portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in) and the TTD’s verified X handle are the authoritative sources.
The TTD official website hosts the darshan and accommodation booking; the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple Wikipedia entry covers the temple’s history.
