The Rs.300 Special Entry Darshan (also called Seeghra Darshan) is TTD’s paid quick-darshan ticket at Tirumala, booked online on tirumala.org up to 90 days in advance. It costs Rs.300 per person, routes you through a direct line that is far shorter than free Sarva Darshan, and assigns a fixed reporting time, commonly 10:00 AM or 3:00 PM. Once you take this darshan you can re-book the Rs.300 slot only after 90 days. This article walks through the booking flow, what you need, the reporting procedure, and the common pitfalls.
What the Rs.300 ticket gets you
For Rs.300 per head, you get a confirmed darshan slot with a reporting time, entry through the New ATC complex direct line, and the standard laddu prasadam entitlement at the exit. It is the most popular paid option because it removes the open-ended uncertainty of the free queue without the cost of a seva ticket. The line still has a wait, often a couple of hours during busy periods, but it is bounded rather than the all-day gamble of Sarva Darshan.
The 90-day advance booking window
TTD releases the Rs.300 quota 90 days ahead on a rolling basis through tirumala.org and the AP government booking portal. Slots for popular dates (weekends, festivals, school holidays) are taken within minutes of release, so the practical advice is to book the moment your target date opens. After you use one Rs.300 darshan, the system blocks you from booking another Rs.300 slot for 90 days, a rule TTD enforces to spread the quota across more devotees.
Step-by-step online booking
- Create or log in to your account on tirumala.org (or ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in).
- Open the “Special Entry Darshan Rs.300” booking under online services.
- Pick your darshan date and an available reporting time slot.
- Add each pilgrim with name, age, gender, and a government photo ID number.
- Pay Rs.300 per person by card, net banking, or UPI.
- Download and print the ticket, or save the QR for the gate.
Reporting on the day
Reach the reporting point at the time printed on your ticket; commonly slots open at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, though TTD also runs other windows depending on the day. Carry the original of the photo ID you booked with, because it is verified against the ticket. Late arrivals risk losing the slot. The Rs.300 line then takes you through the queue compartments and into the sanctum for darshan, after which you collect laddu prasadam at the exit counters.
For what it’s worth, the early 10:00 AM slot tends to clear faster than the afternoon one, since the afternoon line absorbs the day’s accumulated crowd; if you have a choice at booking, the morning slot is the smoother pick.
Current booking counters if online is full
When the online quota is exhausted, TTD opens limited Rs.300 current-booking counters and sells advance tickets through select post offices and the Srinivasam complex in Tirupati. Availability at these physical counters is not guaranteed, especially on heavy days, and TTD sometimes suspends Seeghra Darshan entirely on the busiest festival dates. The online route remains the most reliable.
Common questions
How much does the Rs.300 darshan actually cost?
The darshan ticket is Rs.300 per person. Laddu prasadam is sold separately at a nominal price at the exit. There are no other official charges. Avoid third-party sites or agents that mark up the ticket; book directly on tirumala.org or the AP government portal so you pay only the genuine Rs.300.
Why can’t I book again right away?
TTD applies a 90-day cooldown after each Rs.300 darshan tied to your ID, so the quota reaches more devotees. If you need to visit again sooner, you can use free Sarva Darshan in the interim, which has no such restriction, or book a different darshan or seva category that the rule does not cover.
What ID do I need to carry?
Carry the original of the government photo ID whose number you entered while booking, for each pilgrim. Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or driving licence are commonly accepted. TTD staff match the ID to the ticket at the reporting point, and a mismatch can mean denial of entry, so book with the exact ID each person will carry.
Can I get a refund if I miss my slot?
TTD’s refund and rescheduling rules for darshan tickets are limited and change from time to time. As a rule, a missed reporting time means a forfeited slot. Check the cancellation policy shown during booking on tirumala.org before you pay, and reach the reporting point with a buffer so traffic on the ghat road does not cost you the darshan.
A limitation worth noting
One limitation worth noting: the Rs.300 price, the reporting-slot timings, and the 90-day rule are all set by the TTD board and have been revised before, and Seeghra Darshan can be suspended on peak days. The figures here reflect the current published policy, but verify the live price, available slots, and any date-specific suspension on tirumala.org at booking time rather than assuming they are fixed.
References: TTD Special Entry Darshan, TTD booking portal, TTD news bulletins.
