₹300 Special Entry Darshan: how to book it, when tickets release, and what to carry
The paid Special Entry Darshan is the fastest way through Tirumala for a family with fixed dates. It is booked only on the official TTD portal. Weekend dates go in minutes, and reporting is slot-strict.
If your travel dates are fixed, the Special Entry Darshan (often called Seeghra Darshan) is worth booking. It costs ₹300 per person and includes one laddu. You get a reporting slot at Tirumala and usually wait one to two hours. The free queue can take much longer.
Before you start
- Create an account on the official TTD portal with your mobile number, and keep the login ready.
- Have every pilgrim’s name, age, gender and Aadhaar number on hand. The booking asks for each person.
- Decide your date and a preferred slot. Slots run through the day; early morning slots suit families who want to be back in Tirupati by lunch.
- Keep a payment method ready that works quickly (UPI is fastest).
Release timing
Tickets for a given date are released about 60 days in advance. Release happens on a fixed day and time announced by TTD, usually at 10 AM. The practical advice from guests who have done it:
- Log in 15 minutes before the release time.
- Have the passenger details typed into a note so you can paste them.
- Choose the date and slot as soon as the calendar opens, then pay immediately.
- Weekend, long-weekend and festival slots are usually gone in under five minutes. Weekday slots last longer.
If you miss the release, keep checking; unpaid bookings drop back into the pool occasionally.
Booking steps
- Open the official portal and sign in.
- Choose Special Entry Darshan from the services list.
- Pick the date and the reporting slot.
- Enter each pilgrim’s details exactly as on their Aadhaar. Children under 12 are added with age proof and are free.
- Pay ₹300 per adult. The receipt and ticket PDF arrive on the portal; download it and save it on your phone.
On the day
- Report at the ATC car parking area at Tirumala at the time on your ticket, with the ticket (printed or on the phone) and original Aadhaar for every adult.
- Since 16 March 2026 reporting is slot-strict. Arriving late means the ticket is not honoured.
- From Aakarsh Inn, allow about an hour to reach Tirumala by car and up to ninety minutes by bus at busy times, plus time to park or walk from the bus stand to the reporting point.
- Dress code applies inside the temple: traditional wear for men and women. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside and are deposited at counters.
Rules worth knowing
- Non-refundable. No cancellation, no date change.
- Non-transferable. The names on the ticket must match the Aadhaar cards shown.
- One laddu per ticket is included; more can be bought at the laddu counters with the ticket.
- TTD can revise timings during Brahmotsavam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and other festivals. Check the portal before you travel.
Which option suits which family
| Situation | Better option |
|---|---|
| Fixed dates, booking two months ahead, want a predictable morning | ₹300 Special Entry Darshan |
| Flexible dates or booking late | Free SSD token collected in Tirupati the day before |
| Large group with elders who cannot stand long | Special Entry, and consider TTD’s assistance for senior citizens |
| Walking up from Alipiri as a vow | Divya Darshan arrangements for footpath pilgrims |
Tell us your dates when you book the room and we will remind you when the Special Entry release for those dates is due.
Questions guests ask
Where do I book the ₹300 darshan ticket?
Only on the official Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in). TTD does not authorise agents, apps or websites to sell darshan tickets. Anyone offering guaranteed ₹300 tickets for a fee is not official.
How far ahead are tickets released?
The quota opens roughly 60 days ahead, typically at 10 AM on release day. Weekend and festival dates are gone within minutes, so log in before the release time with your details ready.
Can I cancel or change the date?
No. Special Entry Darshan tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, and since March 2026 reporting is slot-strict. If you miss your slot you lose the ticket.
Do children pay?
Children below 12 years enter free with valid age proof. They must be included on the booking.
What is the reporting point?
The ticket names a reporting time. Pilgrims report at the ATC car parking area at Tirumala with the ticket and the original Aadhaar for each adult.
Photographs of places on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each frame and used under the Creative Commons BY-SA licence. Every photograph of the hotel itself was taken here.