Walking up to Tirumala from Alipiri: steps, time, luggage and what to expect
The Alipiri Mettu footpath is 3,550 steps and about 12 km. Most pilgrims take three to four hours. This is what the climb is like, how the free luggage transfer works, and how to get to the start from Tiruchanoor Road.
Many families walk up as a vow. Others do it as a half-day climb. The Alipiri Mettu path starts at the foot of the hills on the Tirupati side, goes up past the Gali Gopuram and ends near the temple town. Much of what follows comes from guests who have walked it from the hotel.
The path in numbers
| Section | Steps | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Alipiri to Gali Gopuram | About 2,083 steps | The steepest continuous climb; most walkers take 75 to 90 minutes |
| Gali Gopuram to Mokala Parvatham | Mostly level road with some steps | The easiest stretch, along the hill road |
| Mokala Parvatham to the top | About 640 steep steps starting around step 2,910 | Short but demanding; take it slowly |
| Total | 3,550 steps, roughly 12 km | 3 to 4 hours for most; 5 hours with elders or children |
Getting to the start from the hotel
- Auto or car: Alipiri Mettu is about 14 km from Tiruchanoor Road, 25 minutes in normal traffic. Ask for “Alipiri Mettu” rather than the Alipiri bus stand.
- Free TTD bus: buses run from Tirupati Railway Station and the Central Bus Station to Alipiri Mettu at regular intervals through the day. From the hotel, either station is a ten-minute auto ride.
- If you are driving up later in a car, note that vehicles use a different road through the Alipiri check point; the footpath is for pedestrians only.
Luggage and footwear
At the start of the steps TTD runs a free luggage transfer. You hand over bags and footwear, receive a receipt, and collect them at the counter at Tirumala. Carry only a small bag on the climb with water, a snack, tissues and any medicines.
What to carry and wear
- Comfortable clothes you can climb in, and a change of traditional clothes for the temple in the bag you send up.
- Water bottle. Taps are available along the way, but carry your own for the steep first hour.
- A light snack; small shops sell tea, coffee, fruit and biscuits at intervals.
- A cap or scarf for the sun on the open stretches, and a light layer for the early morning, which is cooler on the hill.
- Aadhaar originals for adults if you are collecting Divya Darshan tokens.
Divya Darshan for footpath pilgrims
Pilgrims who walk up are eligible for Divya Darshan, a separate darshan queue for footpath walkers. Tokens are issued along the path; the current issue point and hours are set by TTD and change from time to time, so ask at the start of the steps or at the front desk the evening before.
Footpath hours and safety
- The path is well lit and patrolled, and busy from before dawn on most days.
- During the wildlife breeding season (roughly August and September) and on certain festival days, TTD limits the hours the footpath is open. Recent notices have restricted night walking. Check the current rule before you plan a midnight start.
- Rest at the shelters, not on the steps. Keep children close on the steep stretches. If anyone feels unwell, stop; there are medical points on the route.
A sensible plan from Aakarsh Inn
- Sleep early. Eat something light and leave the hotel by 4 AM to reach Alipiri by 4:30.
- Send the bags up, start the climb, and take the first hour slowly.
- Reach the top mid-morning, collect the bags, change, and go for darshan.
- Return to Tirupati by bus in the afternoon and rest. The bus down takes about an hour.
Footpath timings, token rules and restrictions change with TTD notices. The official source is tirumala.org. The desk has the day’s notice.
Questions guests ask
How long does the Alipiri footpath take?
Three to four hours for most people. The first stretch up to the Gali Gopuram is the steepest and takes about an hour and a quarter; the middle section is gentler; the last climb at Mokala Parvatham is steep again.
Can I send my luggage up separately?
Yes. TTD runs a free luggage service from the start of the steps at Alipiri. You hand in bags and footwear, get a receipt, and collect them at Tirumala.
How do I get from Tiruchanoor Road to Alipiri?
Alipiri Mettu is about 14 km from Aakarsh Inn, 25 minutes by auto or car. Free TTD buses also run from the railway station and the Central Bus Station to Alipiri Mettu through the day.
Is the footpath open all night?
Not always. TTD restricts footpath hours during the wildlife breeding season and on some festival days. Ask the front desk the evening before or check the TTD notice.
Is there food and water on the way?
Yes. Small shops and water taps are spaced along the path, and there are rest shelters. Carry some water and a light snack anyway, especially with children.
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.