SSD tokens in Tirupati: where to get free Slotted Sarva Darshan tokens, timings and documents
Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokens are free and issued only in person in Tirupati city. The slot on the token is the time you enter the queue at Tirumala. The nearest counters to Tiruchanoor Road are Srinivasam and Vishnu Nivasam, about 3 km away.
Sarva Darshan is the free darshan at Tirumala. Without a token you join the open queue and can wait anywhere from four to twenty-four hours depending on the day. A Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) token gives you a fixed reporting time at the Vaikuntam Queue Complex instead, so the rest of the day can be planned.
This page covers where the tokens are issued in Tirupati, what to carry, and how to plan the day from the hotel.
What an SSD token is
- It is free. TTD issues roughly 10,000 to 15,000 tokens a day across the Tirupati counters, more during major festivals.
- It names a date and a time slot. You report to the Vaikuntam Queue Complex at Tirumala at that slot and enter the darshan line from there.
- One token covers one person. Children under 12 enter with their parents without a token.
- Each token comes with one free laddu.
- Tokens are for the next day’s darshan in most periods, so you collect them the day before you go up the hill.
Where the counters are
| Counter | Where | From Aakarsh Inn |
|---|---|---|
| Srinivasam Complex | Opposite the APSRTC Central Bus Station | About 3 km, 10 min |
| Vishnu Nivasam | Opposite Tirupati Railway Station | About 3 km, 10 min |
| Bhudevi Complex | Beside the Alipiri bus stand, at the foot of the hill | About 14 km, 25 min |
| Govindaraja Satram (backup) | Behind the railway station, opened during heavy rush | About 3.5 km |
Srinivasam and Vishnu Nivasam are a short auto ride from the hotel and are the counters most of our guests use.
Timings
Counter opening times change with the season and the crowd, which is why no two websites agree on them. Recent notices have had counters issuing tokens in the very early hours, and on weekends and holidays the queue forms the previous evening. Any time we print here may be wrong next month, so:
- Ask the front desk the evening before; we check the day’s TTD notice.
- Call the TTD helpline on 155257, or check the announcements on the official TTD portal.
- On weekends, long holidays and festival days, go early. The quota finishes quickly.
What to carry
- Original Aadhaar card for every adult. A photocopy or a photo on the phone is not accepted for the token.
- Everyone who needs a token, standing in the line together. Tokens are issued after a photograph of each person, so one family member cannot collect for the rest.
- Water and something to eat if you expect a wait, especially with children or elders.
Days and periods with no tokens
- Wednesdays: no SSD tokens are issued for Thursday darshan. Thursday darshan is still possible through the open Sarva Darshan queue, but expect a long wait.
- Vaikuntha Ekadasi and the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan days: SSD is suspended and replaced by festival-specific arrangements.
- Brahmotsavam: the quota is usually increased and the timings shift. Check the notice.
Planning your day from the hotel
A typical two-night plan for a family arriving by train:
- Day 1, afternoon: check in, rest, then visit Tiruchanur temple (2 km) in the evening.
- Day 1, evening or night: go to Srinivasam or Vishnu Nivasam for tokens, as per that day’s timing. Counter hours move, so check the TTD helpline on 155257 or tirumala.org for the expected opening before you set out.
- Day 2, early morning: APSRTC bus from the Central Bus Station to Tirumala, report at your slot, darshan, laddu, and back to the hotel by afternoon.
If you would rather not queue for tokens at all, the ₹300 Special Entry Darshan is booked online about two months ahead and gives you a reporting slot directly. See our guide to booking it.
The alternative: Sarva Darshan without a token
You can still go up and join the open queue at any time. It is how most pilgrims did it for decades. The wait depends entirely on the crowd, so it suits people with flexible time and no small children. TTD publishes the approximate waiting time daily on its news pages.
Timings, quotas and counter locations change with TTD notices. The official sources are tirumala.org and the TTD helpline. We update this page every quarter, and the desk has the current day’s notice.
Questions guests ask
Can I book SSD tokens online?
No. Slotted Sarva Darshan tokens are issued only at the physical counters in Tirupati. Anyone offering them online or for a fee is not authorised. The only online darshan ticket is the ₹300 Special Entry Darshan on the official TTD portal.
Which counters issue SSD tokens?
Srinivasam Complex opposite the Central Bus Station, Vishnu Nivasam opposite the railway station, and Bhudevi Complex beside the Alipiri bus stand. TTD occasionally adds counters at Govindaraja Satram behind the railway station during heavy rush.
Do all family members have to be present?
Yes. Every person who needs a token must stand in the line and be photographed, with the original Aadhaar for each adult. Children under 12 do not need a token or Aadhaar.
Are tokens issued every day?
Tokens are not issued on Wednesdays for Thursday darshan, and they are suspended around Vaikuntha Ekadasi. TTD changes the schedule for festivals, so confirm the night before.
How far is Aakarsh Inn from the token counters?
Srinivasam and Vishnu Nivasam are both about 3 km, ten minutes by auto. Bhudevi Complex at Alipiri is about 14 km.
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.