APSRTC runs free buses from the Tirupati Railway station to Alipiri, with a frequency of 30 minutes. Pilgrims who intend to walk up the hills to Tirumala can use these buses.

Railway Station to Alipiri

Railway Station to Srivari Mettu.

The Railway Booking Office is located at the Central Reception Office building, Tirumala and issues tickets for trains and road cum rail journeys.

In case of vehicle breakdowns on the ghat roads, please contact the Toll Gates either at Tirupati or at Tirumala. Or please call to 0877-2263636 for immediate help. A mechanic will be sent in a mobile van equipped with spares, to attend to the problem. Charges are on a case-to-case basis.

You can travel from Tirupati to Tirumala by road, or climb the hills on foot.

There are two well-laid, all-weather, asphalt ghat roads between Tirupati and Tirumala.

The old ghat road was laid in 1944, and is for vehicles returning from Tirumala. It is 19 km in length. The new ghat road, which was opened in 1974, is for vehicles proceeding towards Tirumala.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs a regular bus service bet frequentcy of just two minutes.Bus fare are:

(I) For Adults - Rs. 45.00 per head

(II) For Children - Rs. 23.00 per head

You can save time by buying your Tirumala-Tirupati return tickets at Tirupati itself. These tickets are valid for three days from the date of purchase and ticket-holders can board any of the APSRTC buses returning to Tirupati within these three days .

During Brahmotsavam and on important occasions like New Year's Day, buses ply round the clock with a frequency of one bus every minute.

For the convenience of pilgrims arriving in groups, APSRTC provides contract carriages. Each carriage or bus can be hired for Rs. 900.00. It seats 45 persons.

The bus can either be booked then and there, or reserved in advance

At Tirupati there are four bus-stations located in different corners of the town.

• Sri Venkateswara Bus Station (SVBS): Pilgrims arriving by train can use SVBS, which is located just opposite the Tirupati Railway Station. Whenever trains arrive, buses are stationed right in front of the main gate of the railway station, for the convenience of pilgrims.

• Balaji Link Bus Station (BLBS): For the convenience of pilgrims arriving from Bangalore, BLBS is situated at Alipiri, at the foot of the hills. Here, there is ample space for parking tourist buses and vans.

• Sapthagiri Link Bus Station (SLBS): SLBS serves pilgrims who arrive from Chennai, Hyderabad and Vijayawada sectors. SLBS is located in the Central Bus Station Complex.

• Sri Padmavathi Bus Station (SPBS): SPBS is located at the rear of the Tirupati Railway Station, and caters mainly to the needs of pilgrims arriving in tourist buses.

However, if you are using your own vehicle, do negotiate the hair-pin bends on the ghat roads carefully.

For those of you who would like to climb the hills to Tirumala to fulfil a vow, there are two well-laid stone footpaths leading to Tirumala. These paths are called sopanamargas.

The more ancient of the two sopanamargas which starts from Alipiri at the foot of the hills, is about 11 km in length, and is the commonly-used route.

The other sopanamarga (Srivari mettu) from Chandragiri, though only about 6 km in length.

Token facility is provided for pedestrian who come on foot to Tirumala through Gali Gopuram or Srivari Mettu.

Bio-Metric counters are established on these foot paths, to facilitate free darshan, free accommodation (P.A.C.) and free food facilities at Tirumala.

TTD provides following facilities to pilgrims who walk up the hills to Tirumala.

• Transportation of luggage, free of cost, to Tirumala. Pilgrims will be given a token when they deposit their luggage at any of the choultries in Tirupati, or at the Toll Gate in Alipiri. They can take delivery of their luggage at the Central Reception Office Counter at Tirumala.

• Drinking water along the footpath.

• Toilets

• Shelters at important points along the way for resting

• Constant patrol by security forces to prevent pilgrims from being cheated or robbed by unscrupulous elements.

• Relay of religious programmes through the local broadcasting system

• Twenty-four hour medical assistance all along the route.

• Canteens that supply refreshments.

APSRTC runs free buses from the Tirupati Railway station to Alipiri, with a frequency of 30 minutes. Pilgrims who intend to walk up the hills to Tirumala can use these buses.