Tirumala Darshan Facility Scrapped, Devotees in Telangana Disappointed
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board has decided to discontinue the darshan facility provided through Tourism Corporations. This decision has upset many devotees in Telangana, as they often relied on these services for a quick and hassle-free visit to the Tirumala temple.
The popular ‘Sheegra Darshan’ facility, offered as a package by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation, enabled devotees to travel via buses or flights and complete their temple visit in just one or two days. Many devotees appreciated this service because it allowed them to start their journey in the morning and return home by night after darshan.
The TTD Board decided to scrap this service following a vigilance report highlighting irregularities. Alongside Telangana Tourism, similar services were also offered by the tourism departments of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Devotees like G. Suraj, a businessman, found these packages convenient. He explained that the service was particularly helpful for those unable to navigate technical challenges, such as booking online tickets.
According to Suraj, online darshan tickets sell out within minutes due to worldwide demand. For those without technical knowledge, the tourism packages were a reliable alternative. “The only requirement was to book tickets a week in advance,” he said.
Other devotees, like techie K. Adarsh, urged the TTD Board to reconsider its decision. He suggested reinstating the Sudarshan Token system at Himayatnagar, which allowed offline booking of darshan slots. Adarsh also expressed frustration that TTD personnel no longer honor recommendation letters from Telangana public representatives, making it difficult for families to plan their temple visits.
Many devotees feel the removal of the service creates unnecessary challenges. Advocate R. Satish voiced his disappointment, saying, “If there are irregularities, the authorities should address them, but they should not cancel a program that benefits devotees.”
Devotees are now appealing to the TTD Board to restore either the tourism package or the Sudarshan Token system to make darshan more accessible for everyone.
