Quick answer: TTD releases Tirumala darshan, seva and accommodation quotas online, month by month, about three months ahead, always in the same order: Arjitha Seva lucky dip (e-Dip) first, then other sevas, then Anga Pradakshina, SRIVANI and free special darshan tokens for elders and the differently abled, and finally Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan at 10 AM and accommodation at 3 PM. For December 2026, Special Entry Darshan opened on 24 September; for November 2026, on 25 August. Book only on TTD's official online booking portal or the official TTD app, and be ready the moment a quota opens: TTD's own peak-time figures put ticket requests at roughly nine times the quota.

Last checked: 9 October 2026.

Types of darshan and sevas at Tirumala

TypeWhat it isHow you get it
Sarva DarshanFree darshan for everyone through the Vaikuntham queue complexJoin the queue; waiting time depends on the crowd
Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) tokensFree darshan with a time slot, which shortens the waitIssued by TTD when available; check TTD notices for where and when
Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan (SED)Paid darshan in a booked time slotOnline, from TTD's monthly quota release
Arjitha sevasTaking part in temple rituals such as Suprabhatham, Thomala, Archana, Kalyanotsavam or Unjal SevaOnline; the early-morning sevas through an e-Dip lucky draw
Free special darshan tokensFor senior citizens, differently abled and chronically ill devoteesOnline, in the monthly quota release
SRIVANI and VIP Break darshanSRIVANI is linked to a donation to the SRIVANI Trust; VIP Break darshan is a short protocol windowSRIVANI online in the monthly release; VIP Break by recommendation, and often cancelled on peak days
Anga PradakshinaA vow of rolling around the temple in the early morningTokens online in the monthly release

We give only the Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan price, which appears in TTD's 2026 releases. Other charges and rules change; check TTD's official online booking portal.

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How TTD's monthly quota release works

Each month TTD posts a release schedule on TTD News, then opens the quotas on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in in stages. Here are the last two schedules, exactly as TTD reported them.

November 2026 quotas (released in August)

Date (2026)Quota released
18 August, 10 AMArjitha Seva e-Dip tickets
21 AugustKalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Pushpayagam and other sevas, plus virtual seva slots
24 AugustAnga Pradakshina tokens, SRIVANI tickets, free special darshan tokens for senior citizens, differently abled and chronically ill devotees
25 August, 10 AMRs 300 Special Entry Darshan
25 August, 3 PMAccommodation

Source: TTD News, 16 August 2026. TTD said bookings were through ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in only.

December 2026 quotas (released in September)

Date (2026)Quota released
19 September, 10 AMArjitha Seva e-Dip registration: Suprabhatham, Thomala, Archana, Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana
21 September, 10 AMe-Dip registration closed
23 September, by 12 noonPayment deadline for e-Dip winners
22 SeptemberKalyanotsavam and other sevas
23 SeptemberAnga Pradakshina tokens, SRIVANI tickets, free special darshan tokens for senior citizens, differently abled and chronically ill devotees
24 September, 10 AMRs 300 Special Entry Darshan
24 September, 3 PMAccommodation

Source: TTD News, 12 September 2026. The January 2027 schedule had not appeared when we checked on 9 October 2026. Going by the pattern, TTD should announce it on TTD News; we will not guess the dates.

December includes Vaikuntha Ekadasi on 20 December. Last season TTD ran Vaikuntha Dwara darshan with separate rules, including online e-DIP tokens and a pause in Special Entry Darshan on the first three days, so read our Tirumala Vaikuntha Ekadasi 2026 guide before relying on a December booking.

Why Rs 300 tickets sell out so fast

On 26 September 2026 TTD explained what happens when a Special Entry Darshan quota opens (Source: TTD News, 26 September 2026):

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  • At peak times about 6 lakh users try to book at once, which could mean around 24 lakh ticket requests against a quota of about 2.69 lakh.
  • A 'Slot Unavailable' message usually means the quota is full, not that the site has failed.
  • The virtual queue manages traffic; it is not meant to deny tickets.
  • Payment failures can come from external gateways, banks or UPI networks.
  • TTD said it is working on capacity, anti-bot measures and payment processing.

Festival days: special releases and cancellations

On big festival days TTD changes the usual rules, so always read the notice for your dates:

  • For the Navaratri Brahmotsavam, TTD released Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan tickets for 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 October at 10 AM on 7 October, only on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in. VIP Break darshan and privileged darshans for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, parents with infants, NRIs and defence personnel are cancelled from 11 to 20 October (Source: TTD News, 6 October 2026).
  • For the September Salakatla Brahmotsavam, several arjitha sevas and the special darshans for senior citizens, the physically challenged, parents with infants, NRIs and donors were cancelled (Source: TTD News, 4 August 2026).
  • Because of the Peratasi rush, TTD cancelled VIP Break darshan, except for protocol VIPs, on 1 and 5 October; it said about 80,000 devotees were having darshan daily (Source: Telangana Today, 29 September 2026).
  • Earlier, with a wait of about 24 hours, TTD cancelled VIP Break darshan on 13 September and used the time for common devotees (Source: TTD News, 10 September 2026).

Tips for getting a ticket

  • Create and verify your account on TTD's official online booking portal days before a release, with the ID details of everyone travelling.
  • Note the release date and time from TTD News and log in a few minutes early. TTD says its virtual queue manages the traffic.
  • Have a fast, reliable payment method ready, and a backup, since TTD says failures can come from gateways and banks.
  • Keep your dates flexible. Weekdays outside festivals and holidays are usually easier than long weekends.
  • If Rs 300 tickets are gone, consider Sarva Darshan and check TTD's daily bulletin. On 9 October 2026 the approximate Sarvadarshanam wait without SSD tokens was 8 to 12 hours, and 66,404 pilgrims had darshan the previous day (Source: TTD News, 9 October 2026).
  • NRIs: book in the same releases as everyone else, and carry the ID used to book, usually your passport. Do not count on an NRI privilege darshan during festivals.

Beware of brokers and fake news

TTD Vigilance caught a person booking rooms at the Tirumala CRO office with forged Aadhaar cards for a broker who resold them at higher prices, and a police case was registered. TTD reminded pilgrims to book rooms only at CRO counters, on the official website or through the official app, and not to share Aadhaar or other details with strangers (Source: TTD News, 17 August 2026). TTD has also rejected false social media claims, for example that private vehicles to Tirumala would be capped at 15,000 a day, and said its decisions are shared only through official channels (Source: TTD News, 13 September 2026).

For the temple, the journey and the dress code, see our Tirumala Venkateswara temple guide and Tirumala darshan status today. Devotees abroad who cannot travel can watch major festivals on SVBC (Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel).

Frequently asked questions

When does TTD release Tirumala darshan tickets?

TTD releases each month's quotas online about three months ahead, in a fixed order over several days. For November 2026, Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan opened at 10 AM on 25 August 2026 (TTD News, 16 August 2026); for December 2026, at 10 AM on 24 September 2026 (TTD News, 12 September 2026). TTD announces each schedule on TTD News a few days before.

Where should I book Tirumala darshan tickets?

Only on TTD's official online booking portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in, the site TTD names in its own releases) or the official TTD app. TTD has said Rs 300 tickets for the Navaratri Brahmotsavam days were sold only on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in (TTD News, 6 October 2026).

Why do Rs 300 darshan tickets sell out so quickly?

TTD explained on 26 September 2026 that at peak times about 6 lakh users try to book at once, which could mean around 24 lakh ticket requests against a quota of about 2.69 lakh. A 'Slot Unavailable' message usually means the quota is full, not a technical fault.

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Is there free darshan at Tirumala without a ticket?

Yes. Sarva Darshan (free darshan) is open to all through the queue complex. On 9 October 2026 TTD's bulletin gave the approximate Sarvadarshanam wait without SSD tokens as 8 to 12 hours (TTD News, 9 October 2026). Waits change daily, so check TTD's bulletin for the day you travel.

Are senior citizen and NRI darshans available during festivals?

Not always. TTD cancelled privileged darshans for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, parents with infants, NRIs and defence personnel from 11 to 20 October 2026 for the Navaratri Brahmotsavam (TTD News, 6 October 2026), as it did for the September Brahmotsavam. Check TTD notices for your dates.

How do I avoid fake agents and brokers?

Book only through TTD's official channels and never share your Aadhaar or other ID with strangers. In August 2026 TTD Vigilance caught a broker using forged Aadhaar cards to book rooms for resale (TTD News, 17 August 2026).

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

Last checked: 9 October 2026. Release schedules, the Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan details, TTD's explanation of sell-outs and the festival cancellations come from TTD News releases and news reports, each named and dated above. We give no other prices and no quota times beyond those TTD announced. TTD changes its rules from time to time; always check TTD's official online booking portal. HinduTone is not affiliated with TTD.