Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026: Official Booking Guide
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 Travel Guide: Tickets, Booking Dates, Costs, Darshan Plan, and Festival-Day Survival Tips
Looking for Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026? The festival day is widely reported as 25 January 2026 (Sunday), and it’s also the kind of day where normal “weekend darshan planning” won’t work. Expect special crowd-control steps like Slotted Sarva Darshan (SSD) cancellation from 24 January 2026 to 26 January 2026 and privileged darshans cancelled on 25 January 2026 (as reported in January 2026).
⚡ Quick Answer
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 is on 25 January 2026 (Sunday). Book only via https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in (TTD booking portal) and use https://www.tirumala.org for official darshan/service info; plan a backup darshan date because SSD/privileged darshan cancellations were announced/reported around 24–26 January 2026.
📌 Key Takeaways
- ✅ Main festival date:25 January 2026 (Sunday) (reported for Tirumala Radhasaptami/Ratha Saptami arrangements).
- ✅ SSD impact:Slotted Sarva Darshan cancelled from 24 January 2026 to 26 January 2026 (reported in January 2026).
- ✅ Privileged darshan impact: VIP/senior citizens/parents with infants/NRIs etc. cancelled on 25 January 2026 (reported).
- ✅ Official booking:https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in (web + TTD app); info pages at https://www.tirumala.org.
- ✅ Special Entry Darshan is an “advance booking” ticket via the official portal (introduced for online advance booking long back; still listed as the official route).
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026: Overview (ticket Reality on Festival Week)
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 is not just “one more festival.” On this week, TTD’s crowd-management decisions can change your darshan plan even if you’re usually a confident regular. The big example: SSD cancellation from 24–26 January 2026 was reported due to Radhasaptami on 25 January 2026.
So here’s the practical mindset that saves you: treat 25 January 2026 as a festival-watching day, and keep your main darshan on a nearby day (like 27–29 January 2026) if your priority is a smoother experience. If your priority is the festival energy and vahanams, then yes—25th is your day. Just go in prepared.
💡 Insider Tip
If you’re coming with parents, kids, or anyone who hates long standing, book your travel so you reach Tirupati by 24 January 2026 afternoon. Sleep. Go up early on 25 January only for vahanam vibe, and keep a separate darshan slot on 27–29 January 2026. You’ll enjoy both. You won’t suffer.
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026: Official Websites, Ticket Types, and What You Can Actually Book
For anything that involves money or entry, stick to these two official sites only:
- TTD Booking Portal: https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in
- TTD Information Site (darshan/service pages): https://www.tirumala.org
Now the “tickets” people commonly mean for Tirumala are these buckets:
- Special Entry Darshan (advance online booking) – listed by TTD as available through internet booking on the official portal.
- Arjitha Sevas (advance booking; timelines can vary by seva/quota) – TTD lists advance booking through the official portal with a quota-based availability window.
- Accommodation quota (Tirumala/Tirupati/Talakona etc.) – released by quota schedules (varies by month).
- SSD (Slotted Sarva Darshan) tokens – operational updates are shown on TTD’s site as “Tirumala Updates,” but festival cancellations can happen.
On festival week, treat SSD and privileged categories as “may be restricted by order,” because that’s exactly what was reported for 24–26 January 2026.
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026: Ticket Booking Dates You Should Know (january 2026 Quota)
If your plan is around 25 January 2026, you’re basically dealing with January 2026 quotas. One widely circulated quota update (in Telugu media) stated that ₹300 Special Entry Darshan quota for January 2026 was to be released on 25 October 2025 at 10:00 AM on the official website ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.
TTD’s official communication also pushes the same core message: book only through the official website/app and avoid middlemen.
⚠️ Common Mistake
People wait for “Ratha Saptami-specific tickets.” Most of the time, you’re simply booking regular quotas for that month and then festival-day rules decide what runs and what gets paused. That’s why you should keep a backup darshan date even after booking.
Costs for Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 (tickets + Trip Budget With Source Column)
Festival trips become stressful when you don’t know the money part. Here’s a simple cost table you can actually plan with. Ticket amounts and quota rules can change, so I’m listing what was reported/officially indicated in the sources below and marking verification timing.
| Item | Price | Where You Pay/Book | Source (Jan 2026 context) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Entry Darshan (common quota ticket) | ₹300 (for January 2026 quota release update) | https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in | Telugu media quota update mentioning ₹300 and release timing (verified around Oct 2025 / referenced for Jan 2026). |
| Special Entry Darshan (official “how to book” page) | Price not shown on the info page; it confirms advance booking route | Info: https://www.tirumala.org Booking: https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in |
TTD Special Entry Darshan page confirms internet booking via official portal (use this to avoid fake sites). |
| SSD token status / operational updates | Free (token-based) | Operational updates on https://www.tirumala.org | TTD “Tirumala Updates” shows SSD running slot / balance tickets (live status). |
My honest take: For festival week, your “real cost” is often accommodation (if you miss TTD rooms) and time (queues, routing, movement). Book rooms early if you can, and keep a Tirupati hotel backup ready.
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026: Step-By-Step Online Ticket Booking (and What Usually Breaks)
Use https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in for booking. That’s the official portal TTD points everyone to.
- Create an account / log in on https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.
- Pre-save pilgrim details in your profile (names exactly as per ID).
- Pick service: Special Entry Darshan / accommodation / seva (as per availability).
- Select your date window (smart move: keep 24–29 January 2026 flexible if your travel allows).
- Confirm details carefully (spelling mismatch is the silent killer at entry gates).
- Pay and download the confirmation immediately (PDF + screenshot).
- Carry the same ID proof you used in the booking (and keep a backup digital copy).
What usually breaks + quick fixes:
- Sold out in seconds: don’t panic—shift your darshan day by +1 or +2 days if your travel is flexible.
- Payment success, ticket not visible: check “Booking History” in your TTD account before you pay again.
- Festival-day restrictions: even with planning, TTD can pause specific categories for safety; SSD cancellation during 24–26 January 2026 was reported for Radhasaptami crowd management.
💡 Insider Tip
On quota days, log in 10–15 minutes early, keep one payment method ready, and don’t keep smashing refresh. One clean attempt at a time. Calm clicks beat angry clicks.
How to Reach Tirumala for Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 (fast Routes That Work on Crowd Days)
You can’t control crowds. You can control arrival timing. Aim to reach Tirupati by 24 January 2026 if you want the festival day on the hill without panic.
- By Air: Fly to Tirupati airport and land on 24 January (morning/afternoon). Festival-day landing on 25th usually means you waste the best hours in transit.
- By Train: Tirupati stations get packed in peak season. Keep a 2–3 hour buffer after arrival for taxi/bus + hotel check-in.
- By Road: Buses are often the least headache on crowded days because parking and routing can get messy for private vehicles.
For official pilgrim-service navigation (transport/help desks/services), use the TTD information site: https://www.tirumala.org.
Darshan Plan for 25 January 2026 (when SSD and Privileged Darshans Are Restricted)
If you’re going on 25 January 2026, plan like this:
- Step 1: Decide your main goal: festival vahanams or darshan comfort.
- Step 2: If comfort is your goal, keep your main darshan on 27–29 January 2026 and use 25th mainly for festival vibe.
- Step 3: Expect category restrictions: reported updates said SSD cancelled from 24–26 January 2026 and privileged darshans cancelled on 25 January 2026.
- Step 4: Pack for long standing: water, ORS, small snacks, power bank, one extra layer for early morning chill.
For live operational updates like SSD running slot/balance tickets (useful on normal days), TTD shows “Tirumala Updates” on its official site. On festival days, use it as a reference, but still trust on-ground announcements.
My 10x Value Table: Choose Your Best Ticket + Stay Strategy in 30 Seconds
| Your Goal | Best Arrival | Ticket Strategy | Stay Strategy | Effort Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festival vibe + photos + vahanam energy | 24 Jan 2026 night | Any booked darshan on nearby days; don’t depend on SSD for 24–26 | Tirumala room if you get it; else Tirupati + early bus | High | Young groups, repeat visitors |
| Darshan with less stress | 26 Jan evening / 27 Jan morning | Special Entry Darshan quota (book on official portal) if available | Tirupati stay is practical and comfortable | Medium | Families, seniors, first-timers |
| Budget trip | 24 Jan afternoon | Try official quotas; keep dates flexible | Tirupati budget stay + APSRTC bus up | Medium | Students, solo travellers |
| Same-day rush trip | 25 Jan very early morning | Only attempt if you already have confirmed booking and strong stamina | No stay | Very High | Locals who know Tirumala flow |
Faq: Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 Tickets and Booking
What Is the Date of Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026?
Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026 is reported on 25 January 2026 (Sunday) for Tirumala Radhasaptami arrangements.
What Is the Official Website for Tirumala Tickets?
Use https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in for bookings. Use https://www.tirumala.org for official info pages (darshan/services/updates).
Will SSD Tokens Be Available During Tirumala Ratha Saptami 2026?
For the 2026 festival window, Slotted Sarva Darshan was announced/reported cancelled from 24 January 2026 to 26 January 2026 due to Radhasaptami on 25 January 2026.
Are Vip/senior Citizen/infant Darshans Available on 25 January 2026?
Reports said privileged darshans (VIP, senior citizens, parents with infants, NRIs) were cancelled on 25 January 2026 for crowd management.
How Do I Book Special Entry Darshan Officially?
TTD’s official info page for Special Entry Darshan points pilgrims to internet booking on ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.
When Did the ₹300 Special Entry Darshan Quota Open for January 2026 (reported Schedule)?
One quota update in Telugu media stated ₹300 Special Entry Darshan for January 2026 was released on 25 October 2025 at 10:00 AM on the official website.
If I Only Care About Darshan, Which Dates Are Calmer Than 25 January 2026?
In most cases, 27–29 January 2026 will feel calmer than the core festival day because the peak crowd concentrates around 25 January and the surrounding control window reported was 24–26 January.
📅 Last Updated: January 2026