{"id":13416,"date":"2026-05-05T08:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T08:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/2026\/05\/05\/not-ayodhya-but-this-is-the-most-visited-temple-in-india\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:16:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T08:16:18","slug":"not-ayodhya-but-this-is-the-most-visited-temple-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/?p=13416","title":{"rendered":"Not Ayodhya but this is the most visited temple in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130821805,imgsize-58882,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/the-most-visited-temple-in-india.jpg\" alt=\"Not Ayodhya but this is the most visited temple in India\" title=\"canva\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s absolutely no limit to India\u2019s spiritual landscape. From Ayodhya and Haridwar to Tirupati and Guwahati, India stands as the undisputed \u201cLand of Temples\u201d. However, there\u2019s one temple which consistently stands out in terms of massive footfall, and global recognition\u2014the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.<!-- --> According to <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/tirumala-tirupati-devasthanams\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams<\/a>, the temple was visited by a total 79,878 pilgrims by 26 April 2026, making it the most visited temple till April 2026. It is among the most visited religious sites in the world, attracting tens of millions of pilgrims every year. For travellers looking for a deeply immersive spiritual journey, the temple offers far more than just darshan. <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"5\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">A temple that attracts global tourists<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"7\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>The Tirumala temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu. <!-- -->Set on top of the sacred Seshachalam, the temple is visited by over 30-50 million people every year (an estimate). It\u2019s a staggering number! This means on an average, the temple is visited by around 60,000 to 80,000 pilgrims, which is a massive count. The numbers can reach up to a lakh during peak festivals and weekends, turning the town into a sea of humans.<!-- --> <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">How to reach <\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tirupati\" msid=\"130821986\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130821986\/tirupati.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>Tirumala is not just your regular temple, it\u2019s an experience of a lifetime. For those planning a trip to the city, the experience begins well before reaching the sanctum. Situated some 20 km from Tirupati city, visitors can either drive or take a traditional new pilgrimage route via footpaths like Alipiri or Srivari Mettu. A number of devotees choose to walk the 3,500+ steps barefoot, in an act of devotion.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>The closest airport is Tirupati Airport. It is well-connected by rail and major Indian cities including Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. <!-- -->Buses and taxis are available regularly.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">How to get darshan <\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tirupati\" msid=\"130822027\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130822027\/tirupati.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>Reaching here is still easy. But getting darshan is a task as per personal experiences of thousands of devotees, there\u2019s immense crowds. Today, the temple stands as a case study in large-scale management. It is administered by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which has implemented an organised system of darshan categories which ranges from free \u201cSarva Darshan\u201d to special entry tickets booked online.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Waiting time<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/>It\u2019s shocking but waiting times can range between a few hours and over 12\u201318 hours, which is another task. Yet, the system is surprisingly efficient. From free food (annadanam) and medical facilities to accommodation options, there are people who take care of pilgrims.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Spiritual significance and rituals<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"43\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tirupati Hills\" msid=\"130822057\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130822057\/tirupati-hills.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/>It is a wish fulfilling temple and that\u2019s where its spiritual pull is tied. Devotees have immense faith in Lord Venkateswara who they believe fulfills wishes. <!-- -->One of the most unique rituals here is the offering of hair which symbolises surrender of ego. The temple remains crowded with lakhs of devotees willing to sacrifice their hair.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/>A laddu is given here as <span class=\"em\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">prasadam <\/span>which is another highlight. The laddu is so popular that it has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag! Amazing, right? <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>Another interesting fact is that Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati is also among the richest in the world. <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"56\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Best time to visit<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"60\"\/>The temple remains open year-round, but the best time is between September and February. The weather remains pleasant during these months. However, festivals like Brahmotsavam and Vaikuntha Ekadashi attract lakhs of devotees. It is important for people planning to visit early. Online booking is strongly recommended.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/>In a country filled with thousands of temples, the temple remains one of the most visited spiritual sites in the country in 2026, with unmatched scale, devotion, and experience.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/life-style\/travel\/destinations\/not-ayodhya-but-this-is-the-most-visited-temple-in-india\/articleshow\/130821693.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s absolutely no limit to India\u2019s spiritual landscape. From Ayodhya and Haridwar to Tirupati and Guwahati, India stands as the undisputed \u201cLand of Temples\u201d. However, there\u2019s one temple which consistently stands out in terms of massive footfall, and global recognition\u2014the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the temple was&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-style"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}