Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Dwaraka Tirumala
Dwaraka Tirumala, about 42 km from Eluru, Eluru district · Lord Venkateswara – a self-manifested bust-length image with a full standing image behind it
'Chinna Tirupati' – two Venkateswaras under one vimana, the self-manifested one found by Sage Dwaraka in an anthill.
Dwaraka Tirumala, popularly called Chinna Tirupati ('little Tirupati'), is a hilltop Venkateswara temple about 42 km from Eluru and 15 km from Bhimadole. Its unusual feature is two main images under one vimana: a self-manifested (swayambhu) image of the Lord visible only to the chest, found by Sage Dwaraka in an anthill, and a full standing image installed behind it so that devotees can also worship his feet. Pilgrims who cannot travel to Tirumala often fulfil their vows – including tonsure – here.
Timings
- Temple (AP Endowments portal): 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM; darshan 4:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 – 9:00 PM
- Break: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Suprabhatha Seva: 4:30 – 5:00 AM (4:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday per the Devasthanam site)
- Sarva darshan (portal): 6:30 – 11:30 AM listed slot
- Ekantha Seva: 9:00 PM
Darshan types and costs
- Sarva darshan – Free
- Seeghra Darshanam – ₹100
- Athi Seeghra Darshanam – ₹200
- Antaralaya Darsanam – ₹500
Sevas and costs
- Suprabhatha Seva – ₹300 (Daily 4:30 AM; 4:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday)
- Nitya Arjitha Kalyanam – ₹2,000 (portal price; the description text still says ₹1,500) (Daily, 9:30 AM (portal slot 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM))
- Arjitha Brahmotsavam – ₹516 (Devasthanam website; also offered as a paroksha seva at ₹516) (Daily, 8:30 AM)
- Snapana – ₹301 (Fridays, 6:00 – 8:00 AM)
- Swarna Tulasidala Archana – ₹2,116 (portal; older site price ₹1,116) (Weekly (check the day on the portal))
- Veda Ashirvachanam – ₹1,116 (Daily)
- Go Puja – ₹116 (Daily, 20-minute batches)
- Sarvakainkarya Seva – ₹3,116 (On booking)
- Pushpa Alankarana Seva – ₹5,116 (On booking)
- Vastra Alankarana Seva – ₹12,616 (On booking)
How to book darshan
Seva tickets, Seeghra/Athi Seeghra/Antaralaya darshan and rooms are on the AP Endowments portal (tms.ap.gov.in, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Dwaraka Tirumala) and at MeeSeva centres. Kalyanam tickets are also sold at the counter from 7:00 AM.
Dwaraka Tirumala on tms.ap.gov.in
Dress code
Traditional dress for sevas: dhoti/pancha for men; saree, half-saree or churidar with dupatta for women.
Best time to visit
October to February. Saturdays and festival days are crowded. Visit in Vaisakha (May) or Aswayuja (October) for the Kalyanotsavams.
How to reach
- air: Rajahmundry or Vijayawada airports, each roughly 90–110 km (approx.).
- rail: Bhimadole (~15 km) is nearest; express trains stop at Eluru (~42 km).
- road: APSRTC buses to Dwarakatirumala bus station from Eluru, Rajamahendravaram, Tadepalligudem, Vijayawada, Jangareddygudem, Bhimadole and Hyderabad.
Festivals
- Vaisakha Kalyanotsavam – Vaisakha Shukla Chaturdasi (Apr/May)
- Aswayuja Kalyanotsavam – Aswayuja Shukla Chaturdasi (Oct)
- Giri Pradakshina – Kanuma day (day after Sankranti, Jan)
- Mukkoti / Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan – Dhanurmasa Ekadasi (Dec/Jan)
- Pavitrotsavams – Shravana Shukla Trayodasi – Padyami (Aug)
- Teppotsavam – Karthika Shukla Dwadasi (Nov)