As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Andhra Pradesh, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) board, which manages affairs of the Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala has announced new norms for pilgrims, as a precautionary measure.
Pilgrims having a darshan slot on a particular day will be allowed to enter Tirumala by road through Alipiri only after 1 pm on the day before the darshan slot. Through the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu footpaths, pilgrims will be allowed only after 9 am on the day before the darshan slot.
The Tirumala temple, governed by the TTD, is one of the most popular Hindu shrines in the world. It had been closed to devotees for around two and a half months starting from March last year due to COVID-19, before being reopened on June 11.
