A road trip from Bangalore to Tirupati is a great way of exploring the rich beauty of Southern India and to also escaping for a spiritual getaway.
Tirupati Temple, aka Tirupati Balaji, is by far the most famous pilgrimage destination in South India, and inarguably the biggest. The temple town attracts nearly 100,000 visitors, devotees, as well as seekers, every day.
Sitting on the Venkatachala Hills of the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the town also offers a great view of the verdant hills and forests. Hence, Tirupati cannot be limited to religious travel and also offers ample opportunities to explore its natural landscape.
Table of Contents
- Why travel from Bangalore to Tirupati
- Traveling from Bangalore to Tirupati
- Best time to take a road trip by car
- How to Reach Tirupati By Train
- How to Reach Tirupati By Flight
- Places to eat along this route
- Other means of traveling
- Attractions in Tirupati for Sightseeing
- Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Tirupati
- Hotels and Resorts – Accommodation in Tirupati
Why travel from Bangalore to Tirupati?
Now, if you truly want to have a wholesome experience of this part of the state, then plan a road trip from the nearest metro city of Bangalore by booking a car rental in Bangalore, instead of flying or taking a train. That way you can see interesting places along the way and enjoy the trip more.
Traveling from Bangalore to Tirupati by Car
A trip to Tirupati from Bangalore by car is certainly one of the best ways to explore this route. The road from Bangalore to Tirupati passes through small towns and villages of Karnataka and southern Andhra Pradesh.
Along the way, you will also come across some popular tourist locales and pilgrim sites, where you can stop for sightseeing. Let us help you discover the best routes so you can have an interesting Bangalore to Tirupati trip by road.
Best Time to Take a Road trip by Car
First of all, being a pilgrimage destination, Tirupati remains crowded all through the year. Secondly, being on the hills, the weather is quite pleasant across all seasons. So, if you wish to find the best time to travel, it would ideally be based on your availability and plan.
However, the months from September to February are typically a peak time for tourists, when the weather is balmy. The only exception, if at all, is the month of May when it can get hot and humid, but breezy nevertheless.
Route 1: Bangalore to Tirupati Via NH 75 & NH 69
This is the fastest and the shortest route to cover the Bangalore to Tirumala distance by car. Almost all travelers and pilgrims use this route to travel to Tirupati.
Bangalore to Tirupati Distance
Via this route, the Bangalore to Tirupati by road distance is 264 KM. You will also not find much Bangalore to Tirupati via Chittoor traffic on this route. However, always check for live traffic updates and use real-time maps to get a better idea of the road conditions.
| Bangalore — Kolar — Palamaner — Chittoor — Penumur — Tirupati |
|---|
Popular places along the way:
- Anthara Gange, Kolar – The boulder-covered mountain peak with naturally-formed caves is a popular trekking spot as well as a pilgrimage site. You can hike through the hills and enjoy the views from the top or you could also visit the temples submerged in the adjoining water bodies. The freshwater pools are fed by an underground network of rivers, which is said to be as pure as the Ganges. Hence the site is also referred to as Dakshina Kashi.
- Chandragiri Fort, Chittoor – You can take a detour from the highway towards Chittoor and stop by the iconic fort of Chandragiri. While you are here, you can also visit the ancient Srikalahasti Temple, known for its colorful and exquisite architecture.
- Talakona Waterfalls, Chittoor – An important biosphere reserve of the state, the waterfall, and its surrounding area is popular for treks, picnics, as well as outdoor adventures.
Places to eat on this route:
- Nandini Grand, Hoskote – Tourist-favorite highway side eatery serving multi-cuisine food, good for late-night grubs.
- Rudra’s Andhra & Kerala Family Restaurant, Kolar – Local restaurant serving traditional Andhra and Malabari food, good for families and big groups.
- VVR Anand Bhavan Pure Veg. Restaurant, Sonnavadi – Another popular highway eatery serving classic vegetarian south Indian fare.
Book a Cab from Bangalore to Tirupati
Other means of traveling from Bangalore to Tirupati
By Train
You can also travel from Bangalore to Tirupati via train. There are a total of 33 trains that ply between these two cities. Of which 11 trains run daily. The fastest train is YESVANTPUR – HOWRAH AC SF EXPRESS (22864).
Therefore, to book your train from Bangalore to Tirupati, you can visit the website of Indian Railways or any online travel portal, for the best deals. The total time taken from Bangalore to Tirupati can vary between six to 12 hours, depending on the train route. However, for updated Bangalore to Tirupati train ticket price, timings, check IRCTC’s latest timetables.
By Flight
Another way of traveling from Bangalore to Tirupati is via flights. There are multiple flights available daily. The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport (TIR), which is roughly 40 KM from the temple site.
The time taken by flight can vary between one to eight hours depending upon the airline you choose. You can, therefore, visit the website of any airline for flight booking or visit any online travel portal for the best deals.
A flight ticket from Bangalore to Tirupati can cost you anywhere between INR 2500 to INR 7000 depending upon factors such as the travel season, airline, available deals, and booking window.
You can take a bus to cover the distance between the two cities. The Bangalore to Tirupati bus ticket price ranges between Rs 800 – Rs 3000 depending on your preference.
Explore Tirupati Like a Local: A Handy Guide
Perched on the verdant Venkatchala Hills, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, the Tirupati Temple enshrines the revered deity of Sri Venkateswara, one of the avatars of Vishnu. The temple complex spreads across 27 sq. km. over the hills and is therefore called the Temple of Seven Hills.
However, it would be wrong to say that Tirupati’s only reputation lies in its temple. The natural surroundings of forests, hills, rivers, and waterfalls, make it an excellent spot for a wholesome vacation. Therefore, with our tips and suggestions, you can make the most of your Tirupati tour.
Attractions in Tirupati for Sightseeing
Start your tour with the one and only Tirupati Balaji Temple, the site that draws all the attention from visitors, devotees, as well as regular tourists. Also called the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Vaari Temple is a huge community with lodging options onsite.
From there, you can head to the Kapila Theertham and Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple. Thus, for your local sightseeing tour, you can visit the Kalyani Dam and for a day’s picnic.
The nearby Tirumala Hills are also great for a day out in nature, as is the Sri Venkateshwara National Park. In case you have missed the Chandragiri Fort on your way from Bangalore, you also include that on your itinerary while you are in Tirupati.
Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Tirupati
Whenever you are in a Hindu pilgrimage town, you should know that the local food available would be predominantly vegetarian, and in Tirupati, it is ethnic Andhra cuisine.
Local traditional specialties like daddojanam (curd rice), pulihora (tamarind rice), vada and chakkara-pongal (sweet pongal), miryala-pongali, Appam, Payasam, Jaggery, Murukku, Dosa and seera (kesari) etc are found aplenty.
Therefore, on your Tirupati trip, you can visit these eateries to sample the best of local flavors.
- Dojin Smart Restaurant
- Southern Spice
- Sri Vari Sannidhanam
- Jalpan Veg Restaurant
- Gufha Restaurant
- Tempteys
Hotels and resorts – Accommodation in Tirupati
| Hotel Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Marasa Sarovar Premiere | 12th Cross, Karakambadi Rd, near AGS Company, Upadhyaya Nagar, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517507 PH: 0877 666 0000 |
| Fortune Select Grand Ridge | Tiruchanoor Rd, Korramenugunta, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517501 PH: 0877 398 8444 |
| Hotel Pai Viceroy | 18th Ward 18-1-5/6 Tirumala Bypass Road, Near, Kapila Teertham, Ramchandra Nagar, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh 517501 PH: 0877 227 5777 |
| Holiday Inn | Sri Kalahasti Road, Near Tirupati International Airport Renigunta, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517520 PH: 0877 227 5155 |
| Sri Padmavathi Guest House | Sri Venkateswara University Rd, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517502 PH: 0877 226 4510 |
