Tirumala: Leopard attack, restrictions pull pilgrims numbers down; no lathis in sight

Tirupati: Days after frenzied action, promised enhanced security with a lathi for each pilgrim besides a spate of restrictions following a leopard killing a six-year-old girl, the trek to world famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala is back to its old ways—without lathis!

Chaos continued for ordinary mortals seeking darshan of the Lord of Seven Hills; struggling for accommodation, and pilgrims jostling and pushing through serpentine queue lines containing seva ticket holders, VVIPs, and VIPs still rule the roost!

In another development, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) authorities’ decision to make the abode of Lord Venkateshwara plastic-free has turned Tirumala neat and clean but has hit the pockets of pilgrims hard.

Hoteliers and shopkeepers are making a killing on the sale of glass water bottles to pilgrims in view of few public taps.

Rs 80 for a litre bottle of drinking water

A litre of glass water bottle now costs a whopping Rs 80 per bottle at Tirumala. However, if the bottle is returned, the pilgrims get back Rs 40!

Security at Alipiri and Srivari Mettu routes have stringent checks and throw away plastic water bottles etc. and allow only reusable and prescribed water bottles uphill.

Many pilgrims caught unaware of this rule, have no option but to buy glass water bottles in hotels or depend on public taps at Tirumala, which are mostly located in choultries (resting places) and guest houses but not on roads.

A few roadside eateries sell glass water bottles for Rs 80 per bottle while the likes of plastic Kinley etc. bottles which used to be Rs 20 are nowhere to be seen on the hilltop. While it certainly helps save the environment, it’s pinching the pockets of already tired pilgrims!

Pilgrims on Divya Darshan walk without lathis, numbers reduced

Coming back to trekker security, to curb leopard and wild animal attacks, TTD has placed restrictions on children using the footpath. This has reduced the number of pilgrims opting to walk from Tirupathi to Tirumala from two pathways.

Lathis which were put on display by the TTD staff after the leopard attack on a six-year-old girl, were no more to be seen in the hands of pilgrims trekking from Alipiri and Srivari Mettu footpaths to the temple. Pilgrims who walk get quick darshan.

In fact, TTD Board chairman B Karunakar Reddy’s decision to provide lathis to pilgrims to defend against attacks by wild animals evoked strong negative reactions from pilgrims, people and opposition parties. But the TTD chairman defended the decision.

However, days after distributing wooden sticks in full media glare, things are back to square one. “We were not given lathis,” a pilgrim along with family trekking to the temple said.

Scores of pilgrims could be seen walking from the Alipiri side along with luggage in their hands and heads as was done in the past during the daytime without wooden sticks.

Reduction in pilgrims by walk

Contrary to the average 15,000 pilgrims trekking from Alipiri and 5,000-odd daily from Srivarimetlu pathways, the number of pilgrims using walk paths has drastically reduced due to fear of wild animal attacks and restriction by TTD authorities, according to sources in TTD.

For safety reasons, pilgrims with children aged below 15 years will be permitted to trek the Alipiri and Srivari Mettu footpaths between 5 am and 2 pm, and two-wheelers will not be allowed to ply on the ghat roads between 6 pm and 6 am.

Forest staff reportedly sighted leopards at five places between Alipiri to Gali Gopuram, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and the 38th bend on the first ghat road leading to Tirupati.

TTD announced restrictions would be in force till the issues pertaining to wild animals were resolved. Officials are in dilemma over demand for fencing pathways fearing it may be counterproductive in case of a huge rush.

Two pathways to Tirumala

There are two pathways from Tirupathi to Tirumala for pilgrims opting to trek beside using the road. One is Alipiri, also known as Alipiri Padala Mandapam, Alipiri Metlu and also the gateway to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.

Alipiri meaning ‘resting place’. It has been the most popular trekking site since the olden days when pilgrims used to climb the seven hills only through the stepped way on foot since there was no other way. Pilgrims used to take rest on this route, cook food eat and resume climbing.

Alipiri security zone was established in 2009 to screen vehicles and pilgrims entering Tirumala, to safeguard the hills from terrorists, and anti-social elements and to check banned items like liquor, meat, tobacco, ganja and other narcotics substances, banned literature, plastic drinking water bottles etc.

3,550 steps from Alipiri

Devotees to fulfil their vow, walk by foot to Tirumala from Alipiri. There are 3,550 steps which make a distance of 11 km. There are four gopurams (Temple Towers) on the way. It is completely roofed and passes through seven hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills. It normally takes 4-6 hours to reach Tirumala, depending on the person.

2,388 steps from Srivari Mettu

Srivari Mettu, which is near Srinivasa Mangapuram is another walk path to Tirumala. Many pilgrims prefer Srivari Mettu to Alipiri Mettu because it is easy to climb and has a smaller number of steps. Srivari Mettu is around 20 km from the city of Tirupati. The total number of steps from this side is 2,388 and takes about 2 to 3 hours.

It is believed Lord Venkateswara himself travelled on this route to reach Tirumala from Srinivasa Mangapuram.

The story behind Srivari Mettu is that after getting married to Sri Padmavathi Devi, Lord Venkateswara stayed in Srinivasa Mangapuram for six months after marriage before his climb to Tirumala Hills.