God bless www.ttdsevaonline.com!

Ever since the online booking for Sevas, Accommodation and Hundi offerings was launched by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in 2002 the facility has functioned erratically and mostly never. In February 2002 when my niece got married; our family went to Tirumala and that is the only time when I could book online sixteen Archanananthara Darshanam tickets in advance. And after that in all these eight years it was never possible for me to book any e-Seva or e-Accommodation online. At all times the site simply stated that the quota is not released for any of the Sevas and accommodation or a message appeared stating that the site is temporarily down for maintenance.

With lot of publicity the website is re-launched on 6th April 2010. I checked the site and was thrilled to find it functioning well and immediately booked for Suprabatha Darshanam and accommodation in the third week of June. I preferred this time of June as the summer rush at the temple would have come down by then. I also made travel arrangements online immediately, which of course are hassle free since several years. Now we only have to pack for the pilgrimage. All this reservation accomplished from the comfort of the house makes me happy and makes me post this article.

Normally any personal interaction or correspondence with TTD staff is not a pleasant experience. Majority of the pilgrims share this view point. The pushing, jostling and abusive behavior by the staff even in the Sanctum sanctorum is an extension of this general TTD attitude. So this online arrangement is a very convenient way to avoid such people related problems. I have checked up the “ttdsevaonline.com” Site today and it is functioning very well. I hope it would do so in the future too. God bless the Site’s second innings.