Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu the another that he be called as Govindaraja. This temple was Built in the 12th century, it was consecrated in 1130 AD by Saint Ramanuja. It is one of the largest and oldest temples in the region, this temple is located just 1 km from Tirupati Railway Station and 22 km from Tirumala Balaji Temple. The temple’s main deity Govindaraja is shown lying in a yoga nidra pose with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi.
A 50-meter-high seven storied Rajagopuram was built in 1624 it stands at the east entrance of the gate which is decorated with Ramayana carvings. The temple complex has two main shrines: one for Govindaraja and one for Lord Krishna (Parthasarathi). This one is managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and follows Vaikhanasa traditions. Major festivals are included like Brahmotsavam in May -June and the Float Festival in February-March these festival are attracting thousands of tourists and worshippers of these idols.
Daily rituals occur from 5 AM to 9:30 PM. Quick darshan costs 20 INR and special entrance is 5 INR. The temple also has smaller shrines for Andal, Ramanuja, and others, making it a key pilgrimage site.
Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva 2025 : Timings,Booking & Prices
Mind Map of the Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Deity | Lord Govindaraja (a form of Lord Vishnu) |
| Architecture | Dravidian style with intricate carvings and a towering Rajagopuram |
| Significance | One of the largest temple complexes in Andhra Pradesh; believed to be associated with Lord Venkateswara |
| History | Established in the 12th century; consecrated by Saint Ramanuja in 1130 AD |
| Festivals | Brahmotsavam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Kalyanotsavam |
| Temple Timings | Opens at 5:00 AM, closes at 9:00 PM with breaks in between |
| Nearby Attractions | Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Kapila Theertham, ISKCON Tirupati |
Temple timings
| Activity | Timings |
|---|---|
| Temple Opening | 5:00 AM |
| Morning Rituals | 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM |
| General Darshan | 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Midday Break (Limited Access) | 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM |
| Afternoon Darshan | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Evening Rituals | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Night Darshan | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Temple Closing | 9:30 PM |
What are the Sevas and Darshans are available
| Seva/Darshan | Timings | Price (INR) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suprabhatam | 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM | ₹10 per person | Early morning ritual to wake the deity with hymns and chants. |
| Thomala Seva | 5:30 AM – 6:00 AM | ₹10 per person | Adorning the deity with flower garlands. |
| Archana | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM | Not specified (likely ₹10 or free) | Recitation of deity’s names for blessings; general Archana cost may vary. |
| Sahasranamarchana | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Not specified (likely ₹10-20) | Recitation of 1,000 names of the deity with devotion. |
| Archana Anantara Darshan | 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM | Free | Free darshan post-Archana rituals. |
| Sarva Darshan (Free) | 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 4:45 PM, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Free | General free darshan for all devotees; no ticket required for children under 12, physically challenged, or elderly. |
| Special Entrance | Same as Sarva Darshan timings | ₹5 per person | Faster entry for quicker darshan. |
| Quick Darshan (Sheegra) | Same as Sarva Darshan timings | ₹20 per person | Paid option for expedited darshan; ticket required for ages 12 and above. |
| Ekantha Seva | 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM | ₹10 per person | Evening ritual before temple closing, involves final offerings. |
Suggested Darshan Order and Travel Tips
Typically, devotees first visit the Padmavathi Ammavaru Temple in Tiruchanur, then the Govindaraja Swamy Temple, followed by the Varaha Swamy Temple in Tirumala, and finally, they worship the main deity, Lord Venkateswara. Plan your visit based on what’s convenient for you, but this is the traditional order. If you’re arriving at Tirupati Railway Station, the Govindaraja Swamy Temple is just a 3-4 minute walk away. People there will guide you.
If you’re coming from the Tirupati Bus Stand, it’s a 10-15 minute walk, or you can take an auto-rickshaw for around ₹60. From Tiruchanur to the Govindaraja Swamy Temple, you can take a bus to the railway station and walk, or an auto from Tiruchanur costs about ₹100-120.
Temple Timings and Sevas
The temple opens around 5:00 AM with the Suprabatham Seva.
The Suprabatham is performed in front of the Govindaraja Swamy sanctum at around 5:00 AM, followed by Viswaroopa Darshan, Archana Seva, and Thomala Seva. To attend the Suprabatham Seva, you can buy a ₹10 ticket at the counter on the left side of the temple gopuram (tower). Archana Seva and Thomala Seva tickets are also ₹10 each. These are only available offline, not online. By 4:30 AM, devotees start queuing up, and the counter opens around 4:45 AM to issue tokens.
Temple Rules and Facilities
Mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple. You can deposit your phone, bag, and footwear at the designated counter on the right side. Sometimes, small bags are allowed, but phones must be deposited. Don’t leave footwear in open spaces, as they may get stolen.
Special sevas like Suprabatham, Thomala, and Archana continue until 8:30 AM, and tickets cost ₹10 each. After Naivedyam (offering), a new darshan session starts around 9:30 AM and continues until 12:30 PM. The temple closes for the afternoon and reopens at 5:30 PM for darshan until 8:30 PM. After that, public darshan begins, followed by Ekantham Seva from 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM, with tickets also priced at ₹10.
Online and Special Sevas
Sevas like Suprabatham, Thomala, Archana, and Ekantham are only available offline for ₹10. Online, you can book Kumkumarchana Seva on Fridays for ₹250 (for two people) and Unjal Seva (swing service) in the evening at 5:30 PM for ₹116, where the deity is placed in a mandapam behind the sanctum. Male devotees may be invited to participate in carrying the deity during Unjal Seva, which is a great privilege. Veda Asirvachanam (Vedic blessings) is conducted daily and can also be booked online.
During annual festivals like Brahmotsavam, the temple follows the same grandeur as Tirumala. For annual sevas like Pavitrotsavam, tickets can be booked online or through the app, with updates provided.
Other Temple Services
For Mundan (hair offering), you can visit Kapileswarar Temple, Tiruchanur Alamelu Mangapuram, or Srinivasamangapuram.
Temple Sanctums and History
The Govindaraja Swamy Temple was built by Sri Ramanujar. Near the main gopuram, on the left side, you’ll find sanctums for Kothandarama and Ranganathar. Inside, on the left, Pundarikavalli Thayar is seated beautifully. After her darshan, you can visit the Alwars’ and Sri Ramanujar’s sanctums, which are open during temple hours.
A special entry darshan ticket for ₹20 is available at the counter outside, allowing you to skip some queues for faster darshan. Free darshan is also available. The queue first leads to Govindaraja Swamy’s sanctum, where the deity is in a reclining posture, beautifully adorned on a wooden platform. You can have close darshan from head to toe. The queue then moves to Parthasarathy Perumal’s sanctum (seated posture), followed by Goda Devi and Andal Nachiyar’s sanctum, where the idols are strikingly lifelike.
After their darshan, on the right side of the prakaram (circumambulatory path), you’ll find Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy in a standing posture with Thayar, adorned with intricate Dashavatara sculptures. The temple is ancient and well-maintained. As you circumambulate, you’ll see signs for Vimanam darshan, where you can worship Govindaraja Swamy in the vimana, similar to Tirumala’s Vimana Venkateswara. Don’t miss the gopuram darshan, where details are written on boards. When I visited, they offered curd rice as prasadam inside the temple.
Significance of Tirupati Divya Desam
For a traditional visit to Tirupati Divya Desam, which includes three temples (Tiruchanur, Govindaraja Swamy, and Tirumala), start with Padmavathi Ammavaru, then Govindaraja Swamy, and finally Varaha Swamy before Venkateswara in Tirumala. Nowadays, due to time constraints, many go directly to Tirumala and return. The Govindaraja Swamy Temple is unique, with its own significance, and its history is connected to Tirumala’s Sri Venkateswara. Both temples glorify each other’s deities.
Temple Maintenance and Additional Sanctums
The temple is beautifully maintained, from its towering gopuram to the intricate sculptures. Near Pundarikavalli Thayar, you can climb steps to see Chakrathalwar’s sanctum.
Annaprasadam Details
For Annaprasadam, they distribute around 2,000 tokens daily starting at 11:00 AM near the gopuram. A person at a counter issues printed slips using a machine. You need this slip to get Annaprasadam.
Opposite the gopuram, announcements are made via speakers about token distribution for Annaprasadam. Tokens are limited to 2,000 daily and are distributed until exhausted, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, as indicated on a board. To reach the Annaprasadam area, go left from the gopuram, cross a small road, and enter the Nammalwar sanctum area. A vigilance officer collects the slip, and footwear must be deposited outside. Inside, there’s a waiting hall with fans and lights, where devotees are sent in batches.
The building is traditional and beautiful, with intricate sculptures. The Nammalwar sanctum may be closed after 12:00 PM. Even if you don’t eat Annaprasadam, visit this area for darshan—it’s stunning. Nammalwar sanctum is also present at Kapileswarar Temple. Sri Ramanujar served here for a year, so don’t miss the Nammalwar sanctum during open hours.
The Annaprasadam area is in a prakaram-like space, not too wide but well-maintained with tiles, fans, and lights. They serve sambar rice, rasam rice, curd rice, coconut chutney, beetroot poriyal, and sakkarai pongal, similar to Tirumala’s Annaprasadam.
If you’ve booked a seva, you may be allotted to serve here. The food was good, but you need a token, and once tokens are exhausted, no food is served. Arrive early to ensure the Nammalwar sanctum is open.
Additional Attractions and Tips
Next time, I’ll share a video when the Nammalwar sanctum is open. There’s also a museum near the Nammalwar sanctum that I missed—visit it if you go. Many shops sell brass items and lamps, but they’re pricey, so bargain.
Before entering the temple, you’ll see an Anjaneyar sanctum on the main road. Opposite the main gopuram, a subscriber mentioned a Narasimhar sanctum nearby, along with a Kothandarama sanctum. After darshan, if you’re heading to Tirumala by bus, Vishnu Nivasam is a 5-minute walk.