Fake TTD Websites and Middlemen: How to Stay Safe

Fake TTD websites, apps, social-media pages and touts regularly offer darshan, seva and rooms for money. This guide lists the official TTD sites, shows how to spot a fake, and says who to call if you are cheated.

Information guide for pilgrims. We are a taxi service and we do not provide or arrange darshan, sevas, rooms, tickets or donations. Please book only on the official TTD websites, and confirm details there. Last checked October 2026.

  • Main official portalttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in
  • Donations and Kalyanamandapamtirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in
  • TTD news sitenews.tirumala.org
  • SVBC channelsvbcttd.com
  • TTD call centre155257
  • National cybercrime helpline1930
  • Extra fees for bookingNone through TTD; you pay only for the ticket or room
  • Risk is highestWhen quotas are about to open or have just sold out

Why this warning matters

Fake websites, apps, social-media pages and touts offer darshan, seva and room bookings for money, and they target first-time and out-of-state pilgrims in particular. TTD has repeatedly told pilgrims to use only its official channels.

The scale is large. Police removed 32 fake guest-house websites on 30 July 2026, and an earlier report counted more than 40 fake sites. In a statement reported on 15 July 2026, a TTD Additional EO asked pilgrims to book only through official channels, not to pay middlemen, and said strict action will be taken.

The official TTD websites

As listed on tirumala.org, the official sites are: ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in for seva, darshan, accommodation, hundi and advance reservation; tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in for donations, Kalyanamandapam and Panchagavya products; news.tirumala.org for news; and svbcttd.com for the SVBC channel. The TTD mobile app is also named as official.

Some older sources mention ttdsevaonline.com. Its current status is not confirmed, so treat ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in as the main portal and check the address in your browser before you pay.

Cost: what you should and should not pay

Genuine TTD booking and information channels are free to use. The only charge is for the ticket or the room itself. Anyone who asks for an extra service fee or quota fee is not official.

A VIP or instant darshan offered by an unofficial party is not a TTD offer. Do not pay for it.

How to spot a fake

Look at the domain. Official sites end in .ap.gov.in. Sites such as tirupatibalaji-ap-gov.org and ttddevasthanam.online were flagged as fakes, and they look close enough to fool a quick glance.

Be wary of offers of instant or VIP darshan, rooms that are cheaper than expected, links forwarded on WhatsApp or social media, and any request to pay to a personal UPI ID or QR code. TTD advisories say a forwarded WhatsApp link is not safe.

Scams rise when quotas are about to open or just after they sell out, because that is when pilgrims are most anxious to find a ticket.

On the day at Tirumala and Tirupati

Genuine counters are at Tirumala and Tirupati, for example Srinivasam, Vishnu Nivasam and the CRO. Touts operate near them.

Check that your ticket bears the TTD format and matches your ID. Do not hand over your ID or money to someone at the gates who promises you entry.

If you have been cheated

Report it to the helpline, to the national cybercrime helpline 1930, and to the police. The TTD call centre number is 155257. A vigilance complaint cell number was reported as 9866898630 in July 2026, while older reports give 0877-2263828, so please confirm which is current before relying on either.

How to book, step by step

  1. Start from the official addressType ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in yourself or use the TTD mobile app. Do not tap a link sent on WhatsApp or social media.
  2. Check the domain endingOfficial booking sites end in .ap.gov.in. Look-alike names ending in .org or .online are a warning sign.
  3. Pay only the ticket or room priceWalk away from any request for an extra service or quota fee.
  4. Never pay a personal UPI or QRA request to pay an individual account is a clear sign the offer is not from TTD.
  5. Carry the matching IDYour ticket should carry the TTD format and match the ID you show at the gate.
  6. Report any fraudCall 155257, the national cybercrime helpline 1930, and inform the police.

Please confirm before you travel

Reports differ on these points, and TTD can change rules at short notice.

  • The vigilance complaint number is reported as 9866898630 (July 2026) in one place and 0877-2263828 in older reports. Check which one is current.
  • ttdsevaonline.com appears in older sources. Whether it is still a TTD site is not confirmed, so use ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in as the main portal.
  • The count of fake sites is reported as 32 (guest-house sites removed by police) and as more than 40 in an earlier report.

Getting there from Tirupati by taxi

Tirumala and Tirupati counters. This page is about booking safely, not about a reporting place. Genuine TTD counters are at Tirumala and in Tirupati city, and touts operate near them, so keep your booking confirmation and ID ready. If you need a ride between Tirupati and the hill or between counters, our local taxi service can help.

Ask for a taxi quote on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

What is the real TTD website?

The main official portal for seva, darshan and accommodation is ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in. Donations and Kalyanamandapam are on tirupatibalaji.ap.gov.in.

Can a travel agent book darshan for me?

TTD advises pilgrims to rely only on TTD channels and not to pay middlemen.

Do I pay anything extra for VIP darshan?

Not through unofficial parties. Genuine TTD channels charge only for the ticket or room.

Who should I call if I am cheated?

Call the TTD call centre on 155257, the national cybercrime helpline 1930, and inform the police.

Is a WhatsApp link about darshan tickets safe?

No. TTD advisories say forwarded WhatsApp or social-media links are not safe. Go to the official site yourself.

How do I recognise a fake website?

Official sites end in .ap.gov.in. Fakes such as tirupatibalaji-ap-gov.org and ttddevasthanam.online were flagged. Offers of instant darshan, cheap rooms or payment to a personal UPI are warning signs.

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