<p>Now trek 11km uphill and get a 'laddu prasadam' at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateshswara.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the famous hill shrine at Tirumala near here, will offer one laddu prasadam free to devotees who prefer to trek on foot the 11-km long stairway leading to the temple from the foot of the hills from October five.<br /><br />This was with a view to encouraging the age-old practice of traditional way of reaching a sacred place, temple sources told PTI here today.<br /><br />The annual Navaratri Brahmotsavam would commence on October five.<br /><br />An average of about 70 lakh devotees are now reaching the hill shrine on foot spending three to five hours through the stairway from Alipiri annually.<br /><br />While trekking the hills at one point of the stairway, each devotee would be given a coupon and after reaching the hills, the devotee could avail the free laddu by submitting it at a particular counter situated close to the shrine, the sources said.<br /><br />In 2008, the TTD had introduced a new privilege for pedestrian pilgrims to go through a special gate in the massive queue complex to have darshan of the Lord. <br /></p>
<p>Now trek 11km uphill and get a 'laddu prasadam' at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateshswara.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the famous hill shrine at Tirumala near here, will offer one laddu prasadam free to devotees who prefer to trek on foot the 11-km long stairway leading to the temple from the foot of the hills from October five.<br /><br />This was with a view to encouraging the age-old practice of traditional way of reaching a sacred place, temple sources told PTI here today.<br /><br />The annual Navaratri Brahmotsavam would commence on October five.<br /><br />An average of about 70 lakh devotees are now reaching the hill shrine on foot spending three to five hours through the stairway from Alipiri annually.<br /><br />While trekking the hills at one point of the stairway, each devotee would be given a coupon and after reaching the hills, the devotee could avail the free laddu by submitting it at a particular counter situated close to the shrine, the sources said.<br /><br />In 2008, the TTD had introduced a new privilege for pedestrian pilgrims to go through a special gate in the massive queue complex to have darshan of the Lord. <br /></p>