Now trek 11km uphill and get a 'laddu prasadam' at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateshswara.
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.
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.
The annual Navaratri Brahmotsavam would commence on October five.
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.
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.
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.