AI videos on Tirumala’s history to be streamed for devotees awaiting darshan
Chief Minister Naidu launches many initiatives, including free group insurance cover of ₹2 lakh for pilgrims, Healing and Devotion Experience Centre, renovated Sri Venkateswara Museum, ‘Nandakam’ app and 32 electric buses
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated several technology-driven projects at Tirumala on September 16, 2026, to improve pilgrim safety, convenience, and spiritual experience. Among these initiatives were the Tirumala Healing and Devotion Experience Centre, the 'Durlabha Darshan' virtual reality experience, the renovated Sri Venkateswara Museum, the 'Nandakam' defect-management app, a group insurance scheme for pilgrims, and the introduction of 32 electric buses to reduce pollution in the temple town.
The Healing and Devotion Experience Centre, located in the 17th compartment of Vaikuntam Queue Complex-I, aims to make the waiting period spiritually enriching. It utilizes AI, virtual reality, and interactive displays to showcase Tirumala's history and spiritual significance, along with offering guided meditation sessions. Pilgrims can stream these sessions live at Vaikuntam Queue Complexes-I and II. The facility will also be used for training TTD employees.
The 'Durlabha Darshan' experience provides a 13-minute, 3D, 360-degree virtual tour of Lord Venkateswara and rare rituals such as Suprabhatham, Thomala Seva, Sahasranamarchana, and Abhishekam. Pilgrims can access this immersive experience using advanced VR headsets to get a glimpse of the grandeur of the temple and its rituals.
The renovated Sri Venkateswara Museum, originally established in 1998, now boasts four floors and 14 galleries spread over nearly 1 lakh square feet. The museum houses over 8,000 rare artifacts and features immersive technology, holographic displays, and interactive digital archives. Naidu launched a group insurance scheme offering up to a ₹2 lakh life cover for up to four days for pilgrims and Srivari Seva volunteers, with the premium to be borne by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
The Nandakam app, which covers 7,043 accommodation rooms, facilitates real-time resolution of electrical, plumbing, housekeeping, and carpentry complaints, with automatic escalation for unresolved issues.
Naidu also flagged off 32 electric buses, titled 'Srivari Dharmarathas', funded by Reliance Industries Limited (25 buses) and Bharat Biotech Foundation (seven buses). The addition of these electric buses raises the total number of free buses to 50 and electric buses to 44. With these new additions, daily trips across three routes will increase from 300 to 810, with buses available every three minutes on major routes.
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