Car travels in Alipiri, doorstep pickup.

Alipiri is where the hill begins. Both routes up start here — the ghat road with its long series of hairpins, and the footpath of some 3,500 steps that pilgrims climb on foot — and every vehicle passes the TTD checkpost before it goes any further. That check is the part people forget when they plan the morning: it takes time, it takes longer at peak hours, and it is the single most common reason a darshan slot gets tight. Booking a car from Alipiri means the driver has already accounted for it.

Pickup tip — Say whether you are starting the climb or coming down — the waiting areas are different, and a driver told the wrong one will be on the far side of the checkpost from you.