South India · Tamil Nadu
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
Karthigai Deepam (Nov-Dec), when the giant lamp is lit on the summit, is the great festival; every full moon draws lakhs for girivalam.
About Tiruvannamalai
- Hills
Where it is
Tiruvannamalai is a temple town in northern Tamil Nadu, headquarters of Tiruvannamalai district, at the foot of the sacred hill of Arunachala, south-west of Chennai.
History
The Arunachaleswarar temple, one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams where Shiva is worshipped as fire, took its present form from the 9th century under the Cholas, with great towers and halls added by the Vijayanagara rulers. In the 20th century the sage Ramana Maharshi, who lived on and below the hill, drew seekers from around the world.
People
Tiruvannamalai speaks Tamil and lives from farming, trade and pilgrims, and on every full-moon night crowds walk barefoot around the hill. Many foreign seekers stay in the town's ashrams, and the temple's festivals keep Tamil devotional music alive.
Known for
- The Arunachaleswarar Temple
- Girivalam, the 14 km walk around Arunachala
- Karthigai Deepam
- Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram
- Skandashram and Virupaksha cave
Did you know?
At Karthigai Deepam a huge lamp is lit on the summit of Arunachala, and its flame can be seen for many kilometres around.
Shrines and sites
- Arunachaleswarar Temple
- Girivalam -- the 14 km barefoot circuit of Arunachala hill, especially on full-moon nights
- Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram
- Skandashram and Virupaksha cave
Traditions
- Hindu
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