Tiruvannamalai
Darshan Timings • Temples • Itineraries • How to Reach • Stay • Food • Festivals
🛕 About Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai is the fire element of the pancha bhootha sthalas — the Arunachaleswarar temple at the foot of the Arunachala hill, the 14-km Girivalam full-moon circuit around it, and the Karthigai Deepam, the hilltop beacon whose 2025 edition drew a reported ~40 lakh devotees.
The darshan hours come from the temple’s own HR&CE site: 5:30 AM–3 PM and 3–8 PM. Checked 02 October 2026.
The essentials
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Temple hours | 5:30 AM–3 PM & 3–8 PM (entry till 7:30 PM peak days) | Verified — official source |
| Girivalam | ~14 km paved full-moon circuit; 8 Ashta Lingams en route | Reported |
| Karthigai Deepam 2026 | 24 November (Drik Panchang) | Reported (panchang) |
| 2025 Deepam scale | ~40 lakh on Maha Deepam day | Reported |
| Ramana Ashram | Free accommodation by online registration (gururamana.org) | Reported (official site) |
| Ram Jhula of the south? No — | the hill walk is the practice | — |
The town’s structure
The temple and its 66-metre Raja Gopuram anchor the town; the Girivalam road rings the hill past the eight directional lingams; and the Ramana Maharshi ecosystem (Ramanasramam, Skandashram, Virupaksha cave) climbs the hill’s southern slope. Chennai sits ~200 km east, Bengaluru ~200 km west (reported). The 2026 Deepam — 24 November — is the year’s event.
Frequently asked questions
What are the temple timings?
5:30 AM–3 PM and 3–8 PM (official HR&CE site, checked 2 October 2026).
When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
Reported 24 November 2026 (Drik Panchang) — the Maha Deepam night.
Yatra Alerts — free
Booking windows opening, festival dates, crowd advisories — a short alert only when it matters. Get the next Tiruvannamalai alert before you plan.
🧭 Explore Tiruvannamalai
🛕 Darshan Timings
1 guides
🚆 How to Reach
1 guides
🗺️ Itineraries
1 guides
🧳 Practical Guides
1 guides
🎆 Seasonal & Festivals
1 guides
🏨 Stay
1 guides
🏛️ Temples & Sites
1 guides
✅ Latest updates & verification
⚠️ Information can changeTemple timings, pass rules and travel details may change — always check the official source before travelling. Every number on this page names its source and the date it was last verified.
Tiruvannamalai Yatra Alerts — free
Trust rule changes, festival dates, crowd advisories — a short alert only when it matters. Get Tiruvannamalai alerts by email and WhatsApp →