Tiruvannamalai: Explore The Spiritual Hub Of Tamil Nadu!

Tiruvannamalai is sanctified with history, culture, and a core of spirituality. One of the holiest locations in Tamil Nadu, the small sleepy town is stable at the foot of the Arunachala hill or Annamalai. The implication is that the hill is measured as the form of Lord Shiva Himself. The beautiful town is home to one of “The Panch Bootha Stahala temples’ which represents the element of fire.

The foremost tourist lures in Tiruvannamalai contain ancient temples. One of the topmost sights in Tiruvannamalai is the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Enthusiastic to Lord Shiva and his beautiful wife Parvati, the temple has a heavenly legend linked with it. Below we have mentioned a few best places to visit in Tiruvannamalai.

Virupaksha Cave, Ramana Ashram, Seshadri Swamigal Ashram, Padavedu Renukambal temple, and Nedungunam Ramar temple are some of the prevalent tourist places to visit around Tiruvannamalai. The Karthigai Dheepam Festival held yearly during November/ December is an enjoyable time to visit. The revelries of on for ten days. Attend the festival as do all tourists in the town.

Best Places To Visit In Tiruvannamalai 

Thiruvannamalai claims its religious lures and particularly Annamalaiyar Temple. Indeed, it is the holy spiritual aura that draws individuals to this destination in Tamil Nadu.

Those observing a getaway to a picturesque place around the city, also have some implausible options such as Javadu Hills.

Virupaksha Cave

This special cave ashram in Thiruvannamalai is in the beautiful structure of the Hindu symbol ‘Om’. The cave is located atop a small peak in Arunachala Hill, close to 200 feet below the Skandasram cave. There are seven holy springs on the slope of the hill.

The caves seem to be called after the well-known 13th-century saint baptized Virupaksha Deva, who is said to have spent most of his life here. This is also where his samadhi is, i.e: his ashes are well-preserved here and deified every day.

Some individuals say the Sri Virupakshadeva was a believer of Guhai Namashivaya. Both of them survived in this place for several years. Very little is well known about Sri Virupaksha Deva, excluding that he once caught a very hot and scorching iron rod by his hand to assert that the sect Saiva is the best.

Sri Ramana Ashram

Positioned amidst a scenic setting, Sri Ramana Ashram is the correct destination in Thiruvannamalai to ponder and find inner peace. One can also delight in wonderful Satvic meals at this Ashram.

There is also a library in the Ashram that comprises unique and rare books. The ashram endeavors are hard to preserve the environment.

Hundreds of visitors are provided accommodations so that they may exercise the teachings in the locality of the sacred shrine holy by His continued existence. Ashram carries vegetarian meals to numerous hundreds of visitors daily.

The publication department discharges books in different languages which comprise the authentic teaching of the sage.

Parvathamalai Mountain

As per the views of the historians, the place governed by king Nanan Sei nanan throughout ancient duration is Navira hills, currently named Parvathamalai. It exists in the foothill of javadi hills and Abidagujambal – Maligarjunar temple is positioned on the hilltop.

The beautiful temple is a boon for mountain trekkers with natural scenarios and a calm breeze. This hill is better known as Thenkailayam and worshipped by several saints.

This place can be arrived either from Thenmadhimangalam or from kadaladi. It is at a distance of approximately 30 Km from Tiruvannamalai. and nearly 25 km from Polur. 

Arunachaleshwara Temple

Enthusiastic to Lord Shiva, Arunachaleshwar Temple is the foremost attraction of Thiruvannamalai. It is amongst the major temples in India with an area of 10 hectares, and it also assertions having the tallest Gopuram a height of nearly 66 m.

This beautiful temple and temple town is measured to be rich in spiritual heritage. The place is concentrated with different ashrams and samadhis enthusiastic to saints and divine leaders from all over India.

The magnificent Arunachaleshwara Temple at the base of Arunachala hill in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.

One of the most sacred Shiva Temple, the Shiva linga here signifies the element Fire (Agni). pic.twitter.com/nP4D4eOodp

— Raghu (@IndiaTales7) June 18, 2021

Devotees and followers from several nationalities have made this area their spiritual home. The Tiruvannamalai Arunachalam Temple, holy hill, and surrounding locations are better known to provide strong positive vibrations and even present some also claim to have sighted ancient Siddhas or blessed men deep in meditation.

Annamalaiyar Temple View Point

At a distance of nearly 7 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Annamalaiyar Temple Viewpoint is located in the village of Thalai Cholai in the Salem district of Tamilnadu. This is one of the great vantage points in Yercaud hills and also one of the topmost places for sightseeing in Yercaud.

Annamalaiyar Temple is an attractive Shiva Temple with an individual tower sculpted with colorful idols. The temple is positioned at an altitude of 1400 m above sea level and proposes an all-encompassing view of the hills along with the coffee plantations, Servaroyan temple, spice gardens, and orange groves.

The astonishing temple is also a simple yet attractive structure with one small and moderate tower decorated with idols and painted in different colors.

Sattanur Dam

Sathanur Dam, a spectacular engineering marvel, is positioned at a distance of 30 kilometers from the city of Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. This breathtaking structure has been constructed over River Thenpennai (River Pennaiyar) flowing through the route of Chennakesava Hills in Thandarampet Taluk.

The reservoir is named the Sathanur Reservoir and is considered one of the foremost dams in the state. The structure comprises pleasant parks, a fish grotto, and an enormous crocodile farm that lures nature fanatics and visitors from all over the world.

The site is outstandingly attractive throughout the monsoons as the river flows with clear crystal waters. It is so beautiful that it has been a favorite spot for different feature films, especially during the 50s and 60s.

Mamara Guhai

Accurately translated, Mamara Guhai means the ‘Tree Caves’. This is a religious sight in the hilly terrain of Thiruvannamalai. It is supposed that this is the cave where the mystic popular saint Sri Ramana Maharishi carried out penances and meditation for more than 5 years.

There are shrines enthusiastic to Lord Shiv, Goddess Annapoorna, and Rajeshwari along with Lingams of local Siddha Gurus. These caves are enclosed by the beauty of the hills and the sight is breathtaking.

Skandashramam

Near to the Arunachaleshwar temple and the Ramana Ashram, this is one of the popular caves where the saint Ramana spent his era of stay in Thiruvannamalai. To arrive at this destination, one requires to trek a long way. The view from the topmost is valued it.

Best Time To Visit Tiruvannamalai 

The climate of this grand city is heartening and pleasant. Individuals love to visit the place during the year but still, the best time to visit Thiruvannamalai is between October and March and between June and September.

How To Reach Tiruvannamalai? 

Thiruvannamalai is effortlessly accessible from any corner of the country. If you are traveling from far away states, airways would be the ideal route to arrive at Thiruvannamalai. Whereas, the railway serves as the best way for those traveling from close cities or states.

BY AIR: The closest to arriving at Thiruvannamalai is Chennai International Airport, Chennai which is located just at a distance of nearly 172 km from the town. The airport has an upright network with other cities of the country through regular frequent flights. One can avail of taxi services from the airport to arrive at Thiruvannamalai.

BY RAIL: The massive Indian Railways network links the town of Thiruvannamalai, which has its railway station with other foremost cities such as Madurai, Tirupati, Chennai, Pondicherry, and Vellore, which are further well-linked to other parts of the country through railways.

BY ROAD: Cities such as Bengaluru, Vellore, Madurai, and Chennai are well-linked with Thiruvannamalai through road and national highways such as NH 234, NH 66, and NH 289. One can either board a Tamil Nadu state bus or can even arrive here by renting a taxi.

Conclusion 

A town set amidst hills and full of monolithic temples Tiruvannamalai has been and endures to be a leading mystical destination and foremost attraction in Tamil Nadu. In different holy places, the divinity or the temple is found at the summit of a hill, but it is only here in Tiruvannamalai, that a complete hill is worshipped as a divinity.

Once the home of the prodigious sage Sri Ramana Maharishi, today thousands of individuals flock to Tiruvannamalai to follow his path, looking for knowledge and tranquility. Escape to this attractive spiritual retreat to rejuvenate your mind and rinse your soul.

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