Tiruvannamalai Girivalam

I had a prayer to do Girivalam and it was pending for sometime as I did not
have holidays. At last on 27th Nov 09, I left for Tiruvannamalai by bus
from Bangalore. I tried for an accommodation since the last two weeks but
due to Karthigai festival the Ashrams were booked already. Hence thought of
doing Girivalam and come back by bus ASAP. I think I did the right thing.

Got down from the Bus at 6.15pm on Friday, 27 Nov. Walked towards the
temple. Deposited my small bag and sandals to a job near the temple. (They
charge Rs.10/- for keeping the bag and sandals). Prayed at the entrance by
worshipping the camphor fire in front of the temple and started walking the
Girivalam route at 7pm. Wherever I found the Lingam or other temples didnt
enter them ( please note that many of the temples, almost all of them, are
privately owned and they dont come under the purview of HR Endowment
Department) but from the road itself made a namaskaram and carried on. But
at Ner Annamalai Temple I entered and prayed for sometime. For about 8 Km
there is no special path for the Girivalam devotees. You just walk at the
left side of the road. Good lighting is provided all along the route,
thanks to Rajanikanth. From 8th to 11th Km you find a paved platform for
Girivalam walkers. How I wish it could be extended for the remaining
distance also. You come across lot of sanyasis all along the route - they
expect something from you by way of alms. As I am not to judge their
credentials and there were too many of them I just did namaskarams to
whoever said Annamalaikku Arohara and kept walking. At around 10pm reached
back the temple. Legs were paining as I did not walk this much distance for
few years. Having accomplished I had a sense of satisfaction.
Annamalaiyane Saranam.

There are few points to share with the readers. It is better to stay at
nearby places than at Tiruvannamalai as it has become too much
commercialised. Hotels charge exorbitant prices for dishes. For example
Hotel Ashok near the Bus Stand charges Rs.19/- for one single Chapathi and
Rs.9/- for coffee. There is no one to control these exploitations. One
half litre water bottle at Bus Stand costs Rs.20/-. Everyone at
Tiruvannamalai is trying to exploit maximum during this Karthigai Festival.
Better to avoid your trip during this period. Otherwise also to bring down
the exploitation we should not plan for staying at Tiruvannamalai but just
arrive, do your girivalam and leave the place. There are no set rules for
Girivalam. Have a clean heart. I know it is very difficult - our mind is
always full of tension and other feelings. Hence try to keep chanting
'Annamalai' or 'Namasivyaa" and keep walking. By practice you will be able
to forget other things and keep concentrating on your walk and prayer to
God.
You can start from the entrance of the Temple or from Ramanashram and finish
at the same point, any time of the day. Many people advise many rules for
doing Girivalam. Yes, you need His permission but then if He doesnt permit
you wont reach Tiruvannamalai. Hence if you have reached Tiruvannamalai, he
has already permitted you to do your prayer. What matters is a good mind
and nothing else. I would request Hindu Munnani or similar organisations can
help the outstation devotees by keeping the bags and sandals for free or for
a nominal fee. Long back I visited a Gurudwara and one Sardarji accepted my
sandals with so much respect. When I came back after the prayer I couldnt
recognise my sandals - they were cleaned and polished by the shoe-keeper.
And absolutely free to the devotees. When will Hindus learn these good
things from others?

A. Sundararaman

A SUNDARARAMAN said:

I had a prayer to do Girivalam and it was pending for sometime as I did not
have holidays. At last on 27th Nov 09, I left for Tiruvannamalai by bus
from Bangalore. I tried for an accommodation since the last two weeks but
due to Karthigai festival the Ashrams were booked already. Hence thought of
doing Girivalam and come back by bus ASAP. I think I did the right thing.

Got down from the Bus at 6.15pm on Friday, 27 Nov. Walked towards the
temple. Deposited my small bag and sandals to a job near the temple. (They
charge Rs.10/- for keeping the bag and sandals). Prayed at the entrance by
worshipping the camphor fire in front of the temple and started walking the
Girivalam route at 7pm. Wherever I found the Lingam or other temples didnt
enter them ( please note that many of the temples, almost all of them, are
privately owned and they dont come under the purview of HR Endowment
Department) but from the road itself made a namaskaram and carried on. But
at Ner Annamalai Temple I entered and prayed for sometime. For about 8 Km
there is no special path for the Girivalam devotees. You just walk at the
left side of the road. Good lighting is provided all along the route,
thanks to Rajanikanth. From 8th to 11th Km you find a paved platform for
Girivalam walkers. How I wish it could be extended for the remaining
distance also. You come across lot of sanyasis all along the route - they
expect something from you by way of alms. As I am not to judge their
credentials and there were too many of them I just did namaskarams to
whoever said Annamalaikku Arohara and kept walking. At around 10pm reached
back the temple. Legs were paining as I did not walk this much distance for
few years. Having accomplished I had a sense of satisfaction.
Annamalaiyane Saranam.

There are few points to share with the readers. It is better to stay at
nearby places than at Tiruvannamalai as it has become too much
commercialised. Hotels charge exorbitant prices for dishes. For example
Hotel Ashok near the Bus Stand charges Rs.19/- for one single Chapathi and
Rs.9/- for coffee. There is no one to control these exploitations. One
half litre water bottle at Bus Stand costs Rs.20/-. Everyone at
Tiruvannamalai is trying to exploit maximum during this Karthigai Festival.
Better to avoid your trip during this period. Otherwise also to bring down
the exploitation we should not plan for staying at Tiruvannamalai but just
arrive, do your girivalam and leave the place. There are no set rules for
Girivalam. Have a clean heart. I know it is very difficult - our mind is
always full of tension and other feelings. Hence try to keep chanting
'Annamalai' or 'Namasivyaa" and keep walking. By practice you will be able
to forget other things and keep concentrating on your walk and prayer to
God.
You can start from the entrance of the Temple or from Ramanashram and finish
at the same point, any time of the day. Many people advise many rules for
doing Girivalam. Yes, you need His permission but then if He doesnt permit
you wont reach Tiruvannamalai. Hence if you have reached Tiruvannamalai, he
has already permitted you to do your prayer. What matters is a good mind
and nothing else. I would request Hindu Munnani or similar organisations can
help the outstation devotees by keeping the bags and sandals for free or for
a nominal fee. Long back I visited a Gurudwara and one Sardarji accepted my
sandals with so much respect. When I came back after the prayer I couldnt
recognise my sandals - they were cleaned and polished by the shoe-keeper.
And absolutely free to the devotees. When will Hindus learn these good
things from others?

A. Sundararaman

Click to expand...

I am fully in agreement with the views expressed our member.
We can not match the devotion of sikhs and cleanliness of the Gurudwaras..

"Tiruvannamalai Girivalam"

Dear Learned Members :

It is commonly said, "UDAL NALAM", "MANA VALAM" & "PANA BALAM" is guaranteed as a blessings for any one who is doing the Girivalam.

Our 'Arunachala' team, follows this pattern for the past 3 years for doing the Pournami Girivalam, and found it quite successful without stay,running around for food etc.

We leave from Bangalore around 6.30 p.m. and reach the Holy Hills around 10 p.m. and commence girivalam around 11.00 p.m.
Normally it takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on the crowd and the pace at which we walk. we finish girivalam around between 3-4 a.m.
We try to avoid resting in the middle and confine only to liquid refreshments.

Take the vehicle back around 4.30-5. a.m. and reach B'lore around 9.30 a.m. and arrive for work a bit late or post lunch. The only complaint we have is we cannot have darshan on a Pournamai day or visit Ashrams and spend some time there. For that purpose we do exclusive week end trips covering the temple & ashrams exclusively once in 6 months or so.

Though we can have many complaints about the pitch of commercialisation, our group has realised over a period of time doing Girivalam has helped in all walks of life.

It is also said, that a visit to the holy shrine during "Karthigai" month is very blissful & soul filling.

As we have another 10 days time, members can try it.

"Om Arunachala Namah"

Sanki

hi folks,
any folks visited amritsar in punjab...i visited sri harminder sahib gurudwara....here once the former CM of punjab cleaned the
shoes of devotees....in gurudwara... nobody is above the GURU...
we have to learn from them....all are equal in langar....a community
kitchen....by the devotees..for the devottees...

regards
tbs

Thanks for the feedback

Dear Members:

I am indeed very thankful for the responses from the members Shri.Sridharan, Shri. Sanki and Shri Tbs.

I hope other members too shall start adopting the procedure followed by Bangalore members. Just do the Girivalam and leave the place. You can make visits to the Temples and Ashrams with families later on a non-festival day to avoid the crowd and the exploitation. Though I wouldnt recommend to everyone, we should do the Girivalam without taking any food in between. Drinking water may be allowed.

Another sad incident I remember was at Ramana Ashram where I stayed during my last visit. I left my sandals outside the Ashram Office in the night, for taking dinner, along with few others. (Actually there is a place for depositing your footwear at the Ashram entrance, they keep it for free. ) When I came back after an hour my sandals were missing. I searched all over and couldn't find them but along with me I saw a foreigner, searching something, whose shoes also have been stolen by our 'Indian' brothers. I just couldnt look at his face and I was ashamed what we have done to our 'guest' who has come all the way from a foreign country in search of peace to our country. This is what we give them in return.

I heard that in Mecca the male members just use two piece clothing on the body when they circumambulate the Kaaba. No money and no cell phone. Just your body and piece of cloth to cover your bodyparts. That is all. We need to be one with the God and be as he created us in this planet. No chitchatting but only chanting of Annamalaikku Arohara or any other names of God.

Money has created the disparity among us. We should at least shun it during Girivalam. Yes, I know we cannot exist without that in this materialistic world but then for a few hours can't we forget it?

We all need to be firm and resolve to end the commercialisation and exploitation of our Hindu religion and our beliefs.

May God direct us in the right path.

A. Sundararaman

kathigai deepam 2009

Browse for the Deepam 2009 some important events


The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website
The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website
The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi website

Wowowowowowow ... Simply superb uncle. Excellent close shots. Even if we were in person there we wont be able to look the deities this much closer. Thanks a lot for sharing this links.

Pranams

To All: The Langur is free for all and every one should learn from sikhs and keeping their gurudwara is cleaned by only savadhars and all most all jobs by savadhars only we satsangies also carring all jobs related to our satsang gars and with only savadhars, it teaches us equality and our attachment towards GURu. Let TB start nearby temple with sava. s.r.k.

Namaskar everyone. I am back with you all after quite a long time. I had been telling Praveen that I will get back soon and today I decided that I would log in again.

I chose the Tiruvannamalai thread for the re-entry as Tiruvannamalai is close to my heart and soul. I am associated with it from my birth, but my physical being had been away from Tiruvannamalai off and on in the past thirty seven years for reasons of worldly matters.

To our dear Mr Sundararaman who commenced this thread, if all the Lingams around the hill are not in the “collection rolls” of the HR & CE department, I feel that we must be happy that they have not been nationalised and secularised !

There are rules for the Girivalam given in the Arunachala Puranam. Perhaps I may come with certain portions of it later. For now, let me give an account of the most important eight Lingams around in the Girivalam path.

1. Indira Lingam in the East - indicating that in the first eight years of one's life, he is treated like Devendran, pampered and cared for by every one around.

2. Agni Lingam in the South East - indicating that in the second eight years, one should have the fire to get at all that is good and burn out all that is bad, his mind should be as pure as fire to learn every little good thing. It should be as non-corruptible as fire, so that the rest of the life would proceed in the righteous path. One should walk thorough testing times and come out successful like the gold that has gone through fire.

3. Yama Lingam in the South – During the third eight years, one should get the knowledge of the fact of death and get one’s mind ready for it, be it for oneself or those around one. It should not be the case that one gets the shock whenever one’s near and dear part, for which one should get acquainted with the facts of life and death. The knowledge of Yama is essential as it leads one to the path of Dharma.

4. Niruthi Lingam in the South West – During the fourth eight years, one should learn the religious austerities and practice them.

5. Varuna Lingam in the West – Before the end of the fifth eight years, one should realise that there is nothing that one does that goes unnoticed by the forces of dharma. One should shun one’s dark side that always tries to out-shadow the bright side (that is the righteous path).

6. Vayu Lingam in the North West - Before the end of the sixth eight years, one should master or at least learn the principles of Prana and Pranavam.

7. Gubera Lingam in the North – Before the end of the seventh eight years, one should have earned enough wealth to bequeath and be debtless.

8. Easanya Lingam in the North East – By this time one should be at the fag end of one’s wordly existence. This is the place where Parameashwara Himself manifests and lives through as Rudra.

The Easanya Lingam is amidst the graves and is the presiding deity in the Mayana Bhoomi in Tiruvannamalai. By Vastu Shastra in any town, the graveyard and the Mayana Bhoomi must be located in the North east. It is only in Tiruvannamalai, we find that actually existing till date. (It is over the past fifteen years that this rule has been given the go by, because there have come up, developments to the north of this Mayana Bhoomi. This is a basic reason for the down trend in the dharmic activities of the people around there these days)

It is our practice to take bath after visiting the Mayanam. We even enter the house only after washing our feet and later go straight to take bath and get all the clothes washed. But while we do the girivalam in Tiruvannamalai, we go throuth the Valam by worshipping the Easanya Lingam in the thick of the Mayana Bhoomi and with those feet unwashed we go over to the temple and have darshan of Sri Arunachaleshwara and get back home. This is the speciality of Girivalam. Not a soul misses the Rudra Bhoomi and every soul worships the Shiva there. We are supposed to have had the realisation of the fact that the life that started as pampered as Devendiran will one day end at the Rudra Bhoomi.

And therefore, go over to the Sannathi of Sri Arunachaleshwara and meditate in Him for the ultimate realisation and salvation – Mukti – the life that does not have another birth.

But unfortunately, the Saramsa of Girivalam is not ever taught or thought about at all. People of all walks walk through the Holy Path, praying for worldly matters, just as my physical self is away from there in the past three decades.

Money has created the disparity among us. We should at least shun it during Girivalam. Yes, I know we cannot exist without that in this materialistic world but then for a few hours can't we forget it?

We all need to be firm and resolve to end the commercialisation and exploitation of our Hindu religion and our beliefs.

Click to expand...

The town gets a crowd of about five lakhs on every pournami day. Fortunately the crowd gets disbused over a fifteen kilometres circumambulation (Pradakshina) path. Sri Sanki states that on the Girivalam day they avoid getting into the temple as it is very crowded on that day.

It is practically not possible for even the "Almighty Deity" to grant darshan to more than 43200 persons in a day, going by the fact that there are only 86400 seconds and a person needs to have at least two seconds to have a glimpse of the Deity (call that darshan) with a Jarugandi or Thallunga command!

With a five lakhs bhaktas congregating on a single day, a darshan of Sri Arunachaleshwara in the Shrine is not possibile for every one.

The Arunachala Puranam or the age-old customs and practices do not specify that the Girivalam should be done only on Pournami day! It is only here that commercialisation commences! It commences in the minds of the present day devotees who feel that on a Pournami night, with the winds blowing cool and the moon shining bright, the setting around the Hill is cinematic to go around and in all comforts of less sweat one could have the pleasure of walking and talking. As I know of Arunachala, He doesnot expect this the least!

I have been having the pleasure of ekantha with the Lord, with no crowd at all in all my young days. That seems to be a luxury when we see the present day rush. But even today it is possible.

Come to Arunachala, stay overnight. Skandashramam is at about 800 feet high in the Hill. The Hill itself is 2768 feet high. Perhaps, you might visit the Skandashramam by around 4 p.m, Spend about an hour at the Skandashramam, start waking by the Mountain Path to the Ramanashramam. This Path is the Path of Bhagawan Ramana. Walk thorugh this in the evening twilight. Enjoy nature at its best. Have an areal view of the town and the Great Arunachala Temple. Enjoy its neat rectangular layout. Enjoy the nine Gopurams, neatly laid out in a plus. Look at the greenery inside the Praharas Particularly the green of the Nandavanam on the South of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Sit or lie down and relax in the greens ("the lawns") of the Hill for about fifteen minutes. Perhaps if you are lucky you may view the Sunset somewhere on the way. Get down at the Dusk at the rear of the Ramanashramam. Meditate for a while there and return to your place of stay by the night. If you have the energy, go over to the Temple to enjoy the Thevarams and Tirupathikams and the Palliarai Pooja.

Get up at about 4.30 in the morning. Bath and go over to the Temple. You might see the elephant bringing the water for Tirumanjanam. Enjoy the Pooja to the Cow and the Calf Enter the temple after they enter. Participate in the singing of the Thevarams and Tirupalliezucchi of Shiva and Parvati and participate in the Ushat Kaala Pooja.

On a working day on all these times, there will hardly be fifty or a hundred Bhaktas. You are sure to enjoy. But if you spread the word too much, the place might get crowded like the Pournami day !

Go for the Girivalam anytime you wish thereafter. There are good places around. If you do not hurry and decide to be one with Sri Arunachaleshwar, surely He will guide you through a peaceful journey to Him. I have always found that He does not give a good darshan to any one who thinks that one's time is precious and one must get back to one's home early! When one goed to Him, surely one is expected to be at His Lotus Feet and be guided by Him.

Starting 16th December 2009, it is the month of Margazhi. It is in Tiruvannamalai that Saint Manickavacagar composed the hymns on Shiva - Thiruvembavai

These days, the temple opens early in the morning and the Tiruvembavai and Tirupalliezucchi are sung in all reverence and bhakti. If you happen to go during this month, you are sure to enjoy. There are many auspicious days during this month and these days it would also be crowded. The Arudra day, the birthday of Bhagawan Ramana, Vaikunda Ekadasi to name a few.

Tiruvannamalai is a good place to enjoy the early morning dews/ Pani of Margazhi

Tiruvannamali again!

This time I went again to Annamalaiyar to redress my grievances. Yes, I am guilty of seeking him only when I have problems. But myself and my wife were also interested to partake in a Girivalam on a Pournami day, about which we have read and heard so much. We wanted to see it for ourselves physically.

So on the fullmoon day on 28 Feb, that too a Sunday, we got up very early morning, at 2.30am, took bath and thinking we will be mostly alone and stepped out of Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram. Lo and Behold, the Girivalam Road, at that weird hour, was chocked with people, walking barefoot. Old and young, kids, mothers carrying babies - Was very happy to see so much of believers. Or was it Spirituality has definitely made a comeback? Or is it because more and more people are turning to God, like me, only in times of problems? Anyway we were happy to see many people at that unearthly hour.

Unfortunately, few in the crowd, were not fully engrossed - perhaps they forgot for what they came. Some were discussing their office matters, some answering their cell phones. But most of the crowd was silent and walking. Commercialisation has come up in a big way, all sorts of items are sold on both sides of the Girivalam Road. Mostly 'soups' in the name of God (Andavan Soup is the brand name) and 'herbal' medicines etc., 'Computer Jothidam" and all sort of gimmicks to sell their wares in the name of God.

Most of us devotees who are not fully one with the God get distracted by this commercial exploitation. And there are many who patronise these wayside eateries selling idlis, dosa, coffee, tea, why even one shop was selling fresh "Gobi Manchurian" hot!

I cannot fail but to point out few things to the Powers that be to help us mudane devotees:
1. On Girivalam days, or even one day earlier to that, all mofussil buses are stopped outside the city. And the passengers have no other go except to take an auto to go to temple or to any other part inside the city. Autorickshaws make a killing by charging anything they feel like. It seems Police too choose to look the otherside without trying to stop this menace.
2. Outstation devotees have no place to keep their belongings outside the temple - though the temple has some locker system it is not known to many and it is in such odd place that any one can easily find out. Hence the private shopkeepers make a killing by charging a minimum of Rs.10/- & upwards, for anything from chappls to bag etc., that too on a hourly basis!
3. Price of eatables in any hotel - or water bottles in any outlet - these have no control absolutely. Tiruvannamalai has no Government authority (either State or Central) it seems. So it is totally free for the merchants to fleece the devotees.

I heard that there was an inner Girivalam Road, only circumambulating the Holy Hill. Now what we do is an outer Girivalam, circumambulating not only the Holy Hill but also two cinema theatres, umpteen lodges and some mutton shops etc., and a whole lot of encroached buildings thrown free for today's Girivalam. That old road had been encroached by localites, big wigs and made inaccessible. Can the Hindu Munnani or some good souls take up the case and revive the old Girivalam Road and stop the commercial exploitation?

May Arunachala Shiva help us in this endevour.

A. Sundararaman

I visisted the sacred Thiruvannamalai few weeks back. I am visiting after some time. The place has gone through lot of changes. The last part of girivalam is almost like going through regular bus routes and old inner girivalam road is not to be seen. Huge crowds in kambathu illayanar, Lord Subramanya sannidhi where Saint Arunagirinathar was blessed. It was quite an heartwarming experience. & as always, Sri Ramanashram was brimming with devotees and atmosphere was serene. As mentioned by Shri sundararaman, old girivalam road should be revived.

tiruvannamalai girivalam

Our family had been to Tiruvannamalai on 25th June (pournami), with the intention of doing girivalam. We stayed at Shri Seshadri Swamigal Asramam, thanks to details available on this website. Started girivalam at around 5.30 pm. We did not enter the temples on the way, due to crowds thronging the place, but did namaskarams from outside. We could complete by 10.30 pm, (with two halts in between)thanks to Arunachaleswarer, chanting "Om Nama Sivaya" all through. We felt the distance could be more than 14 kms, maybe 17/18 kms. Moreover, as a friend has remarked earlier, the place is very expensive. We went to the restaurant inside the Asramam premises. A dosa costs Rs 26/-, that too not of a good quality. An A/C double room which normally costs Rs 350/- was allotted for Rs 600/-. If you are planning to visit during special days, pl book well in advance. The local people are far from helpful, when it comes to giving information. This is when we were speaking to them in Tamil, I wonder what would be the plight of foreigners/people from nearby states like Bangalore, AP etc. The temple with its mammoth rajagopuram is definitely worth visiting. I saw some pilgrims walking with shoes during girivalam.

Girivalam

What so ever the day may be, it is quite pleasant to walk around the hill. The practice of Girivalam, i believe, is a good exercise and at the same time we feel the fresh herbal air, which is cure for many of our daily problems. With thought of Annamalaiyan in mind , we do not feel any stress or strain of walking around.

We should not talk too much and rush up in going round the hills. Preferably the abode of Shiva is meant to go around in alone and not in groups. nama sangeerthanam shall be done, without disturbing others. Feel the presence of sadhus and siddhas around by mind and not by body

Prohibitively costly Tiruvannamalai

Ramanashram has no canteen, only free meals at scheduled timings. But then they cater mostly to foreigners, sometimes to local people if there is accommodation available. Next door, Sri Seshadri Ashram has more rooms available and cater to all; they have a canteen at the entrance, on the roadside, which also caters to outsiders. Yes, it is as costly as any other hotel in Tiruvannamalai.

The only industry in Tiruvannamalai is exploitation of religious tourists. It runs 24/7, with the full cooperation of all the Government agencies like Police, transport and revenue authorities. Everything including a normal water bottle is costly in Tiruvannamalai. Never even think of taking an autorickshaw there, they will rip you apart.

Best thing for the devotees is to arrive at Tiruvannamalai only for girivalam with a water bottle purchased enroute; better leave your footwear at your home and come bare feet because keeping the footwear here is also costly! Straightaway proceed on girivalam, just keep silence throughout the 14Km route, if hungry gulp few mouthfuls of water from your bottle, dont entertain roadside vendors, keep God in your mind and complete the girivalam which should be the only goal. On completion of girivalam take the next bus out of Tiruvannamalai to anywhere. Never partake anything at Tiruvannamalai.

If devotees follow this routine just for a week, it will awaken the exploiteers at Tiruvannamalai, including the umpteen Ashram owners. For a religious minded person there is absolutely nothing else to do at Tiruvannamalai except the Girivalam. Let us do it and get away from there.

a.sundararaman

I have one suggestion.

Whenever I visit any pilgrim centre, I prefer to stay at a nearby town with all amenities - decent lodging, good restaurant/s, good road transport etc. - all at a very reasonable cost. Another pre-condition is such satellite town is to be within a distance of 40 to 50 Kms. from the destination.

For instance, stay at Connoor, if you go to Ooty. Stay at Ramanathapuram, if you proceed to Rameswaram. Stay at Kopergaon, if you go to Shirdi. I can give such illustrations for any place.

Tiruvannamali again!

Thanks a lot for your practical solutions.

Now, for Tiruvannamalai what would be your suggestion? Vellore, nearby is equally costly. Tirukkovilur, another pilgrim town, I am not sure of the cost of living there. We are left with Uthangarai or is there any other nearby town, economically cheaper than Tiruvannamalai?.

A. S

Town Near Tiruvannamalai

There is a small town called 'Sengam" about 30 kms. from T/Malai.

This place has got some decent lodges & provides you also with a reasonable vegetarian food. Our group used to stay here when we go for Karthigai Deepam.

Sanki

Thirukkovilur is a good place for food; but, regarding lodging let me check up and tell you.

Cuddalore (125 kms) is my first choice for overnight stay (lodging). Else, Puducheri (103 Kms) is alright, though it is more expensive than Cuddalore. Even Kanchipuram (128 Kms)
is okay. All this is when you have a car/taxi.

As far as I know, Chengam is a very small town, not worth it.

Villupuram is at a distance of 56 Kms and Tindivanam is 67 Kms from Thiruvannamalai. Both are on the highways and have good hotels and restaurants.

Tiruvannamali again!

Namaskarams to all members.

On the lines of Ayyappa Seva Samithi who do a marvellous job in Sabarimalai Yatra I humbly propose to initiate setting up of Ramana Seva Samithi to serve the devotees visiting Tiruvannamalai. The Ashrams there seem not interested in serving the devotees but only trying to exploit them to the hilt hence my quest to form this Samithi.

The ultimate goal is to make the devotees who come for Girivalam feel at home, save them from being exploited by the local hoteliers, merchants, autorickshaw drivers etc., Provide basic amenities to the devotees doing Girivalam - especially toilets with water for ladies and children doing Girivalam, at convenient places on the Girivalam route. Pavement for the Girivalam - this is there only for part of the route. Rest of the route, roughly about 8 kms. has not been done for reasons unknown. This needs to be completed.

These two can be organised first to start with. I request like-minded devotees suggest ways of achieving these objectives in a economically feasible manner.

Annamalaiyane saranam.

a.sundararaman

I have visited Tiruvannamalai several times and I use to visit mostly on normal days and avoid Full Moon day.

I never had any problem in staying at Sadguru Seshadri Swamigal Ashram, Girivalam and Darshan of Annamlayar.

It is better to avoid Tiruvannamalai on full moon days.

All the best