Arunachaleswarar temple timings
5:30 AM – 12:30 PM · 3:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Every day; longer on Pournami and festival days
Karthigai Deepam 2026 date
Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Bharani Deepam ~4 AM · Maha Deepam ~6 PM
Next Pournami Girivalam
24 Nov 2026 · Karthigai Pournami
Tithi 11:42 PM, 23 Nov → 8:23 PM, 24 Nov
Temple timings
Arunachaleswarar (Annamalaiyar) Temple
அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் நேரம்
One of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams — the temple of the fire element. Its gopuram is 66 m tall and the Deepam on the hill behind it is lit every Karthigai. Timings can change on festival days; the temple office is the final word.
| Session | Timings (IST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 5:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Earliest darshan is the calmest |
| Evening | 3:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Crowded after 6 PM on weekends |
| Pournami & festivals | Extended hours | Often open through the night; confirm at the temple |
| Daily kala poojas | Ushakkalam · Kalasanthi · Uchikalam · Sayarakshai · Irandam Kalam · Ardhajamam — times to confirm | Six poojas a day, as in all Saiva temples |
| Darshan | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General darshan | Free | Queue time varies with the day |
| Special darshan | ₹50 | As listed by travel guides; confirm at the counter |
| Fast-track darshan | ₹100 | |
| VIP darshan | ₹200 |
Karthigai Deepam 2026
Tuesday 24 November 2026 — the night the hill becomes a lamp.
கார்த்திகை மகா தீபம் · 24 நவம்பர் 2026
Before dawn the Bharani Deepam is lit inside the temple. At dusk its flame is carried to the 2,668-ft summit of Arunachala and the Maha Deepam — a giant cauldron of ghee with a wick of cloth — is lit and burns for days, visible across the district. Lakhs of devotees then walk Girivalam through the night.
~4 AM
Bharani Deepam, inside the temple
~6 PM
Maha Deepam lit on the summit
10 days
Brahmotsavam before Deepam dates to confirm
Tips: arrive a day early; book your stay months ahead; roads near the temple close to vehicles; carry water and keep your phone charged; the Deepam is visible from the whole Girivalam path, so you need not be at the temple to see it. The ashram serves annadhanam on the Adi Annamalai stretch all night.
చిత్రంGirivalam dates 2026–2027
Pournami Girivalam calendar with tithi times.
பௌர்ணமி கிரிவலம் நாட்கள் 2026–2027
Girivalam is walked while the Pournami tithi runs. Times are IST and apply across India; verify against the temple's notice board close to the date.
| Date | Tamil month | Pournami tithi begins | Pournami tithi ends | At the ashram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karthigai · Karthigai Deepam | Deepam pooja · all-night annadhanam | |||
| Margazhi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Thai | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Maasi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Panguni | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Chithirai · Chitra Pournami | Sivayogam initiations · annadhanam | |||
| Vaikasi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Aani | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Aadi · Guru Pournami | Guru pooja for Maataji · satsang | |||
| Aavani | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Purattasi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Aippasi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Karthigai | Pournami pooja · annadhanam | |||
| Margazhi | Pournami pooja · annadhanam |
Other 2027 festivals: Maha Shivaratri — Saturday 6 March 2027 · Thiruvadhirai 2026 — Thursday 24 December 2026 · Karthigai Deepam 2027 — date to be announced by the temple.
Girivalam route
14 km, clockwise, barefoot — and the eight Ashta Lingams in order.
చిత్రం1 · East
Indra Lingam
2 · South-east
Agni Lingam
3 · South
Yama Lingam
4 · South-west
Niruthi Lingam
5 · West
Varuna Lingam
6 · North-west
Vayu Lingam · Adi Annamalai · the ashram
7 · North
Kubera Lingam
8 · North-east
Esanya Lingam
How long
3 to 4 hours at a devotional pace; 5+ on Pournami nights with the crowd.
When to start
After sunset on Pournami, or before dawn on any day. Keep the hill on your right and chant “Om Arunachala”.
What to carry
Water, a small torch, a cloth bag for footwear if you must carry it, and nothing you would mind losing.
Rest at Adi Annamalai
The ashram's annadhanam and water point is on this stretch, on the far side of the hill — a natural halfway rest.
How to reach Tiruvannamalai
From Chennai, Bengaluru and Puducherry.
Chennai → about 175 km from the airport
Taxi 4–5 h · buses from Koyambedu · trains to Tiruvannamalai station
Bengaluru → ~ km
About 5 h by road via Krishnagiri; overnight buses
Puducherry / Vellore / Tirupati
Frequent buses and passenger trains
Ashrams in Tiruvannamalai
Where seekers sit.
Siva Sri Thiyaneswar Amma Ashram · Adi Annamalai
Daily annadhanam for sadhus, Thiruvasagam and Kailaya Vathiyam classes, satsang, Pournami poojas — and the home of Mounasamy Siddhar (Mouna Siddhar), Maataji's shishya, who gives darshan every day. Plan a visit
Sri Ramana Ashram
At the foot of the hill on the Girivalam road; meditation hall, library, Skandashram path. Timings
Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
Beside Ramana Ashram; samadhi shrine of the saint. Timings
Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram
Large hall for bhajans and meditation, near Agni Lingam. Timings
Frequently asked
Pilgrims' questions.
Published as FAQ structured data so Google can show these answers directly.