Best Tourist Places to Visit in Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai (Thiruvannamalai), is one of the famous 5 Pancha Bhuta Sthalas of Lord Shiva in Tamil Nadu, India.

Here Lord Shiva in Tiruvannamalai is associated with Agni (or) Fire element of the Universe.

Tiruvannamalai is also called Arunachaleswarar Temple (Arunachalam) and is an important pilgrimage site in South India.

Some of the best places to visit in Tiruvannamalai includes:

1. Annamalaiyar Temple

Annamalaiyar Temple

Annamalaiyar Temple also called as Arunachalesvara Temple is famous Lord Shiva Temple in Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.

Arunachaleswarar (Annamalaiyar) and Apitakuchamba (Unnamalai Amman) are the primary God and Goddess of the Annamalaiyar Temple.

This temple is at a distance of around 193.7 kms from Chennai (Madras) and around 194.5 kms from Tirupati.

Read More About: Annamalaiyar Tiruvannamalai Temple

2. Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram (Ramanasramam)

Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram, also known as Sri Ramanasramam, is located at the foot of the sacred Arunachala Hill.

Ramana Maharshi Asram - Samadhi Hall

Sri Ramana Ashram is just 3 km from Thiruvannamalai Railway Station and Bus Stop. This ashram is just 2 km from Annamalaiyar Temple.

Sri Ramana Maharshi, often called Bhagavan by his devotees, is a great saint of the 20th century from India. Maharshi spent most of his life on the holy mountain of Arunachala in Thiruvannamalai.

It is at this place where bhagavan lived from 1922 until his death in 1950 teaching Advaita Vedanta to all the visitors and spiritual seekers.

Sri Ramana Maharshi - Tiruvannamalai

Most of his teachings are given on the subject of silence, a calm state of self in which the thought of "I" does not arise.

His spiritual influence also attracted many tourists from Western countries.

Even today, the Samadhi Shrine of Ramana Maharashi continiues to attract devotees from all corners of the globe.

Sri Ramana Maharshi attained liberation in 1950.

Also, you can find the Samadhi shrine of Alagammal, mother of Ramana Maharshi, who spent later part of her life with Sri Ramana. She attained liberation in 1922.

You need to send a mail to the Ashram office in advance if you need to book an accommodation there.

For more information on accommodation visit: //www.sriramanamaharshi.org/ashram/accommodation/

What to See:

1. 👉 1. The New Hall (Morning- 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM Evening- 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
2. 👉 2. Sri Maharshi’s Samadhi (Morning- 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM Evening- 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
3. 👉 3. Matrubhuteshvara Temple (Morning- 5:30 AM to 12:30 PM Evening- 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM)
4. 👉 4. The Old Hall (Morning- 4:00 AM to 12:30 PM Evening- 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
5. 👉 5. The Dining Hall
6. 👉 6. Gosala
7. 👉 7. Vedapatasala
8. 👉 8. Small Nirvana Room
9. 👉 9. Sri Niranjanananda Swami Samadhi
10. 👉 10. Sri Ramana Library

Ramanasramam Youtube Channel:

Sri Ramanasramam has now its own YouTube channel

www.youtube.com/user/SriRamanaDevotee/videos

3. Virupaksha Cave

Virupaksha Cave is a famous cave to visit in Tiruvannamalai.

This is the cave in which the 13th-century Saint Virupaksha Deva, who came from Karnataka, lived in this cave located on the eastern slope of Arunachala Hill.

Today, this sacred cave in the shape of "OM" contains his samadhi, hence the name of the Virupaksha cave.

Sri Ramana Maharshi lived in this cave for about 17 years from 1899 to 1916.

This cave is under the control and management of Sri Ramanasramam.

There are two options to reach this cave. One is by going through Ramamasramam via Skandashramam. The second option is to go from Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Climbing both Virupaksha and Skandasramam are popular activities among Ramana Maharashi devotees.

What to See:

• 👉 1. Guhai Namasivaya Temple
• 👉 2. Skandashram

Temple Timings: Morning 8:15 AM to Evening 4:30 PM

4. Skandasramam

Sri Ramana Maharashi lived in this famous cave from 1916 to 1922. This is the cave, where Alagammal, mother of Ramana Maharashi, joined him and began to prepare meals in the ashram.

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

After her death, Bhagavan Ramana Maharashi changed his location to Ramanasramam, where her samadhi is present today.

The path to Skandasramam is paved with stones from Ramanasramam. Because it is a holy hill, most visitors climb it barefoot.

From the top of Skandasramam you will have a clear view of Annamalaiyar Temple.

Mamara Guhai (Mango Tree Cave)

This is a small sacred cave near Tiruvannamalai where the sage Ramana Maharshi visited this place from time to time, while he was staying in the Virupaksha cave.

In this cave there are idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Raja Rajeshwari and Annapurna Devi along with the Lingams of Siddha Gurus.

This Mango Tree Cave can be found by going to the Virupaksha Cave and following the main road straight to the Arunachala Hill.

5. Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram

Sri Seshadri Swami is a jivan mukta saint who came to Tiruvannamalai in 1889 at the age of 19. Throughout his life he preached the importance of Arunachala Kshetra.

He served and looked after the young Sri Ramana Maharshi who came to Tiruvannamalai seven years later.

Seshadri Swamigal protected young Ramana and also declared Sri Ramana as a saint to the world.

Sri Seshadri Swami died in 1929. Later, an ashram came up around the samadhi of Seshadri Swami and is offering accommodation to all the visitors.

Today, his famous ashram is located near Ramanasramam and has the famous Akash Sesh Bhavan canteen.

6. Sathanur Dam

The famous Sathanas dam, which is only 30 km from Tiruvannamalai, is built on the Sathanur reservoir.

It is one of the main dams in Tamil Nadu, built to hold back the Ponnaiyar / Thenpennai River, which originates from the Chennakesava Hills.

This is a major Gravity dam in Tamilnadu, and the construction of this dam was completed in 1958. It is an ideal place for a full-day picnic with children.

It consists of a fun garden, children's park, swimming pool and huge crocodile farm, small zoo, fish grotto, miniature castles, forts and fortresses that attract many visitors during the monsoon season.

The best season to visit this place is from October to March.

To get to this place, you can use public transport or hire a private taxi from Tiruvannamalai city.

What to See:

• 👉 1. Kid's Park and Zoo
• 👉 2. Crocodile Farm
• 👉 3. Swimming Pool
• 👉 4. Fish Grotto

Author Notes:

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Article References:

• 1. omarunachala.com
• 2. richardarunachala.wordpress.com
• 3. girivalam-of-arunachaleshwara.blogspot.com/

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