Tirupati to Tiruvannamalai Taxi for Arunachaleswarar Temple

About Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

Arunachaleswarar Temple, also called the Annamalaiyar Temple, stands at the foot of Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Shiva as Arunachaleswarar or Annamalaiyar, and the goddess is Unnamulai Amman. For devotees the hill and the temple are inseparable: the hill itself is worshipped as Shiva in the form of a column of light.

This is one of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, the shrines that represent the five elements. Tiruvannamalai is the fire (Agni) temple, so the main lingam here is known as the Agni lingam. Many pilgrims who book a Tirupati to Tiruvannamalai taxi pair it with a visit to the Balaji temple, because both belong to the same South Indian pilgrimage tradition.

History and architecture

The present stone temple is generally dated to the Chola period, around the 9th century, and later rulers, especially the Vijayanagara kings and the Nayaks, expanded it. It is among the largest temple complexes in India, with four tall gateway towers (gopurams) on the four sides. The eastern Raja Gopuram is the tallest, about 66 metres with eleven storeys.

Inside, you will find a thousand-pillared hall from the late Vijayanagara period, the Sivaganga and Brahma tirtham tanks and many smaller shrines. The long corridors and the sheer scale are worth seeing even if you are not planning a long stay. The great Karthigai Deepam festival is held here every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December), when a huge flame is lit on top of the hill.

What to see and do around the temple

Allow time to walk through the gopurams and the inner prakarams at an easy pace; the complex is spread over a very large area. Many families also circle the hill on foot (this is called Girivalam or Giri Pradakshina), and the hill route passes eight directional lingam shrines. See our Girivalam page for details on that walk.

If you have extra time, Sri Ramanasramam at the base of the hill, and the Virupaksha cave and Skandasramam on the slope, are quiet places connected with the sage Ramana Maharshi. They are described on our Ramana Maharshi Ashram page. Most visitors on a one-day cab trip from Tirupati can manage the main temple and one short extra stop, but not a full Girivalam.

How the Tirupati to Tiruvannamalai cab trip works

The road distance is about 190 km one way and usually takes around four hours, depending on the route, road works and traffic. A realistic plan is to leave Tirupati very early, around 3:30 to 4:00 am, so that you reach Tiruvannamalai in the morning. After the temple visit you rest, eat lunch, and start back in the afternoon, reaching Tirupati late evening. This is a long day, so choose the earliest possible start.

We provide the vehicle and driver only. Temple entry and any tickets are handled by you directly with the temple. Our driver will drop you near the temple approach, wait through the day, and take you back. For senior citizens or small children a one-day trip is tiring; if you want a relaxed pace, consider breaking the journey with a night in Tiruvannamalai (you arrange the hotel yourself) and ask us for a two-day plan.

You can also combine this with other stops on a longer route. See our Tirumala and Tiruvannamalai two-day package and the Arunachalam, Golden Temple and Kanchipuram package for ideas.

Practical tips for pilgrims

Temple timings listed on different websites do not match, so always confirm the current opening hours locally or with the temple office before you travel. The temple generally closes for a rest period in the afternoon.

Dress modestly and traditionally. Footwear is left at the shoe stands outside. Mobile phones and photography may be restricted in the inner shrine; ask at the gate. Carry water, a hat, light cotton clothing and some cash, because small shops and parking areas often do not accept cards.

On full moon days (Pournami) and during Karthigai Deepam, very large numbers of devotees come for Girivalam and town traffic is heavily restricted. If your travel date falls on one of these days, tell us in advance and plan for extra time.

Sample plan

1. 3:30 - 4:00 amLeave TirupatiAn early start gives you the cooler morning hours at the temple.
2. 8:00 - 8:30 amArrive TiruvannamalaiPark near the temple, remove footwear and enter by the east gateway.
3. 8:30 am - 12:30 pmArunachaleswarar Temple visitTemple entry is handled by you. Time depends on the crowd.
4. 12:30 - 2:30 pmLunch and restMany pilgrims eat at simple vegetarian restaurants near the temple.
5. 2:30 - 3:30 pmOptional Ramanasramam stopA short visit if time and energy allow.
6. 3:30 - 8:00 pmReturn to TirupatiEvening drive of about four hours back to Tirupati.

Taxi cost by vehicle

Frequently asked questions

More trips from Tirupati