The sacred hill of fire
Your complete guide to Arunachala — the mountain held to be Shiva himself, and the temple town of Tiruvannamalai at its foot. Walk the sacred Girivalam, discover Ramana Maharshi, meet the saints of the hill, and follow the sacred calendar and the great festival of Karthigai Deepam — everything the pilgrim and the seeker need, in one place.
Karthigai Deepam 2026
When the cosmic flame ignites atop Arunachala, the night sky bows to a single light that outshines a million stars. Our complete guide to the greatest festival of the sacred hill ~ the date, the timings, the Girivalam, where to watch, and how to be there.
Arunachaleswarar Temple
A walled sacred city at the foot of the hill ~ twenty-five acres, nine gopurams, and a thousand years of unbroken worship. Here Shiva is honoured as the element of fire, in one of the five great element-temples of the south. Our complete guide to its history, its layout, the darshan timings, and how to visit.
Everything the guide covers
The hill and its fire, the great walk, the sage Ramana, the saints of two thousand years, the sacred calendar, and everything the visit needs ~ each explored in depth. Follow whichever calls you.
The Siddha way of Girivalam
More than a pilgrimage ~ the Tamil Siddhas knew the walk around Arunachala as a yoga in motion: a way of turning fourteen quiet kilometres into a living meditation. The seven inner rules, the infinity of visions, and the practice open to everyone who can walk with love.
Walk the Siddha way →Popular & useful
The living spiritual town
Tiruvannamalai’s tradition of the Self is not only history ~ it lives on in ashrams and satsangs today.
Latest writing
The Ribhu Gita: The Non-Dual Text Ramana Loved
The Ribhu Gita ~ the torrential song of pure non-duality that Ramana Maharshi loved and had chanted daily at his ashram, said to give the state it describes merely by being read.
Sacred Sounds of Arunachala: Chanting & Hymns
The sacred audio of Arunachala ~ the Vedic chanting of the ashram, Ramana's hymns and the Aksharamanamalai, and the bhajans of the town, and where to find the authentic recordings.
The Skandashram Years: Ramana's Golden Time on the Hill
The Skandashram years of Ramana Maharshi (1916–1922) ~ the intimate, golden period on the green terrace of the hill, with his mother in the kitchen, the first family of devotees, and the teaching being born.
The Sacred Geometry of Arunachala: Fire, Linga & the Cosmos
The sacred geometry of Arunachala ~ the fire element and the five Pancha Bhuta Sthalams, the hill as a cosmic linga, the eight directional lingams as a mandala, and the Heart at the centre.
About this guide
ArunachalaShiva is an independent, freely-given guide to Arunachala and Tiruvannamalai — the sacred hill of Shiva, the home of Ramana Maharshi, and one of the great spiritual destinations of the world. It aims to be the most accurate, comprehensive and beautiful resource for the pilgrim, the seeker, and the curious traveller alike — honest about the practicalities, deep on the meaning, and reverent toward the living tradition of the hill.