About

About ArunachalaShiva

An independent, freely-given guide to Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai, and the living spiritual tradition of the sacred hill ~ written to be the most accurate, comprehensive and beautiful resource for the pilgrim, the seeker, and the curious traveller alike.

ArunachalaShiva is a clear, English-first guide to Arunachala ~ the sacred mountain at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, South India ~ and to the great pilgrimage and spiritual tradition that surrounds it. It brings together, in one place, everything a visitor or a seeker might want to know: how to reach and stay at Tiruvannamalai, how to walk the sacred Girivalam around the hill, the life and teaching of Ramana Maharshi, the saints and sages of the mountain across two thousand years, the full sacred calendar of festivals and full moons, and the deeper meaning of the hill that is held to be Shiva himself in the form of fire.

What this site aims to be

There is a great deal written about Arunachala, but much of it is scattered, incomplete, or simply inaccurate. This guide sets out to be different in a few deliberate ways:

• Accurate. Facts, dates, distances and details are checked against reliable and primary sources, and where something is tradition rather than documented history, we say so plainly.
• Comprehensive. From the most practical questions (money, health, what to pack, how to get around) to the most profound (the teaching of self-inquiry, the meaning of the lingam, the scriptures of the hill), the aim is to leave nothing important uncovered.
• Honest. We describe rather than sell. Where a festival is overwhelmingly crowded, where a path is closed, where a claim is disputed, we tell you ~ because the trust of the reader matters more than a rosy picture.
• Reverent. Arunachala is, for millions, a living sacred reality, not a tourist attraction. This guide tries always to honour that ~ to inform and welcome the visitor while respecting the devotion of the place.

Who it is for

For the first-time visitor nervous about the practicalities; for the returning pilgrim who wants to go deeper; for the seeker drawn by Ramana or by the hill itself; and for the simply curious who want to understand one of the most remarkable spiritual places on earth. Whether you come to walk once around the mountain or to live in its shadow for years, this guide is here to help.

Free, and independent

The guide is freely given and independent. It is not affiliated with any ashram, organisation, or teacher, and it does not speak for any of them ~ where we describe a temple, an ashram, or a living teacher, we do so as a factual introduction and point you to their own official sources for anything further. Some pages may carry affiliate links (for booking accommodation, for example) which help keep the site free, at no extra cost to you; these are always the reader’s free choice.