Tourist places in Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai District also pronounced as Thiruvannamalai is one of the 32 districts in South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, India. In the year 1989, it was formed from non-existing North Arcot District as Tiruvannamalai District. Tiruvannamalai also called as "Temple City". Here there are so many temples and Ashram's around the Tiruvannamalai mountain. Here, we have listed out some of the important tourist places. Let's see one by one.
Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
Annamalaiyar Temple or Arunachaleswarar Temple is a Hindu temple which is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, situated at the base of Annamalai Mountain in the town of Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. It is important to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the temples connected with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specially the element of fire, or Agni. Shiva is devoted as Annamalaiyar or Arunachaleswarar, and is represented by the lingam, with his idol described to as Agni lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Unnamulai Amman. Here, the presiding deity is honored in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. In the 9th century Saiva saint poet Manikkavasagar composed the Tiruvempaavai here.
The temple complex flanks 10 hectares, and is one of the largest and biggest temples in India. It houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 66 meters (217 ft), making it one of the tallest temple towers in India.
The Karthigai Deepam festival is renowned during the day of the full moon between November and December, and an enormous bonfire is lit atop the hill. It can be seen from miles around, and highlighting the Shiva lingam of fire joining the sky. This event is witnessed by three million pilgrims. On the day preceding each full moon, pilgrims go around the temple base and the Annamalai hills in a worship called Girivalam, a practice carried out by more than one million pilgrims annually.
This one of the very ancient Jain temple which is located Vandavasi, Thiruvannamalai.
Jawadhu Hills is located 75 KMs away from Tiruvannamalai. It is located in the northwestern part of Tiruvannamalai, and a part of the Eastern Ghats. The stunning mountain lies at about 2350 feet to 3500 feet above sea point; Jawadhu hills have many picturesque spots. The cliffs and rock faces of hills lures and excite tourist peoples.
Following are the some of the important tourist spots in Jawadhu Hills. They are noted belw.
- Beema Falls
- Komutteri Lake
- Kavalur Observatory (situated in Vellore district)
- Amirthi Forest
- Glass House
Beema Falls is located 5 KMs away from the Jamunamarathur. Water flows nearly for 8 months in a year. The reflection of sun on the water falls flush like a silver sheet that is an exquisite and wonderful sight. This falls is one of the major attractions of tourists. People enjoy bathing at the foot of this falls.
Periyanayagi temple, Devikapuram
The Periyanayagi Amman Temple located in the center of Devikapuram village, Tiruvannamalai district. This temple is constructed by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the 14th century. This is the second largest temple after Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple. The consort of Sri Kanakagiriswarar devoted at the hill temple is Sri Periyanayagi Amman, found at the floor. She is also called as Sri Brahanayagi and Sri Brahadambal. There is no Siva lingam here.
Renugambal Temple, Padaiveedu
Padaiveedu is one of the most significant ‘Sakthi Stalas’ in Thondai Nadu. Here, Goddess Renugambal is self-manifested in this region and catering her blessings along with Brahma, Vishnu and Lord Siva. In this place a number of sages performed reparation and attained deliverance. The existence of Banalingam and Nanakarshna Chakra sanctified by Adi Sankarar is the specialty of this temple. This is the most popular and renowned temple of Padaiveedu and is usually highly crowded on holidays.
Sathanur Dam is one of the main Dams built across Pennayar River. It is located 30 KMs away from the Thiruvannamalai. This Dam was constructed in the year 1958. Sathanur Dam is the oldest hero in Movie Industry. Mostly, all the films in midst of 1960-1980 was shouted here. Here, excellent parks were maintained with lawns. A mini zoo is maintained within the park area to enjoy the Children and One swimming pool is maintained within the dam to exultant the tourist during the visit to dam. Here, there is a Crocodile farm, fish grotto also maintained. So it is very useful to visit engineering students to know about irrigation structures, architecture designing etc.
Sri Ramana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai
Nearly, thirty miles south of Madurai, villlage called Thiruchuli, in 30th of December 1879, on the Ardra day, Venkataraman was born to the couple Sundaram Aiyar and Alagammal, who later came to be known to the world as Ramana Maharishi.
In the year 1903 there came to Tiruvannamalai a great Sanskrit researcher and savant, Ganapathi Sastri also called as Ganapathi Muni; he felt the elegance of the sage pervasive him. He was that proclaimed Ramana to be Maharishi and Bhagavan. He also composed hymns in Sanskrit in admire of the sage, and also wrote the Ramana-Gita explaining his teachings.
His ashram is a foremost important visit place at Tiruvannamalai which is between the second and third Lingam on the circumambulation (Girivalam) route. Your sacred connection will be evoked when you meditate at the meditation hall of Raman ashram. Here, a book stall in the ashram sells photographs and books. The accommodation is also available in the ashram.
Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram
Sri Seshadri Swamigal was born in Kanchipuram District in the Kamakoti family to the couple Vardarajan and Margathammal. The Kamakoti families, nearly about 30 in number, were particularly brought to Kanchipuram by Adi Shankara, from Central India, to widen the Sri Vidhya Cult. Seshadri Swamigal ashram is located next to Sri Raman Ashram between the second and third Lingam on the circumambulation route. Regular pujas are performed at the Samadhi of Sri Seshadri Swamigal. Here there is a meditation center and beautiful garden is located.
Yogi Ramsurat Kumar was born in a village located near Kashi on the first day of December, 1918. In his childhood, he loved very much to meet the yogis and monks.
After a protracted spiritual voyage, Yogiji lastly reached Tiruvannamalai in the Southern India. He was seen near the Temple chariot, at the corners of the Road, under the trees of the Temple. Swamiji then began living in a small house in Sannidhi Street beneath the Temple. He continued to bless the devotees who thronged at thousands to His house at the Sannidhi Street. The Devotees wished Him to have an Ashram which He softly accepted. The Yogi Ramsurat Kumar Ashram is built at Agrahara collai with a total area of 3.5 Acres.
Yogi Ramsurat Kumar always says,
"Live in the world and the problems will be there. If we are remembering the Divine name, we are psychologically sound. May be, we may feel a little some of the problems. Even then the intensity with which we feel if we don't have faith in God is much more than a man of faith - a man who remembers the name of Rama. So this beggar is always begging, begging for food, begging for clothes, begging that you should compose songs on this beggar, build a house for me - a cottage for me - this thing - that thing - so many things. But this beggar will beg of you this also, and you are always giving what this beggar has begged. So this beggar begs please don't forget the name of God. This Divine name has been always of great help to all in the world. You read Kabir, Tulsi, Sur, Appar Swamy, Manickavasaga Swamy - how they emphasized Namasivaya. Don't forget it- this is your heart- this is your soul. Whether it be Om Namasivaya or Om Namo Narayana whether Rama, Siva or Krishna whatever name you choose, whatever form you choose doesn't matter.
But remember the lord with any name, with any form of your choice. Just as when there is heavy rainfall, we take an umbrella, and go on doing our work in the factory, in the field, wherever we go for marketing and catching hold of the umbrella we go though the rain is falling there. But still we work-still we work-do our work. Similarly we have got so many problems all around. This divine name is just like an umbrella in the heavy rainfall. Catch hold of the divine name and go on doing your work in the world. This beggar begs of you and this beggar has received all he has begged of you. So I think none of you will shrink away, when this beggar begs of you, don't forget the divine name. This beggar prays to his father to bless you all who have come here. My Lord Rama blesses you- My Father blesses you. Arunachaleswarar blesses you. It doesn't matter to me what name it is. All the blessings of my father for all of you! Well, that is the end. That is all”.
Travel Guide
Tiruvannamalai is well connected by road and train transport. The nearest Airport from Tiruvannamalai is Chennai which is 182 KMs away from Tiruvannamalai. Tiruvannamalai is located in between Katpadi and Villupuram Junctions on the railway line. It is well connected by road with many parts of country. In Carnival times Government Transport Corporation runs special buses from all parts of the State of Tamil Nadu. By car it will take four to five hours to arrive at Tiruvannamalai from the State Capital Chennai.