The fire on top of Arunachala Hill is not decoration. On Karthigai Deepam — falling around December 4, 2026 — a massive flame is lit at the summit, visible for miles across the Tamil plains. It represents the column of fire that Lord Shiva manifested as when Brahma and Vishnu disputed who was supreme. Shiva appeared as an infinite pillar of light, its beginning and end unreachable. The flame on the hill every Karthigai Deepam is that same light, renewed.
This is why Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai is not simply a large Shiva temple. It’s one of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalams — the five elemental Shiva shrines — representing Agni, fire. The Shivling here is the Agni Lingam. The hill itself is worshipped as a physical form of Shiva.
Everything practical — darshan timings, how to book, ticket prices, what to expect on Girivalam nights — is below.
Arunachaleswarar Temple Darshan Timings 2026
| Session | Timing |
|---|---|
| Morning Darshan | 5:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Afternoon Break | 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Evening Darshan | 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM |
Open every day. The afternoon break (12:30–4:00 PM) is absolute — the gates close. Most people from Chennai who leave at 8 AM and hit Tiruvannamalai traffic arrive at 1 PM and find themselves waiting. Either push the departure to 6 AM or plan the visit for the evening session.
Best time for calm darshan: weekday mornings, 5:30–8:00 AM. The temple is at its most peaceful before the day heats up and before tour groups arrive.
Arunachaleswarar Temple Online Booking — Ticket Price & How to Book
Official portal: annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in
This is the only legitimate booking portal for Arunachaleswarar Temple — managed by HRCE Tamil Nadu (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department). Not the main hrce.tn.gov.in homepage, but the temple-specific sub-portal.
Darshan ticket prices 2026:
| Darshan Type | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| General Darshan | Free | Standard queue |
| Special Darshan | From ₹50 | Faster entry, shorter queue |
| VIP / Platinum Darshan | ₹500 – ₹5,000 | Priority access, closer sanctum view |
| Abhishekam / Seva | Varies | Specific ritual booking |
For a regular visit on a non-festival day, the Special Darshan from ₹50 handles most situations. On Pournami nights, Karthigai Deepam, and Maha Shivratri, booking VIP is worth the premium — free darshan queues on those days run for hours.
Booking process: Log in to annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in, click Temple Booking Service, select your darshan type and date, enter name, age, gender, address, and captcha, pay by UPI, card, or net banking, and download the e-ticket. Carry a printout — the temple counter verification is quicker with paper.
Book 3–7 days in advance for normal visits. For Karthigai Deepam (December 4, 2026) and Maha Shivratri, book weeks ahead — those dates fill fast.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 — December 4
This is Tiruvannamalai’s biggest day. Lakhs of devotees. The hill visible for 30 kilometres in every direction. Karthigai Deepam is expected around December 4, 2026, with the exact Maha Deepam lighting time confirmed by the temple closer to the date.
For Karthigai Deepam:
- Book darshan and accommodation months ahead — both disappear fast
- The Girivalam (14 km circumambulation) on this night is the most crowded of the year — if you’re walking, start by 6 PM before the path becomes impassable
- VIP darshan strongly recommended — general queue waits run 6–10 hours
The second most important festival is Maha Shivratri (February/March) — the temple stays open all night, abhishekam every hour, crowds comparable to Karthigai Deepam.
Monthly Pournami (full moon) nights: The Girivalam path fills with tens of thousands every full moon. Devotees can walk barefoot around Annamalai Hill, covering about 14 km, preferably during full moon nights. This has become a regular monthly pilgrimage that draws devotees from across Tamil Nadu and beyond.
Pooja & Abhishekam Timings
The temple runs structured poojas through the day — Ushakala, Kalasandhi, and Ko poojas in the morning, Ucchikala pooja at noon before the break, Sayarakshai and Ardha Jamam poojas in the evening. Pradosham (the 13th day of each lunar fortnight) is particularly auspicious for Shiva worship here.
For Abhishekam bookings — where you participate in the sacred bathing of the Agni Lingam — book at annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in, selecting the seva type and date. Walk-in Abhishekam slots are available at the counter but fill early on festival days.
What to Know Before You Go
Photography: Permitted in the outer courtyards and corridors. Not allowed inside the main sanctum. The temple is 25 acres — there’s plenty to photograph outside without the restriction becoming an issue.
Dress code: Traditional clothing preferred. Men in dhoti or formal wear; women in saree or salwar kameez. The temple is strict during major festivals — plan dress before travel, not at the gate.
The hill itself is sacred. Arunachala is not background scenery. Ramana Maharshi — who lived at the base of Arunachala for 53 years — said that Arunachala is not a physical hill. It is the Self. Devotees who come for darshan and skip the hill are missing half the experience.
Girivalam on non-festival days: The 14 km path around the base of the hill is walkable any day, not just Pournami nights. A regular Tuesday morning Girivalam — quiet, unhurried, the hill on one side and the town on the other — is a different experience from the full-moon crowd, and in some ways more meditative.
How to Reach Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai is in Tamil Nadu, 195 km from Chennai — 3.5 to 4 hours by road.
Tiruvannamalai has its own railway station with regular trains from Chennai (Villupuram–Katpadi line). The temple is about 1 km from the station. From Bengaluru: about 220 km, 4 hours. From Pondicherry: 100 km, 2 hours. From Trichy: 150 km, 3 hours.
By road: NH-79 connects Chennai and Tiruvannamalai. TNSTC buses run from Chennai and Villupuram regularly. For Karthigai Deepam and Pournami nights, roads into the town are managed by police — plan for added travel time.
Nearest airport: Chennai International Airport, about 200 km.
Contact & Official Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Booking Portal | annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in |
| Temple Address | Sannathi Street, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu – 606601 |
| Enquiry Counter | Open 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| HRCE Tamil Nadu | tnhrce.gov.in |
Common Questions
Arunachaleswarar temple darshan timings? 5:30 AM–12:30 PM and 4:00–9:30 PM. Closed 12:30–4:00 PM daily.
Arunachalam temple online booking kaise karein? At annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in — select Temple Booking Service, pick darshan type, date, enter details, pay online, download e-ticket.
VIP darshan ticket price at Arunachalam temple? Special Darshan from ₹50. VIP/Platinum darshan ₹500–₹5,000. Verify current prices on the official portal before booking.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 date? Around December 4, 2026. Exact Maha Deepam lighting time confirmed by the temple closer to the date. Book accommodation and darshan months in advance.
Chennai se Arunachalam kitna door hai? About 195 km — 3.5 to 4 hours by road. Tiruvannamalai railway station is 1 km from the temple.
Girivalam kya hai aur kab hota hai? 14 km walk around the base of Arunachala Hill. Happens every Pournami (full moon night) monthly. Walkable any day but most auspicious on full moon. See our dedicated Girivalam guide.
Photography allowed at Arunachaleswarar temple? Outer courtyards: yes. Inside the sanctum: no.
Timings, darshan prices, and Karthigai Deepam dates from HRCE Tamil Nadu and Annamalaiyar Temple records as of July 2026. Festival timings change annually — verify at annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in before any dedicated trip.
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