Sri Arunachala Giri Pradakshina Dates 2026 Pournami Girivalam Schedule Complete details check now. Tiruvannamalai Temple Pournami Darshan & Timings, Giri Pradakshina Benefits & Instructions to Follow, Temples to Visit & Route Map.
Sri Arunachalaeswara Swamy was the presiding diety of Tiruvannamalai Shiva Temple. He is also called as Annamalayar. The lord got this particular name because of Agni Tatva & Supreme Divine light manifested on Annamalai hill. Temple history states that Lord Bramha & Lord Vishnu was challenged by the Agni Linga here to find the starting & ending point. Vishnu accepted the defeat after digging the earth for laks of years. Bramha tried to deceive Shiva with Chameli flower as his witness. Shiva cursed bramha that he is banned from worship by people on earth. The final place where the Shiva Agni column appeared was on the top of Annamalai hill.
Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam Details & Introduction:
Arunachalam means Fire colored Mountain. Many people believe visiting Arunachalam temple and praying will bestow good fortune. But Ramana Maharshi, Kavya Kanta Ganapti Muni & Sri Jagadguru Chandra Shekararendra Saraswati (Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadipati) etc divine sages told people about the greatness of Arunachalam Hill. They also preached the greatness of Asta Dikpalaka temples surrounding the Annamalai Hill and the Pada Yatra benefits around Arunachalam Hill.
Arunachala Giri Pradakshinam means a person completing one time Circulation by walk arround the Arunachala Hill. People generally offer circulations around the Garbhalaya in any temple. But Puranas prescribe Arunachala hill as the Complete shiva linga of Annamalayar. There are 8 Dikh Palaka Temples constructed trough the walking path.
Tourists visit Tiruvannamalai temple every purnami date or Full moon day to offer Giri Pradakshina. It is not mandatory to visit only during Pournami day. Even Tamil Nadu people consider participating in Giri Pradakshina around Arunachala hill on Amavasya day, Triyodasi day, Maasa Siva Ratri Day, Ekadasi Day and other festival days gives equal benefit. People
Tiruvannamalai Arunachala Giri Pradakshina Dates 2026 & Darshan Schedule:
| Pournami Giri Pradakshinam Date | Starting Time | Closing Time |
| Jyesta Pournami 29th June – Sunday 2026 | ||
| Ashada Pournami 29th July – Monday 2026 | ||
| Shravana Pournami August 28th – Friday 2026 | ||
| Bhadrapada Pournami September 26th – Saturday 2026 | ||
| Ashwayuja Pournami October 26th – Monday 2026 | ||
| Karthika Pournami November 24th – Wednesday 2026 | ||
| Margashira Pournami December 24th – Thursday 2026 | ||
| Pausha Pournami January 3rd – Saturday 2027 | 12:00 AM | 15:32 PM |
| Magha Pournami February 1st – Sunday 2027 | 06:00 AM | 05:00 AM Next day. |
| Phalguna Pournami March 3rd – Tuesday 2027 | ||
| Chaitra Pournami April 1st – Wednesday 2027 Aril 2nd – – Wednesday 2027 | ||
| Vaisakha Pournami May 1st – Friday 2027 |
How to Participate in Arunachalam Pournami Giri Pradakshina 2026?
The Tamil Nadu State Endowment and Temple administration Department manages the complete Giri Pradakshina for devotees. There are no specific rules and timings for participating in Girivalam. A Person who want to perform Pradakshinam around Arunachala Hill must visit the temple Main gate as the starting point.
The round trip is around 18.7 KM and it was well maintained by Tiruvannamalai Corporation. First devotee must appear in traditional wear and Aarti is given at the pournami time starting. After this aarti the Girivalam or Giri Pradakshinam will be commenced officially. Then all the devotees will start their walk around the Arunachalam hill visiting all 8 Temples of Dikpalakas in their path. Each temple darshan will take around 30 min to 1 hour based on floating.
One must observe silence and should chant Om Arunachaleswaraya Namaha!! or Om Namah Sivaayah!!. The typical time taken by a normal person to complete the Pradakshina is 6 to 10 hours with all temples darshan. Then they are returned back to the Maha Raja Gopuram of Annamalai Temple. After Breaking a coconut before the Darshan Q Balipeetam then Pradakshinam is concluded.
Arunachalam Girivalam (Pradakshina) Instructions:
Please appear for Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam in traditional wear. Dhoti, Pyjama Kurta for gents and Saree, Punjabi & Salwar is advised for ladies.
Kids below 7 years are advised not to participate due to heavy crowd. Special lanes for Physically Disabled & Senior citizens is left by the temple board.
Try to avoid Plastic disposable items like Junk food packets, PET bottles & cool drinks etc to save the sanctity of the foot way path.
Carry a rudraksha maala or Karungali maala in your hand to peform Japam of Lord Shiva. Doing the pradakshina observing silence and focused on chanting japam will increase the lords blessings many times.
For First time participants in Giripradakshinam one must have darshan of all 8 Shiva linga temples dedicated to Asta Dikapalakas for benefits.
Pray sincerely before the temple gopuram about your purpose to participate in the holy pradakshinams. Offer pranamam before and after the conclusion of your trip.
List of Temples to See during 2026 Giri Pradakshina path:
| Ramana Ashram | Varuna Lingam | Indra Lingam |
| Pali Theertham | Agni Lingam | Dakshina Murthy Temple |
| Agastya Teertham | Vayu Lingam | Sunai Lingam |
| Yama Lingam | Chandra Lingam | Khadga Teertham |
| Niruthi Lingam | Eesanya Lingam | Siva Ganga Tank |
| Surya Lingam | Kubera Lingam | Skand Ashram |
Sri Arunachalam Hill Giri Pradakshina Benefits & Importance:
People who are suffering from Mental depressions, Physical ailments are cured in many instances by the air of Arunachala Hill. The Tiruvannamalai forests have many medicinal herbs & shrubs which charges the human body with positivity.
Puranas describe that the Hill is complete image of Lord Arunachaleswara. So doing a single pradakshinam is the easiest way to appease the god.
Both Sadguru Sri Ramana Maharshi and Kanchi Kamakoti Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswathy will bless the devotees who participate in Girivalam.
Being the Shiva linga is of Fire element, doing a parikrama around arunachalam hill is equal to doing parikrama of all the shiva temples in the universe.
For getting Moksha one must complete the parikramam in the pournami time of any month.
Facilities available at Arunachalam Hill Giri pradakshina Route:
The temple board has fully constructed the pathway with well paved roads & foot paths. During summer times, purified water dispensers are placed for every 200 meters.
First aid camps and Ambulances with Emergency care facilities are also available during the pournami dates.
All the temples which are in the Giri Pradakshina route are well maintained with proper Q system & Sanitation.
Number of Bio-toilets are placed for every 400 meters for public use. Feeding mothers & senior citizens can utilize waiting areas for rest.
The police and Volunteers will oversee the complete giripradakshina of devotees to avoid stampedes.
People who are unable to walk can take wheel chairs and can approach helpers for assistance to complete their trip.
Auto services and paid transport services are also available to people who cannot walk around the hill. They can have darshan in all the temples during the roundabout.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the Best timings to start Arunachalam Giri Pradakshinam?
We advise to start in early morning at Bramha Muhurtam on Pournami day to avoid heat waves. Starting in Pradosham time i.e after sunset is also most beneficial. Avoid Noon or Mid day time of start.
Do I have to book Online Tickets for participating in Giri Pradakshinam?
No Participation in Giri pradakshinam at Arunachala Hill is free of cost. The temple also allows devotees to have darshan for free of cost in General Queue line.
Is there any Parking, Cloak room facilities near the Giri Pradakshinam Road?
Yes temple trust have reserved many acres of well maintained parking places to park your personal vehicles. Foot wear stands, luggage check-in, Cellphone keeping services are also available for every few kilometers.
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