Tiruvannamalai District

Tamil Nadu has 32 districts of which Tiruvannanmalai is one. The district headquarters of Tiruvannamalai is located at Tiruvannamalai town. Seven Taluks comprise the district of Tiruvannamalai. These Taluks are Chengam, Tiruvannamalai, Polur, Thandarampattu, Aarani, Vandavasi and Cheyyar. Aarani is well known for its silk sarees.

Tiruvannamalai is a famous pilgrimage place and is also known as the Temple City. It is also famous for its special grade municipality within the district. The famous Annamalaiyar Temple is located here. It is found as the foothills of the Annamalai. Tamil Nadu is well known for its Shiva Temples and Annamalaiyar is one of them. The yogis and siddhars have had a long association with Tiruvannamalai. A guru named Ramana Maharshi lived in Mount Annamalai during the 20th century. It has now become a famous tourist place.

Tiruvannamalai is made up of two words – Tiru and Annamalai. Annamalai means an inaccessible mountain. Tiru is used to as a prefix and adds to the greatness of the term Annamalai. Tiruvannamalai is greatly revered by the people in and outside Tamil Nadu.

Tiruvannamalai is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in India. It is an important destination for the followers of the Saiva religion. The Arunachala Hills and its environs are quite famous here. The temple is extremely grand in terms of concept, architecture and tradition. The Deepam festival is the main festival here and people from all over South India gather here on this occasion. Some places such as Tiruvannamalai, Arni, Vandavasi and Devikapuram are associated with East India and French companies. The Cholas rules over this place with the Cholan of Sambuvarayar being the last. He made Padavedu near Arni as his headquarters. A fort with moat and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva are the only remains of that time found till date. These are located at Kailasanathar in Arni town.

Tiruvannamalai formed part of the North Arcot District post independence. The districts of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai were made from North Arcot District. Despite having abundant historical and spiritual resources, Tiruvannmalai lacks industrial growth.

                                             Tiruvannamalai Climate

Tropical wet and dry climate is observed in Tiruvannamalai. During the summer season, the temperatures go very high. The summers are dry and winters wet. The average range of temperature is 18.95°C to 38.5°C. The highest temperature recorded is 45°C and lowest 10°C.

The humidity reaches up to 63% during summers and 96% during winters. The average annual rainfall is 1987.7 mm. The months of October and November experience the maximum rainfall. Both the north-east and south-west monsoons are responsible for rains within the region.

                                             Tiruvannamalai Tourist Places

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram

Sri Ramana Ashram

Yogi Ram Surathkumar Ashram

Sathanur Dam

Jawadhu Hills

Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

Jain Temple, Vanadavasi

Jawadhu Hills

Periyanaki Temple, Devikapuram

Renugambal Temple, Padaiveedu

Sathanur Dam

Sri Ramana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai

Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram, Tiruvannamalai

Yogi Ram SurathKumar Ashram, Tiruvannamalai