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Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai, Full-Moon Dates and Karthigai Deepam
Girivalam is the walk round Arunachala hill, done mainly on full-moon nights, which devotees believe honours the hill as Shiva himself. Once a year, on Karthigai Deepam, a great lamp is lit on the hilltop and the town fills with pilgrims.
What happens
- Start at Arunachaleswarar Temple at the foot of the hill. The district lists Indra Lingam, on the east side, as the first lingam on the route.
- Walk round with the hill on your right. By custom most devotees walk barefoot.
- You pass eight lingam shrines in order: Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Esanya. The district puts Yama about 3 km and Varuna about 8 km from the Raja Gopuram.
- The road round the hill is about 14 km. We found no official walking time, so allow extra hours on full-moon nights, when crowds slow the walk.
- On Karthigai Deepam evening a huge lamp is lit on top of the hill, and devotees watch it from the town and the route.
Sources: tiruvannamalai.nic.in, en.wikipedia.org, tiruvannamalai.nic.in · checked 30 Oct 2026
Where families go
- Timings and guide
Tiruvannamalai Temple
Tiruvannamalai
Arunachaleswarar Temple stands at the foot of the hill and is where most devotees begin and end the walk.
When to go
Devotees walk on full-moon (Pournami) days and on festival days, most of them through the night while the full-moon period lasts. Karthigai Deepam is the biggest night of the year.
| Date | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 2026Mon | Karthigai Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 11:42 pm on 23 Nov to 8:23 pm on 24 Nov 2026. |
| 24 Nov 2026Tue | Karthigai Deepam 2026 | Karthigai Deepam falls on Tuesday 24 Nov 2026, with the Maha Deepam lit on the hilltop that evening. |
| 23 Dec 2026Wed | Margazhi Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 10:47 am on 23 Dec to 6:57 am on 24 Dec 2026. |
| 21 Jan 2027Thu | Thai Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 9:29 pm on 21 Jan to 5:46 pm on 22 Jan 2027. |
| 20 Feb 2027Sat | Masi Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 7:59 am on 20 Feb to 4:52 am on 21 Feb 2027. |
| 21 Mar 2027Sun | Panguni Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 6:21 pm on 21 Mar to 4:13 pm on 22 Mar 2027. |
| 20 Apr 2027Tue | Chithra Pournami girivalam | The full-moon period runs from 4:51 am on 20 Apr to 3:56 am on 21 Apr 2027. |
Sources: tiruvannamalai.nic.in, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com · checked 30 Oct 2026
Before you go
- RitualWalking barefoot is a custom, not a rule we could confirm. Keep the hill on your right the whole way.
- SafetyFull-moon crowds are huge; the district put Chithra Pournami 2026 at around 20 lakh walkers. Keep elders and children close, agree a meeting point, and use the medical camps and ambulances set up along the route.
- SafetyWhether devotees may climb the hill for the 2026 Maha Deepam has not been announced, so treat it as not allowed until the district says otherwise. Climbing was barred for the 2024 and 2025 festivals because of landslide risk.
- Good to knowFor festival schedules and crowd notices, rely only on the temple's HR&CE site and the Tiruvannamalai district site.
- OfficialArunachaleswarar Temple, official HR&CE site
- OfficialTiruvannamalai district, Full Moon Day (Girivalam) page
- OfficialTiruvannamalai district, Karthigai Festival page
Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, dtnext.in, ommcomnews.com, annamalaiyar.hrce.tn.gov.in · checked 30 Oct 2026
Questions Families Ask
Where is the girivalam starting point?
Most devotees start at Arunachaleswarar Temple at the foot of the hill. The district lists Indra Lingam, on the east side, as the first lingam on the route.
What is the girivalam distance?
The road round Arunachala hill is about 14 km. You pass eight lingam shrines, from Indra Lingam in the east to Esanya Lingam in the north-east.
What are the girivalam dates in 2026?
The next full-moon windows open at 11:42 pm on 23 Nov and 10:47 am on 23 Dec 2026, as reported by drikpanchang. Other calendars differ, so check the temple site.
What is the Karthigai Deepam 2026 date?
Karthigai Deepam falls on Tuesday 24 Nov 2026, as reported by drikpanchang. Whether devotees may climb the hill in 2026 has not been announced.
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