Girivalam in the monsoon: October to December 2026

The three full moons of late 2026

Times are for the Pournami tithi in Indian Standard Time, calculated as explained on our Sources page.

Full moon	Tithi begins	Tithi ends	Notes
Aippasi Pournami	Sun 25 Oct, about 11:56 AM	Mon 26 Oct, about 9:41 AM	Peak monsoon; the night of the 25th is the natural walking time
Karthigai Pournami	Mon 23 Nov, about 11:43 PM	Tue 24 Nov, about 8:23 PM	Coincides with Karthigai Deepam 2026, so expect the year’s largest crowds
Margazhi Pournami	Wed 23 Dec, about 10:47 AM	Thu 24 Dec, about 6:58 AM	Cooler and drier; a pleasant walk

See all dates on the Pournami 2026 page and the planning notes for Karthigai Deepam 2026.

What the rain changes

Sri Ramanasramam’s visitor guide describes October and November as the northeast monsoon season, wet but with moderate temperatures. December and January are pleasant, with cool nights. In practice:

• The road is fine; the hill paths are not. The Girivalam road is tarred and walkable in rain. The footpaths up to Skandashram and Virupaksha Cave get slippery, so skip them after heavy rain.
• Barefoot walkers find wet tarmac cooler but tougher on the soles over 14 km. Cotton socks help.
• Heavy downpours can briefly flood low stretches of road. Wait them out at a tea stall or mandapam rather than wading through fast water.
• Travel takes longer. Roads from Chennai and Bengaluru slow down in heavy rain, so leave extra time.

A rain-ready checklist

Take	Why
Light rain poncho or umbrella	Showers come and go; a poncho keeps your hands free
Spare socks and a small towel	For barefoot walkers and wet feet
Plastic-free dry bag for phone and cash	Single-use plastic is banned in Tamil Nadu, so use a reusable pouch
Torch	Cloud cover makes nights darker, even on a full moon
Water	You still need it; humidity is high

Check the weather on the day

• Our pilgrim dashboard shows the current weather and today’s rain chance for Tiruvannamalai (data from Open-Meteo).
• For warnings, check the India Meteorological Department at mausam.imd.gov.in and follow local police and district instructions.
• If a cyclone or very heavy rain warning is in force, postpone. There will be another full moon.

Why walk in the rains at all?

The monsoon months bring the hill back to green after the summer heat. Many regular walkers love the cool, washed air of an October Girivalam. If you want the festival, come for Karthigai Pournami. If you want quiet, choose an ordinary weekday morning between the full moons. The Girivalam guide covers the rest.