Arunachaleswarar Temple

The temple at a glance

Presiding deity	Arunachaleswarar (Annamalaiyar), worshipped as a lingam
Goddess	Unnamulai Amman (Apithakuchambal)
Element	Fire (Agni). The temple is one of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams
Location	Eastern foot of Arunachala Hill, Tiruvannamalai 606601, Tamil Nadu
Area	About 25 acres (10 hectares), per the district administration
Tallest tower	Eastern Rajagopuram: 11 tiers, about 66 m (217 ft)
Shrines	40 shrines, as listed on the official temple site
Darshan	5:30 AM – 8:00 PM daily (official site). See temple timings
Administration	HR&CE Department, Government of Tamil Nadu

The same temple goes by several names. In Tamil it is Annamalaiyar Kovil, after Annamalai, the Tamil name of the hill. In Sanskrit it is Arunachaleswarar, “Lord of Arunachala”. Pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana usually call it Arunachalam.

Why the temple matters

The temple is inseparable from the hill behind it. Shaiva tradition holds that Shiva appeared here as a column of fire and then took the form of Arunachala. For devotees, the temple sanctum and the hill are two faces of the same presence. That is why the two central practices of Tiruvannamalai are darshan in the temple and Girivalam, the walk around the hill. The legends are told on Legends of Arunachala.

The temple was praised in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns of Appar and Sambandar. Its present stone structures were built and extended from the Chola period onwards, as the history page explains.

How the complex is laid out

The temple is a set of concentric walled enclosures (prakarams) facing east. You enter through the 11-tier Rajagopuram, the most recent and tallest tower. Then you walk inward through progressively older courtyards to the sanctum of Arunachaleswarar. The goddess Unnamulai Amman has her own shrine within the complex.

Highlights include the thousand-pillared hall, the underground Pathala Lingam where the young Ramana Maharshi meditated, the Sivaganga Theertham tank, and a large Nandi facing the sanctum. The architecture guide walks through each part, and shrines and deities describes who is worshipped where.

Planning a visit

• Temple timingsArunachaleswarar Temple timings from the official HR&CE website: 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM daily, how hours change on Pournami, Pradosham and festivals, and when to go.
• Pooja timingsThe six daily poojas at Arunachaleswarar Temple with approximate times, what happens at each, abhishekam and special poojas, and how festival days change the schedule.
• Dress code & rulesWhat to wear at Arunachaleswarar Temple, and the rules on phones, photography, footwear, bags and offerings, plus etiquette that helps your visit go smoothly.
• First-time visitor guideA first visit to Arunachaleswarar Temple, step by step: arriving, entrances, queues and tickets, the order of darshan, prasadam and annadhanam.

• Best time of day: from opening at 5:30 AM until about 9 AM on weekdays.
• Crowded days: weekends, Pournami (full moon), Pradosham and festivals. Check the Pournami calendar before you travel.
• What to wear: modest traditional dress; see dress code and rules.
• Tickets and donations: only through the official HR&CE website or the counters inside the temple.

Explore the temple in depth

• HistoryThe documented history of Arunachaleswarar Temple: Tevaram hymns, Chola masonry, the Hoysala capital, Vijayanagara and Nayak builders, inscriptions and modern times.
• Architecture & gopuramsHow Annamalaiyar Temple is built: five prakarams, the 217 ft Rajagopuram and the other gopurams, the thousand-pillared hall, Pathala Lingam, tanks and inscriptions.
• Shrines & deitiesWho is worshipped at Arunachaleswarar Temple: Annamalaiyar, Unnamulai Amman, Kambathu Ilaiyanar, Periya Nandi, Pathala Lingam and the temple's 40 shrines.
• Legends of ArunachalaThe legends of Arunachala: Shiva's endless column of fire before Brahma and Vishnu, the ketaki flower, Parvati's penance and Ardhanarishvara.

Beyond the temple

Most visitors combine darshan with the 14 km Girivalam around the hill. Many also visit Sri Ramanasramam and the caves on the hillside. If you’re coming for the great festival, start with the Karthigai Deepam guide.