If you are planning trip from Hyderabad to Arunachalam by bus there are multiple options.
But please prefer using bus route if you are used to travel by buses before. The reason is you get confirmed tickets rather than being in waiting list in train journeys as we have only 2 trains from hyd to Tiruvannamalai. 1 is from kacheguda and 2 is from secunderabad. If you get tickets confirmed it's best to travel in train but most of the times these trains have waiting list. Please do not rely on tatkal because if you miss the opportunity you need to postpone your journey.
So here we are discussing how to travel using road transportation.
While there are many vendors who allocates busses to Tiruvannamalai Abhibus fares were very reasonable even during peek season. Ranging from 1500/ac sleeper seat. Sometimes the same can be charged at 2000.
During Saturday and Sunday there will be a lot of rush due to holidays for most of the people.
Peak season.
Every pournami is a peek season and if you want to travel during pournami please plan a month early as the prices will be increased only during these days.
Maha Jyothi or kartheega maha Jyothi
This will be in December the last pournami day. Lakhs and lakhs people will visit during maha Jyoti there is a significance for visiting. I will explain in detail video along with a post.
Stay/hotel in Arunachalam
There is a TTDC hotel in Arunachalam with affordable prices(usually 1000rs). And these prices varies from season to season and rush. If you visit any other hotel in 500meters range the changes are very very high as much as 3500-5000. Please be aware.
Hotel : Aalayam Tiruvannamalai (also called as yatri nivas)
Girivalam(tamil)/Giripradakshina(Telugu)
Girivalam or Giripradakshina is a sacred walk around Arunachala Hill which is a total 14KMs walk around the Hill. Now there are lot of shops and everything around this walk due to the huge demand caused by pilgrims. So its like walking inside a town where you get to visit 8 lingams around the hills. Starting from Indra Lingam and ending with Esanya Lingam. For a normal person who walks fast it taks 4-5hours to complete the Girivalam. But if you are a slow walking person it takes around 6-8hours depending on rest and food stops.
Total Lingams in order during girivalam. Do not miss any lingam darshan even if the temple is closed.
1. Indra Lingam
2.Agni Lingam
3.Yama Lingam
4.Niruthi Lingam
5.Varuna Lingam
6.Vaayu Lingam
7.Kubera Lingam
8.Esanya Lingam
Do's
1. Start early morning so that you can visit Agni Lingam by evening and rest night.
2.Chant om namah shivaya or arunachala shiva depending on your belief.
3.watch Arunachala Hill at every step if possible
4.Its mentioned in the sacred texts to not to rush the Girivalam but to walk as slow as a pregnant woman. Do not walk in hurry to complete it but feel his presence and pray to him.
5.Carry ORS/Cocunutwater/some snacks in a small bag.
6.Donate and feed animals as much as you can.
7.Do not spend Girivalam walk time in your personal chat with your friends or family who is walking along with you. Maintain devotion and only chant mantra.
Don't
1.Do not start without praying ganapathi infront of the temple. He is a proof of you are even walking around the hill.
2.Do not start without bathing. Its a very sacred hill.
3.Do not immediately go for darshan before girivalam. Finishin it and then go for darshan.
4.Try to avoid tamasic food.
5.Do not start on an empty stomach.
6.Do not keep chatting or wasting your time on other things apart from chanting mantra while walking Arunachala hill.
7. Your devotion is utmost important while walking around the hill so do not have any other thoughts in brain or walk for just someone in your family is walking around the hill.
Darashan:
If you visit the temple during weekdays you might get darshan within 15-30mins but during saturday and sunday the darshan time would be 1-3hours during morning and it will be reducing in the evening.
But if you visit during pournami days, the darshan time will be close to 10 hours sometimes. This is 50 rupeess darshan. Free darshan time is much more. If you want to enter into Gharba gudi, there is a paid darshan costing approx 2500. So plan your visit accordingly to have a peaceful journey.
Meals:
Once you exit the temple after darshan,Take right and walk 100meters and you will find an Andhra meals restaurant named Amrutham The taste here is okay compared to some restaurants around.
