Thiruvannamalai is an ancient town placed in the foothills of Annamalaiyar range that is around 195 kilometres away from Chennai. The British regime often referred to it as Trinomalee or Trinomali.
The town is one of the famous religious pilgrimage sites featuring several temples and ashrams including the sacred shrine of Lord Arunachaleswara and ashrams of Seshadrinatha Swamigal, Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Ramana Maharshi. It takes approximately 4-6 hours to reach Thiruvannamalai from Chennai.
The winter season between October to March is the best time to explore Thiruvannamalai.
Thiruvannamalai is not accessible via a flight from Chennai. But, frequent trains and buses are running to and fro Thiruvannamalai. The Thiruvannamalai railway station is well connected to major cities in South India. The best way to uncover the hidden jewels of Thiruvannamalai is by road as it is easily accessible via the Puducherry-Krishnagiri Highway.
There are two-wheelers and bicycles available for rent for commuting within Thiruvannamalai. Alternatively, there are autorickshaws and buses that help travellers commute within the region.
The metropolitan capital city of the state Tamil Nadu is placed on the southeast coast of India and offers the best experiences of both sea and land with its heritage temples, churches and gorgeous beaches. Chennai is also an excellent place to savour delightful delicacies and shop for both cosmopolitan and traditional items.
Chengalpattu is 62.5 kilometres away from Chennai and roughly takes 2 hours to complete the journey. Blessed with incredible natural beauty like lakeside vistas and historic temples, Chengalpattu is placed in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu state. This little town is a great transit stop to popular destinations like the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Mamallapuram.
The city has a rich history of mighty empires including the French colonisers that resided in the area and fought many epic battles. The iconic Kolavai Lake, the Madras Crocodile Bank and the Vallam Reserve Forest are amongst the notable attractions in the small little town.
The remaining 132.5 kilometres can be covered in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Thiruvannamalai has a wide array of temples and historic sites that catch the attention of several travellers. One of the reasons why people refer to it as the Temple Town of South India.