A Karthik

Thursday, February 25, 2016

How to plan a trip to the mystic mountains Tiruvannamalai from Chennai (Part 1 of 2)

This is not a trip that requires a lot of planning - especially from Chennai. Its a whole lot of fun especially for a place that not covered well as a vacation spot (mostly covered as a pilgrimage centre).

The best time of the year is between End-Sep and Early-Mar (Please try to avoid this place in Summer as it can be burning hot - In fact it is Shivasthalam for Agni too - Arunachal). Try to avoid the time of Karthigai Deepam (Sometime in Dec Jan)

I cover it in 2 posts
Post 1(This): 1. How to get there and 2.Where to stay
Post 2: 3. What to see 4. Where to shop and eat

1.How to get there:

Chennai Tiruvannamalai Trip Vacation Route map Stay Things to do Places

Chennai to Tiruvannamalai route options for car

Its about 5 hrs if you drive like me (i.e. slow and enjoying the ride as much as you enjoy the destination) and 3.5 to 4 hrs if you drive fast

The Chennai Tindivanam Gingee route has bad roads between Tindivanam to Gingee. They have been laying the 6 lane road forever. The Arani Polur road is good and you reach decent speeds - even though it is a 2 lane for most parts (BTW there will be a lot of visitors from Bangalore too as this place is kind of equi-distant)

2. Where to stay:

If you are planning a vacation (and not a pilgrimage) Sparsa is a very good place. It has a resort atmosphere and boasts many amenities
1. Cottages 2. Pool 3. Pottery making for kids 4. Milking a cow 5. Spa and a nice garden to walk
You can get a view of the "the mountain" from the resort

Actually if you plan 2 trips, you can spend a whole day doing "nothing" at the resort - we spent a few days at Tiruvannamalai and hence had time to combine lazing around with the ashram/gingee fort etc
(See Part 2 for What to do at Thiruvannamalai - Places to see)