All 12 full-moon Girivalam dates for Tiruvannamalai pilgrims — including Chitra Pournami and Karthigai Deepam
Only upcoming dates are shown, with exact Pournami tithi begin/end times (IST) — these vary every month, they are not a fixed daily time.
THE most sacred Girivalam of the year. The sacred fire beacon is lit on Arunachala's summit at sunset, visible across the Tamil plains. Pilgrimage attendance often exceeds one million on a single night. Book accommodation 3–4 months in advance.
The second most important Pournami of the year. Chitra Pournami coincides with the Tamil New Year period and is associated with spiritual liberation from past karma. Hundreds of thousands participate. Begin the walk before dawn to beat the heat and the crowd.
The Great Night of Shiva falls in the dark fortnight just before the new moon (Amavasai), not on the full moon, but it is equally sacred. An all-night vigil with Girivalam draws millions. The entire town transforms into a festival of devotion.
Every month, on the night of Pournami — the full moon — the sacred circumambulation path around Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai comes alive with pilgrims. This 14-kilometre walk, performed barefoot and in a clockwise direction, is one of the most ancient spiritual practices in South India. It is known as Girivalam (கிரிவலம்), from the Tamil words giri (hill) and valam (circumambulation).
The full moon is considered auspicious across all Hindu traditions. On Pournami, the moon is believed to exert a powerful influence on both the physical and spiritual planes. The tidal pull of the full moon affects not just the oceans but also the human body — a body composed largely of water. Ancient rishis (sages) observed that prayers, meditations, and sacred walks performed on Pournami carry amplified spiritual potency.
At Tiruvannamalai, this potency is multiplied further by the presence of Arunachala — a hill that Hindu scripture identifies as a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself. According to the Skanda Purana and other ancient texts, Arunachala is not merely a hill where Shiva is worshipped, but is Shiva in the form of a hill. Walking around it — especially on Pournami — is considered equivalent to the most intensive spiritual practices.
January (Jan 3): Cool, comfortable winter weather. Ideal for first-time visitors. Sunrise at 6:20am IST — plan to start by 4am for a calm morning walk under the fading full moon.
February (Feb 1): Still pleasant. The town is buzzing from the upcoming Maha Shivaratri energy. Accommodation fills quickly in February — book both dates if you can.
March (Mar 3): Spring Pournami. Temperatures are rising. Start by 3:30–4am to complete the walk before 9am. Carry a minimum of 1.5 litres of water per person.
April (Apr 2) — Chitra Pournami: One of the year's peak pilgrimages. The heat is building; night walks are preferred. The path is illuminated and water stalls are placed every 500 metres on this day.
May (May 1): Summer peak. Start no later than 4am. Vendors sell fresh coconut water and sugarcane juice along the route. The experience of dawn breaking over the hill is spectacular.
June (Jun 29): Pre-monsoon or early monsoon. The air is electric with the scent of rain. If it rains, roads are slippery in places — exercise care.
July (Jul 29): Monsoon Girivalam. The hill is verdant and misty. Many devotees find the rain a purifying blessing. Waterproof sandals or sturdy rubber footwear is advisable.
August (Aug 28): Mid-monsoon. Smaller crowds create a more intimate atmosphere. The mountain streams and waterfalls around Arunachala are at their most dramatic.
September (Sep 26): The monsoon retreats. The landscape is lush and the temperatures moderate. An excellent time for a first visit.
October (Oct 26): Post-monsoon season — widely considered the best time to visit Tiruvannamalai. Clear skies, comfortable temperatures, good roads.
November (Nov 24) — Karthigai Deepam: The most sacred night of the year. The hilltop beacon flame is lit at sunset and remains burning through the night. The sight of one million devotees walking beneath the full moon, the hill's crown ablaze with sacred fire, is an experience that transforms lives. Arrive at least two days early.
December (Dec 24): A peaceful end to the year. Winter coolness makes this one of the physically easiest Pournami walks. A wonderful time for reflection and spiritual renewal.
Tiruvannamalai has hundreds of accommodation options — from ₹300 dharamshalas to ₹5,000 boutique hotels. During ordinary Pournami dates, booking 1–2 weeks in advance is sufficient. During Chitra Pournami, book 4–6 weeks ahead. For Karthigai Deepam, book 3–4 months ahead. Many hotels are within 1–2 km of the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Track your position on the Girivalam path in real time · Get alerts as you approach each of the 8 Lingams · See live crowd density · Group tracking for families · Works offline too