- Girivalam, Arunachaleswarar Temple - You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning for the two-hour drive to the town of Thiruvannamalai, situated 60 miles away from Pondicherry.
Visit the 9th century Arunachaleswarar temple that is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Besides being the largest temple in the world dedicated to Shiva, the temple also has the distinction of having a 216 feet high tower, the second tallest temple tower in the world. The temple complex is spread over an area of 25 acres and has several pillared halls, including a hall with a thousand pillars.
- Sri Ramana Ashram - Next visit the Ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi which is situated at the foot of the Arunachala hills, outside the town. You can also visit the cave on the Arunagiri slope, where the saint is said to have meditated. Amongst the early visitors to the Ashram were the British writers Paul Brunton in 1931 and Somerset Maugham in 1938. The latter used Sri Ramana Maharshi as the model for the character of Shri Ganesha in his novel, The Razor’s Edge.
After the Ashram visit, enjoy an included lunch (beverage excluded) at a local restaurant.
After lunch you will be driven back to Pondicherry and dropped off at your hotel.
- 02 bottles of mineral water per person
- Lunch (beverage excluded)
- Local English speaking guide
- Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food or drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
On this day excursion from Pondicherry, visit the largest Shiva temple in the world. The temple is situated in the town of Thiruvannamalai, about 60 miles from Pondicherry. After a tour of the temple, visit the nearby Ashram (monastery) of the Saint and Philosopher, Sri Ramana Maharshi, who lived here until his death in 1950.
Highlights
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largest Shiva temple in the world
• Drive through the South Indian countryside
• Visit to Arunachaleswarar Temple, the largest Shiva temple in the world
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• Visit to Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram
- Not recommended for pregnant women and people with back problems.
- Consider wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
- Temple visit timings are 06:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon in the morning and from 04:00 - 09:30 p.m. in the evening.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
