Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Aippasi Pournami 2026: Girivalam timings & tips

Girivalam today, or this weekend? Aippasi Pournami falls on Sunday 25 October 2026 — the full-moon window opens at 11:27 AM that day and closes at 10:10 AM on Monday 26 October. Here is when to walk, what the monsoon may do, and how to plan it.

This Pournami has now passed. See the next full moon Girivalam date & time.

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Aippasi Pournami Girivalam timing

Girivalam on a full moon follows the Purnima tithi, not the clock. For Aippasi 2026 the tithi begins at 11:27 AM on Sunday 25 October and ends at 10:10 AM on Monday 26 October (IST). That window covers the whole night, so the traditional moonlit walk can start any time after dusk on the 25th. If you would rather avoid the night crowd, a pre-dawn start around 3–4 AM on the 26th still falls inside the window and leaves you comfortably finished before it closes.

The 14 km walk takes most people three to five hours at an easy pace; allow longer if you stop at the lingams or the temple. The Sunday falls on a weekend, so the road will be busier than a weekday full moon. All the dates and times for 2026 and 2027 are on the Girivalam dates & timings page.

Rain, mud and the northeast monsoon

The northeast monsoon usually reaches Tamil Nadu in the second half of October, and Tiruvannamalai can see sudden evening or night showers around this Pournami. It is not a reason to skip the walk, but it changes how you prepare: a light poncho rather than an umbrella (hands free, and less of a nuisance in a crowd), a waterproof pouch for your phone, a change of clothes in a bag, and plenty of time, because wet roads are slow and in places slippery. Many pilgrims walk barefoot; if you do, watch for broken glass and puddles over uneven ground, and think twice about walking barefoot in heavy rain. Check the forecast a day or two ahead, and if a downpour sets in, shelter and wait — the window is long.

Plan the day

If you are travelling in, book your room early; full-moon weekends fill up quickly (see where to stay in Tiruvannamalai). Special buses, and sometimes special trains, are usually run for Pournami, so look for the transport corporation or railway notices a few days ahead rather than relying on the usual schedule. Eat lightly before you start, carry water and a small torch, wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting wet, and keep to the left side of the road with the crowd. On the walk itself, our route in detail shows the way stop by stop, and the Girivalam walking companion takes you round all 41 stops at your own pace — it loads once and works offline, which helps when the mobile network is busy on a full-moon night.

First time on a full-moon night? Read what to expect on a Pournami night walk and the complete Girivalam guide.

What Aippasi Pournami means

Aippasi is the Tamil month of the post-monsoon lamps, the season that leads toward Karthigai Deepam. Its full moon is linked with Sharad Purnima in the wider calendar, a night prized for its clear, gentle light. At many Shiva temples across Tamil Nadu the day is traditionally marked with Annabhishekam, the anointing of the Shivalinga with cooked rice; the temple announces any special worship for the day, so check its notice. For walkers, the meaning is simpler: a cool, washed-clean hill, and the first full moon on the road to the great festival of light. Karthigai Pournami follows on 23–24 November; plan ahead with our guide to Karthigai Deepam 2026.

The Aippasi Pournami window follows the timings published for Tiruvannamalai and has been checked against the moon’s position; panchangams can differ by minutes. Confirm close to the date. Last updated 13 October 2026.