Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Aippasi Pournami Girivalam 2027: date & time

Aippasi Pournami falls on Saturday 13 November 2027. By our calculation the full-moon window opens at about 9:56 AM that day and closes at about 8:56 AM on Sunday 14 November. 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 2027 our calculated window opens at about 9:56 AM on Saturday 13 November and closes at about 8:56 AM on Sunday 14 November (IST). The temple has not yet published its 2027 times, and panchangams can differ by up to about an hour, so check again closer to the date. The window covers the whole night, so the traditional moonlit walk can start any time after dusk on the 13th, and a pre-dawn start around 3–4 AM on the 14th still leaves you finished before it closes. (In 2026 Aippasi Pournami fell on 25–26 October.)

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. It falls on a weekend, so the road will be busier than on 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

Mid-November is the heart of the northeast monsoon, usually the wettest time of year at Tiruvannamalai, and heavy showers are likely 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 that leads toward Karthigai Deepam and its season of lamps. In some years, as in 2026, its full moon coincides with Sharad Purnima in the wider calendar, a night prized for its 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, rain-washed hill, and the last full moon before the great festival of light. Karthigai Pournami follows on 12–13 December 2027 (calculated); see our guide to Karthigai Deepam.

The 2027 window is calculated from the moon’s position because the temple has not yet published its 2027 times; panchangams can differ by up to about an hour. Confirm close to the date. Last updated 12 November 2026.