Girivalam · The inner path
The inner path: the honest truth
The quieter forest route that hugs the hill has a near-legendary reputation ~ and a fact most guides omit: it is officially closed by the Forest Department. The honest picture, and what to walk instead.
The short version
- Outer Path
- The paved 14 km road most people walk, lined with the lingams and shrines ~ the traditional route.
- Inner Path
- A rougher forest route closer to the hill ~ quieter and beautiful, but not freely open.
- The key fact
- The Inner Path is officially CLOSED by the Forest Department; many guides omit this.
- Instead
- Walk the Outer Path at a quiet hour; for the hill's closeness, the caves walk is open.
Somewhere in almost every conversation about Girivalam, someone mentions the Inner Path ~ the quieter route that leaves the tarred road and winds through the forest at the very base of the hill, closer to Arunachala, away from the traffic and the town. It has a near-legendary quality among long-stayers, and first-time visitors often arrive hoping to walk it. So let me give you the honest, current picture, including the part most guides leave out.
What the Inner Path is
The Girivalam most people walk is the Outer Path ~ the paved fourteen-kilometre road that circles the hill, passing the eight lingams, the shrines, the chai stalls, and, in places, ordinary streets and traffic. The Inner Path is a separate, older-feeling route that runs closer to the hill itself, through woodland and scrub at its base ~ unpaved, rougher underfoot, far quieter, and for many who have walked it, more beautiful and more contemplative. It hugs Arunachala more intimately, and passes closer to features on the lower slopes.
The honest, current truth: it is officially closed
Here is what you need to know, and what a great many online guides still get wrong: the Inner Path has been officially closed by the Forest Department. The forest at the base of Arunachala is protected land, and access to the inner route through it has been restricted by the authorities. Many older articles ~ and some current ones ~ describe the Inner Path as simply an option you can choose, without mentioning this. That is out of date and, for a visitor making plans, misleading.
Because the Inner Path runs through protected forest and has been restricted by the Forest Department, we don't provide directions for walking it, and we'd encourage you not to seek ways around the closure. Rules on access can change over time and may vary; if you are drawn to the inner route, ask locally and at the ashrams about the current, official position rather than relying on old online accounts.
What to do instead
The good news is that the Outer Path is the traditional route ~ the one walked for centuries, the one the lingams and shrines line, the one that carries the full meaning of Girivalam. You lose nothing essential by walking it. And if what draws you to the Inner Path is really the wish for quiet ~ for the walk without the crowds and the traffic ~ you can find much of that on the Outer Path simply by choosing your time: walk in the very early morning, or on an ordinary evening well away from the full moon, and long stretches of the road are peaceful and near-empty. For the hill's closer intimacy, the walk up to Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram on the lower slopes is open, legitimate, and quietly magnificent.
Being accurate about the Inner Path's closure is exactly the kind of honesty that matters ~ both because it's the truth, and because it protects a fragile stretch of sacred forest. If you read elsewhere that the Inner Path is freely walkable, treat that with caution and check the current official position on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inner path of Girivalam open?
No. The Inner Path, which runs through protected forest at the base of Arunachala, has been officially closed by the Forest Department. Many online guides still describe it as an open option, but that is out of date. Access rules can change, so check the current official position locally rather than relying on old accounts.
What is the difference between the inner and outer Girivalam paths?
The Outer Path is the paved 14 km road that most pilgrims walk, passing the eight lingams and shrines ~ the traditional route carrying the full meaning of Girivalam. The Inner Path is a rougher, unpaved route through forest closer to the hill, quieter and, to many, more beautiful, but it is officially closed.
Can I still walk a quiet Girivalam?
Yes. Walk the Outer Path in the very early morning or on an ordinary evening away from the full moon, and long stretches are peaceful and near-empty. For the hill's closer intimacy, the open walk up to Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram on the lower slopes is a fine alternative.
Should I try to walk the inner path anyway?
We'd encourage you not to. The inner route runs through protected forest restricted by the Forest Department, and respecting the closure protects a fragile sacred area. If drawn to it, ask locally and at the ashrams about the current official position instead of seeking ways around the closure.
Last updated 19 September 2026. Details can change; please confirm current information where relevant.