Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Girivalam April 2027: Chithirai Pournami date & time

When is Girivalam in April 2027? Chithirai Pournami falls on Tuesday, 20 April 2027: the full-moon window opens at 4:52 AM that day and closes at 3:58 AM on Wednesday 21 April (IST). Here is when to start, what the weather and crowd will be like, and how to plan the walk.

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

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Girivalam date and time, April 2027

Girivalam on a full moon follows the Purnima tithi, not the clock. For Chithirai 2027 the tithi begins at 4:52 AM on Tuesday 20 April and ends at 3:58 AM on Wednesday 21 April (IST). These 2027 times are calculated from the moon’s position, not yet published by the temple, and can differ from a local panchangam by up to about an hour — confirm a week before you travel.

The window is already open by the evening (it began at 4:52 AM on Tuesday 20 April), so the usual 7–10 PM start falls comfortably inside it. It closes at 3:58 AM on Wednesday 21 April. To finish inside the window at an easy pace of about five hours, set off by about 10:58 PM. The 14 km walk takes most people three to five hours, so there is room to stop at the lingams or the temple. Every other month’s date and time is on the Girivalam dates & timings page.

Weather and what to carry in April

April is hot. Walk at night rather than by day, carry more water than you think you need (a litre is the minimum), and take care barefoot, because tarred roads stay hot well into the evening. An early-morning finish is more comfortable than a midday one. Whatever the month, carry a small torch even on a full-moon night, a phone, a little cash for tea and at least a litre of water. Many pilgrims walk barefoot; if you are not used to it, read barefoot or shoes? before you decide.

What Chithirai Pournami means

Chithirai Pournami (Chitra Pournami) is one of the most auspicious full moons of the whole year, opening the Tamil new-year month. It draws large, joyful crowds to Girivalam, and falling at night it offers the classic moonlit walk, though the path will be full.

Read more about this festival in Chitra Pournami at Arunachala.

Plan the day

If you are travelling in, book your room early; full-moon dates fill up quickly (see where to stay in Tiruvannamalai). Special buses are usually run for Pournami, so look for the transport corporation notices a few days ahead. Eat lightly before you start 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.

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

The 2027 windows are calculated from the moon’s position (IST) and can differ from local panchangams by up to about an hour. Confirm close to the date. Last updated 23 October 2026.