Interactive map
Map of Girivalam and Arunachala
The 14 km road around the sacred hill, on one page: the eight lingams, the great temple, the ashrams, the caves on the slope and the siddha samadhis. Tap a place for its story, or step through the walk in order.
Schematic map, not to scale. Places are set by compass direction around the ring; the dotted road runs clockwise, with the hill on your right. Use “Open in Google Maps” for a real position, and ask locally for smaller shrines.
All the places, in order
The same places as text, for reading, searching and screen readers. Not every one of the 41 stops is marked here; the full list is in Girivalam route in detail.
The walk, in order
- Arunachaleswarar Temple Stop 1 of 41 · the start
Take darshan of Annamalaiyar first. By custom, ask leave of the guardians, then keep the hill on your right.
- Brahma Lingam shrine Stop 2 of 41 · inside the temple
A Brahma Lingam shrine stands within the temple walls, apart from the eight lingams of the outer road.
- The south gopuram Stop 3 of 41 · the first look back
Near the southern tower, pilgrims turn for the first look at the hill, framed by the gopuram.
- Indra Lingam Stop 4 of 41 · lingam 1 of 8 · east
The first of the eight, set by Indra, king of the gods. The road is busy here: settle into your rhythm.
- Karpaga Vinayaka Temple Stop 5 of 41 · east
A Ganesha shrine. By custom, ask his blessing here for a walk without obstacles.
- Agni Lingam Stop 6 of 41 · lingam 2 of 8 · south-east
Set by Agni, god of fire, fitting on the mountain of fire. Associated with the burning away of impurities.
- Seshadri Swamigal Ashram Stop 8 of 41 · south-east
The ashram of the saint who, tradition holds, first found the young Ramana in the Patala Lingam vault.
- Sri Ramanasramam Stop 9 of 41 · south-east
The ashram that grew around Ramana Maharshi, and the most visited stop on the whole circuit.
- Prithvi Nandi Stop 13 of 41 · south
The first of four Nandis tradition links to the elements: Prithvi, earth. Appu, Theyu and Vayu follow.
- Yama Lingam Stop 14 of 41 · lingam 3 of 8 · south
Set by Yama, lord of death. Devotees pray here to be freed from the fear of death. The town begins to thin.
- Appu Nandi Stop 15 of 41 · south
The second elemental Nandi, water. Tradition also calls this a place of reunion: folklore worth a moment.
- Niruthi Lingam Stop 16 of 41 · lingam 4 of 8 · south-west
Set by Niruthi, guardian of the south-west. The road grows quiet: prefer daylight or company on this stretch.
- Kama Kadu the forest stretch Stop 18 of 41 · south-west
Its old name means roughly "forest of desire". Tradition says: let go of attachment before the stillness.
- Theyu Nandi Stop 19 of 41 · south-west
The third elemental Nandi, fire. Tradition gives this a clear view of the hill and a wish for clarity of mind.
- The Shakti-Shiva vantage point Stop 21 of 41 · west
A named darshan, said to reflect the union of Shakti and Shiva: pilgrims pray here for harmony in the family.
- Varuna Lingam Stop 22 of 41 · lingam 5 of 8 · west
Set by Varuna, lord of the waters. Associated with emotional balance. A good place to rest and take water.
- Adi Annamalai Temple Stop 24 of 41 · west · the midpoint
Among the oldest temples here, held by tradition to be older than the great temple. A quiet heart of the walk.
- Manivaasaga Mandapam Stop 25 of 41 · west
Named for the saint-poet Manikkavachakar, near his own holy tank: a quiet spot linked to his hymns to the hill.
- Vayu Lingam Stop 26 of 41 · lingam 6 of 8 · north-west
Set by Vayu, god of wind. Devotees often speak of a breeze felt here. The last Nandi, Vayu, stands close by.
- Kubera Lingam Stop 31 of 41 · lingam 7 of 8 · north
Set by Kubera, lord of wealth. The road curves back toward the town, and refreshment stalls return.
- Idukku Pillaiyar Stop 32 of 41 · north
A Ganesha shrine tucked beside the road. By tradition, a place to set down the weight of the walk.
- Esanya Lingam Stop 35 of 41 · lingam 8 of 8 · north-east
The last of the eight, set, tradition says, by Shiva himself. Near it stands the samadhi of Isanya Desikar.
- Durga Temple Stop 36 of 41 · north-east
A temple to the goddess Durga on the homeward stretch, said to be especially potent on full-moon nights.
- Pavazha Kundru Murugan Temple Stop 37 of 41 · north-east
A hilltop shrine to Murugan. Local devotion says a visit carries something of a pilgrimage to Palani.
- Irattai Pillaiyar the twin Ganesha Stop 39 of 41 · north-east
The twin Ganesha who sent you off at the start now welcomes you back as the temple comes into view.
- Back at the temple Stop 41 of 41 · town centre
The circle closes where it began, the hill kept on your right the whole way round. Offer a quiet word of thanks.
On the hill and beside the road
- Virupaksha Cave On the hill · c. 1899–1916
Where Ramana lived for some seventeen years, shaped, it is said, like the sacred syllable Om. A short, steep climb above the ashram; go early or late and carry water.
- Skandashram On the hill · 1916–1922
A little higher than Virupaksha: a greener, more open place with a natural spring, trees, and a terrace looking over the great temple.
- Gugai Namasivaya samadhi Jeeva samadhi · on the lower slope
The cave saint, whose jeeva samadhi is enshrined in a small temple on the hill a short walk up. A Guru Pooja is held here yearly in Karthigai. Confirm access locally.
- Idaikkadar samadhi Jeeva samadhi · near the temple Goshala
The shepherd-Siddhar, one of the eighteen. His samadhi is kept near the temple Goshala; access can be restricted, so ask locally.
- Isanya Desikar samadhi Samadhi · by the Esanya Lingam
The math and samadhi of Isanya Desikar stand near the Esanya Lingam, the last of the eight.
Map questions
How long is the Girivalam route, and which way do you walk?
Girivalam is about 14 km around Arunachala. By custom it is walked clockwise, keeping the hill on your right, starting and ending at the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Where do the eight lingams stand?
The eight Ashta Lingams stand at the eight compass directions around the road, met in this order when walking clockwise from the temple: Indra (east), Agni (south-east), Yama (south), Niruthi (south-west), Varuna (west), Vayu (north-west), Kubera (north) and Esanya (north-east).
Is this map to scale?
No. It is a schematic map: stops are placed by compass direction around the ring, so you can follow the order of the walk. Use the Open in Google Maps link on any place to see its real position, and ask locally for smaller shrines and samadhis.
Where are the siddha samadhis?
Several are near the route: Gugai Namasivaya on the hill’s slope, Idaikkadar near the temple Goshala, and the samadhi of Isanya Desikar near the Esanya Lingam. Others lie along the Girivalam road and are small and easily missed, so ask locally.
Positions are approximate and drawn from the guide’s own route description. Know a stop that should be added or corrected? Tell us. Locations, access and opening times of shrines and samadhis change; confirm locally.