Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati and Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai are two of South India’s most sacred shrines. One is the abode of Lord Vishnu on the Seven Hills of Tirumala, and the other is the cosmic fire, or Agni Lingam, which is known as the incarnation of Lord Shiva at the foot of Mount Arunachala. These two pilgrimage hubs are about 200 km apart and can be easily covered in a three-day trip if you plan well. Need help? Well, here’s a guide on how you can visit Tirupati and Arunachalam in a three-day trip! Check it out.
Tirupati And Arunachalam Three-Day Trip
Day One
Morning: 06:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Reach Tirupati via flight (Tirupati Airport at Renigunta) or rail (Tirupati Main/ Renigunta Junction). Now check in to your base hotel down in Tirupati city, freshen up, and relish a light breakfast.
Then board an APSRTC electric bus or hire a taxi to move up the Tirumala Hills via the Ghat road. Make sure you keep your booking tokens and government IDs like Aadhaar and Passport readily available for checking at the Alipiri security checkpoint.
Late Morning to Mid-Afternoon: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Based on your booked slot, enter the queue complex at Tirumala. Even with special entry tickets, navigating waiting areas, security holds, and inner sanctum corridors might take 2 to 4 hours on regular days.
Step inside the Ananda Nilayam Vimana and witness the beauty of Lord Venkateswara Moolavirat. Now collect the holy Tirupati Laddu at the counters outside. You can collect them using your redeemable darshan ticket slips.
Relish hot meals at the Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam Complex. You can also stop by the local eateries for traditional pulihora and curd rice. Also visit Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, which is situated on the banks of the sacred Swami Pushkarini lake.
Evening: 05:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Descend the Tirumala Hills and visit the Kapila Theertham Temple. It is located at the base of the Sheshadri Hills and is the only known Shiva shrine in Tirupati. Enjoy a simple dinner in Tirupati and rest early to prepare for an early morning departure.
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Day Two
Morning: 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM
Check out of your hotel early in the morning and drive to Tiruchanur. It is located approximately 5 km from Tirupati town center. Here, you must visit the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple. According to Hindu traditions, it is important to visit this temple of Lord Venkateswara’s consort to complete the pilgrimage.
Do not miss out on authentic Andhra breakfast here.
Late Morning to Afternoon: 09:00 AM to 3:00 PM
After a hearty breakfast, begin your road trip towards Tiruvannamalai. You can take NH716 through Chittoor towards Vellore.
Reach Tiruvannamalai and check in to your guest house or hotel. Relish a nice traditional Tamil meal.
Evening to Night: 04:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Visit Sri Ramanasramam at the foot of Mount Arunachala. You can sit in the Samadhi Hall and the Old Meditation Hall for Atma Vichara or self-inquiry. Take a 20-minute gentle walk up the shaded hill path and visit Skandashram or Virupaksha Cave.
Stroll through the lively market streets around the temple. Dine in on delicious vegetarian food stalls on Car Street.
Also Read: The Ultimate Guide To India’s Twelve Jyotirlingas: Location And Legends
Day Three
Morning: 06:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Enter one of India’s largest temple complexes, the grand Arunachaleswarar Temple complex. It sprawls over 25 acres with about four magnificent, towering gopurams.
Seek the blessings of the Shiva Lingam representing the fire element. After this, seek the blessings of Goddess Unnamalai Amman.
Walk around the 1000-pillared hall and witness the beauty of the Raja Gopuram, which is 66 meters tall.
Relish your breakfast and morning coffee.
Late Morning to Afternoon: 09:30 AM to 2:00 PM
After breakfast, do not miss out on performing Girivalam, which is basically a circumambulation of Mount Arunachala. It is a sacred 14 km paved loop that encircles the holy mountain. Devotees walk here barefoot, keeping the mountain on their right side. The route is known to feature eight directional lingam shrines.
If you are tight on time or are accompanied by an elderly family member, you can take a rickshaw or taxi that will take you around the mountain and also stop at every shrine.
Afternoon: 2:00 PM onwards
Pack and check out for your journey back home.
Also Read: Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti: Booking, Timings & Dress Code
Note: This article was compiled after verifying current publicly available information.
Summing Up
We have given you a complete three-day pilgrimage itinerary from Tirupati to Arunachalam, but what can help you more is booking your accommodation and travel well in advance. Make sure you also book your darshan tickets online for a smooth experience. You can pick regular weekdays instead of weekends or festive season times to avoid congestion, crowds, and traffic.
