Trip to Parvathamalai

Parvathamalai is a sacred hill near Polur where there is a temple for Lord Mallikarjuna. It is around 30 KMs from Tiruvannamalai.

From Tiruvannamalai you go towards Kanchi and start your climb from Thenmadhimangalam village. There is another route but it is difficult path.

We started our climb around 1 PM and we reached the top at around 5 PM. It will take around 4 to 5 hrs depending on the speed of your climb. There is proper footsteps for the first 2 KM and the next 3 KMs you need to climb up the hill

The last part of the climb is bit terrifying where the climb is steep. It is perfectly safe to climb provided you do it slow and take support. Gadapaparaipadi is where you climb with support from steel rods and chains on the sides of the hill.

At the top there is a beautiful temple to Lord Mallikarjuna and there are no priests. We can do the pooja ourselves to Lord Shiva and Parvathi. We carried enough food for the night and slept within the temple premises. We returned back next day after seeing the beautiful sunrise.

There is no proper shelter available at the top. If you are planning to stay in the top carry enough clothes to protect against cold. Off late they have disallowed staying in the top.

Overall an wonderful trip .. Parvathamalai is a spiritual trip with bonus of trekking up a nice hill. There are lots of siddhas in this hill and also famous for many sacred herbs.

Trip to Chathuragiri or Sivamalai

Devotees are requested to climb the mountain only from Thaniparai Region. There are so many other ways from different directions to Top of the hill. But they are very dangerous. Atleast the devotee can find some other person within a gap of 5 minutes

In the month of December 09, I visited Chathuragiri also called Sivamalai. Chathuragiri is famous hill near Srivilliputhur (near Madurai). Chathuragiri is famous for the Siva temple of Sundara Mahalingam and Sandana Mahalingam. Sidhars are still living in this hill and the hill is very sacred.

The trek to the top of the hill is very tough. It takes around 5 hrs to reach the top. The hill is so sacred that its impossible to visit this place without divine grace.

We reached Madurai. From Madurai we took bus going towards Srivilliputhur. We got down at Krishna Koil stop (just before Srivilliputhur). From Krishankoil we took an auto and reached Thanniparai (base of the Chathuragiri Hill). (Auto charge is Rs.150 for one way).

We started around 11.30 AM. It was not very sunny that day. The trek up the hill was very beautiful. Beautiful hills on all side with streams crossing at many places. Some of the streams were dry.

As we started we rented a porter (Rs.300 for 2 way) for carrying our bags. On the way we worshiped various small temples on the way. The main landmarks on the way are Gorakkar Caves, Irattai Lingam (Two lingam), Temple of Pilavadi Karuppar. We reached the top at around 4 .30 PM.

On reaching the top we had darshan of the beautiful Sundara Mahalingam. Then we moved up to the temple of Sandana Mahalingam. The two temples are separated by 1.5 KM distance. We requested for accommodation at Sandana Mahalingam temple. They provided us a room close to the temple. After keeping the bags at the room we had the artha kala pooja at Sundara Mahalingam and Sandana Mahalingam temple at around 6 PM.

We had night dinner near the Sandana Mahalingam temple. We slept early and to be up for early 3 Am darshan and pooja's next day.

Following instructions would help in your visit to Chathuragiri.

1. Carry light luggage.
2. Carry dry fruits, biscuits and other eatables. You don't get much up.
3. Carry torch with batteries.
4. Carry bedsheets for sleeping in night. Rooms don't have any beddings etc.
5. Do not venture out in the night due to danger of animals.
6. Inform before hand for accommodation at the top. If its pournami or ammavasa you may not get place to stay at top.

Finally to all those who visit Chaturagiri, please do not DIRTY the place. Do not use plastic. If you use plastic, please get the plastic and other non-organic wastes down for disposal.

This is a very sacred place........Maintain its SANCTITY

Some photos from our trip....