darshan of sacred Arunachala hill while moving about in Tiruvannamalai city

moving around Tiruvannamalai city in an autorickshaw

There are roadblocks at many locations, directing and redirecting the traffic in the city

the many dynamic views from the autorickshaw as one moves about in the city

Daughter and father, journeying about within the city

Auto-rickshaw stand

Development, infrastructure and growth - Tiruvannamalai city is certainly a growing city

the outer walls of the Sri Arunachaleshwarar temple at Tiruvannamalai

The parking areas and the path towards the main gopuram entrance to the temple

The road towards Sri Ramanasramam from the temple

the southern Gopuram of the sacred Arunachaleswarar temple 

the southern Gopuram of the Sri Arunachaleswarar temple

The outer wall at the southern gopuram of the sacred Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai

From Virupaksha Cave to the town pathway to Tiruvannamalai

The path from the forested areas through the township on the foothills of the sacred Arunachala hill. 

One can see the gopurams of the sacred Arunachaleshwarar temple as one walks down the path through the settlements, below the Virupaksha Cave

The smaller paths leading away from the pilgrim path are not so well made but are kept clean and blissful in the early morning hours

The houses along the pilgrim path are clean, painted in pastel colors, some are brilliantly painted. The morning rangolis outside some houses are just about fading, as one approaches mid-morning.

The paved and peaceful pilgrim path as one goes through the foothill  settlement towards Tiruvannamalai town

There are all types of houses here, but the path is quite congested. These must have been quite informal settlements, and with incoming prosperity, some of them have begun to develop their houses. There are split unit airconditioners, too... good for them.

I wondered if some of these settlement families were devotees who would walk up to the Virupaksha Cave and sit in meditation or dhyana... I was quite jealous of their proximity to the sacred Arunachala hill. Blissful and blessed, always... 

I could see one of the gopurams, the temple towers, of the sacred Arunacheleshwarar temple of Tiruvannamalai as I walked down the pilgrim path from Virupaksha Cave

The more moderately built and older houses are a delight. The thatch roof design is no longer found frequently within townships. The outer porch is a design of the past, of the 18th and 19th century... I loved the bicycle kept on the porch, a regular roadster. 

The most amazing aspect of the house was that it was as clean on the outside as it was on the inside... one could see through and through, and there seemed to be a decent sort of backyard, also clean.

Just in front of the thatch roof hut, were these more jumbled up and modern type of new houses. Quite a paradox. Some of it sad, and some of it happier. 

The display and direction board pointing out the path to the Skandasramam, and the Virupaksha Cave was being used as a clothes stand... some temporal innovation, perhaps. 

from the Virupaksha Cave to Tiruvannamalai town

the path downwards from the Virupaksha Cave towards Tiruvannamalai town. You can see the gopurams of the temple, as you walk down. One is excited to approach the town and yet, one is sad, that one is going away from the Virupaksha town. 

the forested path starts going downwards sharply, and it is difficult to walk barefoot. One almost wishes that one could have brought some slippers, hidden in a bag. And then, when you know that you are walking down, more rapidly, you wonder, if you would do it again...

the most remarkable aspect of the beautiful path is that it is kept clean, excellently clean

Our best wishes go to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and one hopes that the forested path gains more in strength, very soon.

There seems to be better forest canopy as one approaches the Tiruvannamalai town. The forest path is more serene, and the trees are taller.

There are women folk here, depending on the biomass of the forest. The Tamil Nadu forest department could come up with some innovative biomass based sustainable livelihood projects for the women who depend on the natural resources here.

The Arunachaleshwarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai - the spectacular view from Skandasramam and Virupaksha Cave

The view from Skandasramam, early morning. The temple and the town. Spectacular view from Skandasramam

One needs to get to photograph the view at different times of the day and in different seasons. The view from Skandasramam is awesome and humbling. 

the view from the Virupaksha Cave through the forested slopes of the sacred Arunachala

the gopurams of the Sri Arunachaleshwarar temple, the view from the Virupaksha Cave... a most splendid moment

the Sri Arunachaleshwarar temple, from the lower foothills of the sacred Arunachala hill

The view from the lower foothills, as one nears the temple town from the Virupaksha Cave