From Arunachala’s Grace to Sripuram’s Gold ✨
Arunachalam & Sripuram Trip: A Divine Journey Filled with Family, Faith and Fun!
One long-awaited Shiva darshan, Bengaluru traffic, a Tamil Nadu bus adventure, aching legs, a peaceful ashram, and a golden temple - all packed into one unforgettable family trip!!!!!
Some journeys are planned for adventure, some for relaxation, and some because your heart has been waiting to visit a particular place for a long time.
Our trip to Arunachalam was one such journey. 🙏
The long-awaited plan was finally happening! We were heading towards Tiruvannamalai, the sacred abode of Lord Arunachaleshwara, followed by a visit to the beautiful Sripuram Golden Temple near Vellore.
All our family members gathered at my brother’s home in Chikkasandra, Bengaluru. The excitement was high, the plans were ready, and everyone was looking forward to the trip.
But as we would soon discover, the journey itself was going to be just as memorable as the destinations!
Bengaluru traffic had other plans! 😂
Since we had planned the trip a little late, getting bus tickets became our first challenge.
Unfortunately, suitable Karnataka bus bookings were unavailable. With the long weekend approaching, many people were travelling, and our options were limited.
Finally, we decided to book a Tamil Nadu bus from Satellite Bus Stand, Bengaluru, to Tiruvannamalai. Each ticket cost us around ₹252.
Our bus was scheduled for 9:40 PM on October 1, 2026. We started from home at 7:30 PM in a cab, thinking we had enough time to reach the bus stand comfortably.
Little did we know that Bengaluru traffic had prepared a surprise for us!
As expected during a long weekend, the roads were packed. anyone familiar with this city can probably imagine what happened next.
Thankfully, by God’s grace, we reached Satellite Bus Stand at around 9:30 PM - just ten minutes before our scheduled departure.
What a relief!
A small suggestion for anyone planning a long-weekend trip from Bengaluru: please don’t underestimate the traffic. Starting early is always better than watching your departure time approach while sitting inside a cab that barely moves.
Finally, we boarded our Tamil Nadu bus. The journey towards Lord Shiva had officially begun!
It took us around two and a half hours just to cross Bengaluru! 😂 (Electronic City - Silk board 😂😂)
Imagine planning a journey that should take approximately five hours, only to spend nearly half that time escaping the city itself.
The bus journey and my little Tamil adventure 😁
There was just one small problem with our bus.
The seating arrangement was not particularly comfortable for me. Considering my height, the legroom felt quite cramped compared with what I was used to in Karnataka buses.
But what could we do now? The tickets were booked, the journey had started, and there was no point in complaining throughout the night.
So, we adjusted ourselves and continued.
During one of the halts, we got down to buy drinking water. Since we were travelling in Tamil Nadu, I decided to try out my Tamil-speaking skills.
I confidently asked the shopkeeper, “Rendu thanni bottle kodunga!” 😁
He understood and then I asked, “Evlo?”
Meaning, “How much?”
Thankfully, he said ₹40. I paid through UPI, collected the bottles, and returned to the bus.
Mission accomplished! 😂
Sometimes, the smallest interactions become the funniest travel memories. You may not know the local language perfectly, but a few words, a little confidence, and some hand gestures can take you a long way.
After the halt, we boarded again. I managed to sleep for a while, hoping we would reach Tiruvannamalai soon.
Eventually, at around 5 AM on October 2, we arrived at Tiruvannamalai New Bus Stand - approximately two hours later than expected.
We had finally reached the sacred town of Arunachala!
The sacred land of Arunachala: Waiting for Lord Shiva’s darshan 🙏
As soon as we got down, the next task was finding transport to our accommodation.
The fare was ₹300. A little expensive for the distance, perhaps, but after an overnight journey, all we wanted was to reach our room and freshen up.
We had booked accommodation for one day at approximately ₹500 per person, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
After freshening up, we were ready for the main purpose of our journey.
We booked another auto to the temple for ₹200 and headed towards the magnificent Arunachaleshwara Temple.
There is something special about arriving in Tiruvannamalai. The sacred Arunachala Hill, the temple’s towering gopurams, and the continuous movement of devotees create an atmosphere that feels deeply connected to faith and tradition.
Arunachaleshwara Temple, also known as Annamalaiyar Temple, is one of Tamil Nadu’s most important Shiva temples. According to Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva manifested here as an infinite column of fire. This is why Tiruvannamalai is revered as the Agni Sthalam, representing the element of fire among the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams.
The sacred hill itself is worshipped as a manifestation of Lord Shiva. For devotees, visiting this place is therefore much more than simply entering a temple.
We had come with that same devotion and anticipation.
But first, we had to get through the queue!
Four and a half hours! Yes, you read that correctly.
The waiting time was much longer than we had expected. We spent approximately four and a half hours in the Sarva Darshan queue.
There were instructions regarding mobile phones and depositing them at designated counters. We ended up carrying our phones with us, but visitors should always check and follow the temple’s current rules.
The queue moved slowly, and the hours passed.
After an overnight bus journey, cramped seating, and an early-morning start, standing for such a long time was certainly not easy. Our patience was being tested, and our legs were already asking for a break.
Still, we had come all this way for one reason.
We had darshan of Lord Arunachaleswarar and prayed wholeheartedly. After all the travel, delays, and waiting, being able to stand before the deity was deeply satisfying.
We collected the sacred prasadam and visited some of the other shrines within the temple complex.
By the time we came outside, however, our legs were almost done with us!
And the day’s adventures were far from over.
Girivalam around Arunachala: Eight Lingams and one funny family moment!
Before the trip, we had already decided that walking the entire Girivalam route might be too exhausting, especially after our overnight journey and the long temple queue.
Our auto driver had asked whether we wanted to cover the route as well, so we agreed to visit the eight sacred Lingams by auto.
The fare we negotiated for the arrangement was ₹900.
With our transport sorted, we began the journey around the hill.
The eight principal Lingams, collectively known as the Ashta Lingams, are associated with the eight directions and their guardian deities. Each shrine has its own place in the traditional Girivalam sequence.
We visited Indra Lingam, associated with the east, followed by Agni Lingam in the southeast, Yama Lingam in the south, and Niruthi Lingam in the southwest.
We then continued to Varuna Lingam in the west, Vayu Lingam in the northwest, Kubera Lingam in the north, and finally Esanya Lingam in the northeast.
At each shrine, we stopped to offer our prayers before continuing along the route.
Kubera Lingam was particularly interesting to observe. Kubera is traditionally associated with wealth and prosperity, and we noticed devotees throwing coins around the shrine. People have different beliefs and prayers - some may be hoping for financial stability, business success, or a better future.
It was fascinating to see how faith is expressed in different ways.
As we continued, we also came across a narrow passage locally referred to as Mukti Margam.
The entrance was so narrow that people had to pass through carefully. There was a cage-like arrangement restricting access, and our family members began making their way through it one by one.
Then came my turn!
Considering my broad shoulders, I wasn’t entirely convinced that squeezing through would be comfortable. Maybe I could have managed it, but after everything we had already gone through that morning, why take an unnecessary risk? 😂
So, I decided to stay outside and record videos of everyone else making it through.
Everyone passed through as they had wished, and I got some funny videos to remember the moment.
Sometimes, travelling with family means creating memories that have nothing to do with the destination itself!
After visiting the shrines and completing our planned circuit, we returned towards the main temple entrance and offered prayers once again as part of our tradition.
We had hoped to take some beautiful photographs along the way, but the scorching heat, hot road surfaces, and aching legs had other plans.
The pictures weren’t quite what we had imagined. Nevertheless, the experience was worth remembering.
By around 1:30 PM, we were back at Siva Sannidi Stay.
We had completed our Arunachaleshwara darshan and visited the eight Lingams. The morning had been exhausting, but spiritually, it felt like we had accomplished what we came for.
Now it was time for the next destination!
A peaceful break at Sri Ramanasramam
Before leaving Tiruvannamalai, my brother suggested that we visit Sri Ramanasramam.
After such a hectic morning, the idea sounded perfect.
We returned to our accommodation, freshened up, and headed to the ashram.
For those unfamiliar with it, Sri Ramanasramam is associated with Ramana Maharshi, one of India’s best-known spiritual teachers. His teachings emphasized self-enquiry, particularly the question, “Who am I?”
The ashram developed around the place where he lived and taught, at the foot of Arunachala Hill. Even today, it attracts people who come to learn about his teachings, meditate, or simply spend time in a peaceful environment.
Our visit lasted approximately an hour, but it was a welcome change of pace.
The surroundings were calm and peaceful. Many people were sitting quietly, meditating, or spending time in contemplation.
After the crowds, queues, and constant movement of the morning, this quiet atmosphere felt refreshing.
It was a reminder that spirituality doesn’t always have to be about rituals or standing in front of a deity. Sometimes, sitting quietly and allowing your mind to settle can be meaningful in its own way.
If you visit Tiruvannamalai, I’d certainly recommend considering Sri Ramanasramam as part of your itinerary.
From Arunachala to Sripuram: Our journey continues ✨
We still had one more major destination to visit: Sripuram Golden Temple near Vellore.
After returning to Siva Sannidi Stay, we had some tea to refresh ourselves and prepared for the next leg of the journey.
Fortunately, our auto driver helped us arrange an eight-seater vehicle that could accommodate the whole family. The initial quote was ₹3,000, including the drive to Sripuram, waiting time during the temple visit, and a drop near Vellore Bus Stand.
After a little negotiation, we finalised the fare at ₹2,800.
With everyone settled inside, we set off towards Vellore.
We reached Sripuram at approximately 5:15 PM. It had been another drive, but we were glad to have made it.
The Golden Temple was waiting for us!
Sripuram Golden Temple: A beautiful golden sight
The Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple, located at Thirumalaikodi near Vellore, is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi Narayani. Consecrated in 2007 by Sri Sakthi Amma, it has become a major pilgrimage destination because of its distinctive gold-covered architecture and landscaped surroundings.
We purchased darshan tickets for ₹200 per person, which was the amount we paid during our visit.
As we entered the temple complex, the atmosphere felt quite different from that of Arunachaleshwara Temple.
The most striking feature is the distinctive star-shaped pathway leading towards the temple. The landscaped greenery and water features add to the visual appeal, while the golden architectural details make the destination instantly recognizable.
The walk towards the sanctum itself becomes part of the experience.
We continued along the designated route and eventually reached the deity for darshan.
Darshan of Goddess Lakshmi Narayani
The golden idol and the temple surroundings were beautiful to see in person.
We offered our prayers and spent a little time taking in the atmosphere. There were many devotees around us, each visiting with their own hopes, beliefs, and reasons for seeking the blessings of the Goddess.
One thing that caught our attention was the number of people throwing coins around the area surrounding the deity. We also noticed items such as visiting cards and debit cards. 😁
I couldn’t help wondering what people expected from these offerings. Perhaps some were praying for prosperity, business growth, financial stability, or a better future.
Whatever the reason, it was an interesting reminder of how people express their faith.
Of course, personal beliefs are personal beliefs; no ritual or offering can guarantee financial success.
After completing our darshan, we came out feeling happy that we had been able to visit both destinations in a single trip.
The contrast was memorable: the ancient spiritual landscape of Arunachala on one side, and the distinctive golden architecture of Sripuram on the other.
Two different experiences, each with its own atmosphere.
The final stretch: Vellore to Bengaluru
By this point, we had been travelling and visiting temples for almost an entire day. Everyone was understandably tired.
Thankfully, our vehicle driver was kind enough to drop us close to the Bengaluru bus boarding point near Vellore Bus Stand, making the next part of our journey easier.
Before boarding, we had our tiffin.
After all that walking, waiting, travelling, and praying, a meal felt especially satisfying!
For the return journey, we booked bus tickets from Vellore to Bengaluru’s Majestic terminal. This time, we decided to reserve our seats online instead of depending on whatever seats might be available at the last minute.
Each ticket cost around ₹238.
The bus departed at approximately 9:30 PM.
And finally, some comfortable seating!
As I had mentioned earlier, the seating on our outward journey had been rather cramped for someone of my height. The Karnataka bus felt much more comfortable in comparison, which made the return journey considerably easier.
We relaxed, caught some sleep, and continued towards Bengaluru.
From there, everyone booked cabs towards their respective homes.
And that was it.
Bags down. Shoes off. Lights out.
After an exhausting but memorable journey, we finally got to sleep peacefully! 😁😁😁
What made this trip special?
Looking back, this wasn’t one of those perfectly organised trips where every bus arrives on time and every photograph turns out beautifully.
We had a last-minute booking challenge, a long battle with Bengaluru traffic, an uncomfortable bus journey, a four-and-a-half-hour darshan queue, aching legs, hot roads, and a few unexpected expenses.
But we also had a heartfelt darshan of Lord Arunachaleswarar, visits to the eight sacred Lingams, funny family moments at Mukti Margam, a peaceful hour at Ramana Ashram, and the beautiful experience of visiting Sripuram Golden Temple.
Most importantly, we experienced it all together as a family.
That’s what makes a journey memorable. Not every moment has to be perfect, and not every photograph has to be Instagram-worthy. Sometimes, the stories we laugh about later are the very moments that made the trip special.
If you’re planning a visit to Tiruvannamalai, my biggest suggestions are to book your transport early, leave Bengaluru with plenty of time, prepare for potentially long darshan queues or better go with 50/- Darshan and keep your itinerary flexible.
And if you have enough time, consider adding Sri Ramanasramam and Sripuram Golden Temple to your journey.
For us, it was a trip filled with devotion, laughter, patience, and memories that will stay with us for a long time.
Om Namah Shivaya! 🙏
May Lord Arunachaleswarar bless everyone with peace, happiness, good health, and the opportunity to experience the divine beauty of Arunachala.
Have you visited Arunachalam or Sripuram Golden Temple? Which part of your journey stayed with you the most? Share your experience in the comments. I’d love to hear your story!
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