This is yet another temple town that can be visited as part of excursions from Puducherry. It is situated about 107 kilometers from Puducherry and is famous for the Arunachaleshwara Temple, which holds special importance as one of the most prominent Shaivite temples in South India. The ashrama of Sri Ramanna Maharshi, a famous and respected saint, is also among the places to visit here.
General Information about Thiruvannamalai Temple:
Location: 107 kilometers from Puducherry
State: Puducherry (Union Territory of INDIA)
Capital: Puducherry (city).
Language: Tamil, French, Telugu, Malayalam
Temperature: Max 41˚C, Min 30˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)
Best Season: October to March
How to Reach Thiruvannamalai Temple:
By Air:
The nearest airport to Pondicherry is Chennai International airport, which is around 135 km away. Chennai is well connected to all airports in India and many cities abroad. Chennai connects through flights to many major cities in US, Middle East, Europe and Asia. Taxi fare from Chennai to Pondicherry is about Rs 3000.
By Rail:
Villupuram railhead is the nearest railway station to Pondicherry. Villupuram is connected to Trichy, Madurai and Chennai. Taxi services are available from Villupuram to Pondicherry and it costs about Rs 750.
By Road:
Frequent bus services are available from Pondicherry to places like Thanjaur, Trichy, Chidambaram and Coimbatore. Private tourist buses ply from Chennai, Madurai and Bangalore to Pondicherry. Tourist bus charge is about Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km.

