Tiruvannamalai and Gingee Fort Weekend

One of the largest temples in India, at the foot of Arunachala hill. The official temple site lists darshan from 5:30 AM to 8 PM, ending by 7:30 PM on weekends, holidays and full moon days. Free darshan lines can take 1 to 3 hours on weekends, so we include a Rs 50 special darshan ticket, which is usually quicker. Shoes stay in the car, and you walk barefoot on stone.

The quiet ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi, with his shrine, the old meditation hall and peacocks in the shade. Anyone can walk in and sit. Keep your voice low, cover your knees and shoulders, and leave shoes at the gate. No fee.

Girivalam is the 14 km path around the sacred hill. We go round it slowly by car, stopping at a few of the eight Ashta Lingam shrines and at Adi Annamalai temple, and you see the hill change colour towards sunset. This is the easy way; walking it is below.

A walk up the lower slope of Arunachala to the caves where Ramana Maharshi lived for years. It is about 20 minutes up a rough stone path from near the temple, with a wide view over its towers. Then on to Skandashram and down to the ashram. Silence inside the caves. The district closes the hill after heavy rain and on festival days, so we check the night before. No fee.

A huge fort spread over three rocky hills, about an hour from Tiruvannamalai. The climb up Rajagiri, the tallest, takes 2 to 3 hours up and down on steep steps, with a small bridge over a gorge near the top. Climb entry stops around 3 PM and the site shuts at 5 PM. If you would rather not climb, walk the lower fort, the Kalyana Mahal and the granaries. We cover the ticket. Carry water, and hold on to food, as the monkeys are bold.