[ampere]

Is it needed to book if one is travelling for a weekend or one can go there and directly check for a hotel?

@trammway thanks for the details. Very helpful.

From the net I checked at hotel Ashreya. Which also seemed to be on the higher side. ~2.5K. Do you have any place to recommend?

[ampere]

Also where exactly in Krishna giri does the NH66 cross the NH7? Do I need go into the NH46 (chennai highway), before turning to NH66?

[trammway]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is it needed to book if one is travelling for a weekend or one can go there and directly check for a hotel?

@trammway thanks for the details. Very helpful.

From the net I checked at hotel Ashreya. Which also seemed to be on the higher side. ~2.5K. Do you have any place to recommend?

Originally Posted by ampere

Also where exactly in Krishna giri does the NH66 cross the NH7? Do I need go into the NH46 (chennai highway), before turning to NH66?

Hey no problem.

If not the full moon day, muhurtham day, Deepam festival time or pradhosam day or other special events like pongal, deepavali and saiva special days you won't have any issues as so many good lodges are around the town.

you can walkin and book lodges that are close to the temple from Rs.350 ~1500 range with A/C and TV.

I will soon update this same thread with tariff information of various not so high side decent accomodation details soon. Today also I was in tiruvannamalai and my friend was staying in KSM lodge in big street just oppsite to the northern entrance of the temple for Rs. 350 for an A/C accomodation. It works for 24hrs checking period.

There is a issue in internet selling, whoever markets service or product on internet the price is higher side. So, when you visit TVM next time keep the contacts handy for your next trip update it in here, so everyone can benefit out of your experience.

actually the NH66 starts from NH46, if you are coming from Bangalore after taking left turn to reach NH46 from NH7, with in a km distance you will see a four road junction and the right hand side road is NH66. Though it looks like a village road from NH46, it is actually NH66.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by trammway

Regarding places to visit (purely pilgrimage related)

Nice write-up....sure, will be helpful.

On my recent visit to TVM, one thing which I wanted but could not get was a good and authentic Guide, so that one can understand the significance of many of these places.

Do you know one?

Also, I plan to visit TVM once again some time....need to know about a very good hotel - better in facilities than Arunai Anantha, but cheaper than Sparsha.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by trammway

Hey no problem.

If not the full moon day, muhurtham day, Deepam festival time or pradhosam day or other special events like pongal, deepavali and saiva special days you won't have any issues as so many good lodges are around the town.

you can walkin and book lodges that are close to the temple from Rs.350 ~1500 range with A/C and TV.

I will soon update this same thread with tariff information of various not so high side decent accomodation details soon. Today also I was in tiruvannamalai and my friend was staying in KSM lodge in big street just oppsite to the northern entrance of the temple for Rs. 350 for an A/C accomodation. It works for 24hrs checking period.

There is a issue in internet selling, whoever markets service or product on internet the price is higher side. So, when you visit TVM next time keep the contacts handy for your next trip update it in here, so everyone can benefit out of your experience.

actually the NH66 starts from NH46, if you are coming from Bangalore after taking left turn to reach NH46 from NH7, with in a km distance you will see a four road junction and the right hand side road is NH66. Though it looks like a village road from NH46, it is actually NH66.

Thanks. I am planning to go this coming weekend. I have booked Ashreya for the time being, as there is a 15month kid involved and I did not want to take any chances.

[kannan666]

There is also Hotel Trishul where we had stopped on our way back from Pondicherry for lunch. The hotel did have lodging facilities too and it looked quite decent although we could not check out the rooms there.

[trammway]

Originally Posted by Tempelhof

Nice write-up....sure, will be helpful.

On my recent visit to TVM, one thing which I wanted but could not get was a good and authentic Guide, so that one can understand the significance of many of these places.

Do you know one?

Also, I plan to visit TVM once again some time....need to know about a very good hotel - better in facilities than Arunai Anantha, but cheaper than Sparsha.

Travel guide is missing you are right, but even if printed these days people tend to ignore them and the publisher runs into losses. I think the best way is to create information on the internet so everyone can access whenever they plan. I will try feeding this thread with as much as information I can pull out from the town.

Hotel Trishul should fall under your requirement, there is one more in the northen side of the town(recently built) but I forgot the name of it.

[Tempelhof]

[quote=trammway;1541085] I will try feeding this thread with as much as information I can pull out from the town.

[quote]

Thanks, that'd be useful. That's because I plan to go there again.

When I said 'Guide' I meant a human being who can take me around...

[trammway]

[quote=Tempelhof;1541097][quote=trammway;1541085] I will try feeding this thread with as much as information I can pull out from the town.

Thanks, that'd be useful. That's because I plan to go there again.

When I said 'Guide' I meant a human being who can take me around...

Oh if you are talking about the humans working as guide, I think your observation is wrong. I'm feeling sure on this word, as I have seen from my childhood there are many guys who are into guide duty taking the foreigners into many places around the town.

You can ask for guides from Ramanshram.


Anyway if you are visiting my hometown which overlaps my schedule, I would be happy to come with you explaining most of the stuffs I learned. That includes every other sanctum inside the Arunachaleswarar temple to few historic places around the town.

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by trammway

You can ask for guides from Ramanshram.

Anyway if you are visiting my hometown which overlaps my schedule, I would be happy to come with you explaining most of the stuffs I learned.

Thanks, will let you know as and when my plans crystallize

[ampere]

@Tramway, Others,

Any idea how far is the Mailam temple from Tiruvannamalai? I saw in Google maps that its about 80KM via Tindivanam.
When does the temple open in the evening? Can I do this stretch in the afternoon and come back by night? Is it safe?

@Tempelhof,

Also can I do the Sathanur dam while returning and then keep progressing directly towards Chengam?
I saw in your post that you this exists. Is the road cleanly marked at TV Malai?


Thanks

[ampere]

Did this circuit over the weekend. The route is fine. Although a few potholes, but on the whole it was fine.

Sat Morning: Blr -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Chengam -> TV Malai (10AM)

Temple visit. (10-12)

Lunch Break (12-1)

Sat afternoon: TV Malai -> Gingee -> Tindivanam -> Mailam -> TVMalai
Visited the Mailam temple


On the way back from Mailam, found a route to bypass Tindivanam.
(NH45 -> NH66.)


Sun: Started from TV Malai at about 10. Visited the Sathanur dam and then joined back Chengam through a bypass road and was back in BLR by 3:30 PM.

Stayed at the hotel Ashreya for the night in TVMalai. The hotel is pretty secluded with the access from the main road being very difficult. At night it becomes quite difficult to venture out. Their restaurant was not functional. So had to step out for food. Decided to check out Sparsha, which is supposed to be the best place in town. Even access to that hotel at night is pathetic. The idea looks like is that after nightfall one is not supposed to go anywhere !
Arunai Anantha, where we had food lunch, seemed to be a much better place. At least the access was much better.


On the whole the hotel rooms are fine, but the rest of the items(food, access etc) bring the experience down.Although things looked very different on the net.


I must say roads in TN are much better to drive. The vehicle (Fusion+) held really well and was a pleasure to drive on these roads. It returned with a handsome FE of 18.2!

[Gany]

I am planing a trip over this weekend to TV Malai. Booked Sparsa Resorts. Will update what I find out

[kannan666]

Originally Posted by Gany

I am planing a trip over this weekend to TV Malai. Booked Sparsa Resorts. Will update what I find out

Tiruvannamalai

Have heard from some friends that this is a good place to stay, do update us with your experience there !

[ampere]

Went to Sparsha for the food when I was there. The stay/hotel looked to be very good. Only issue is the access. Late in the evening you cannot venture to go out at all.