Check into a guesthouse/ashram close to Arunachaleswarar Temple for convenient access to evening and morning pujas; staying near the temple saves travel time for darshan.
Visit the Arunachaleswarar Temple (Thiruvannamalai) for evening aarti and deepa arati; the temple’s evening worship and the atmosphere around the hill are memorable. (Typical temple hours: 5:00PM–8:00PM for evening rituals.)
Dine at a popular local vegetarian restaurant (many pilgrims prefer Adyar Ananda Bhavan / Saravana Bhavan branches or respected local messes) to try South Indian thali and prasadam-style food.
Attend the morning puja at Arunachaleswarar Temple and, if interested, do a short section of the Girivalam (circumambulation) to experience the spiritual morning atmosphere. (Temple morning hours commonly start around 5:30–6:00AM.)
Depart early from Thiruvannamalai to Chidambaram by road; this timing aims to catch Chidambaram’s morning darshan window, minimizing wait time. (Approx. drive ~3h15m depending on traffic.)
Visit the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, a UNESCO-significant style temple famous for the dancing Shiva sanctum; aim for morning/late-morning darshan. (Typical open hours: 6:00AM–12:00/12:30PM and 4:00PM–8:30PM.)
Have lunch at a well-regarded local restaurant (A2B/Adyar Ananda Bhavan or a recommended local tiffin place) and sample the coastal Tamil cuisine and thali options.
Leave Chidambaram for Kanchipuram to reach in time for evening darshan; this is the longest road leg for the day and moves you back inland toward the temple city.
Visit key Kanchipuram temples (Kailasanathar, Ekambareswarar outer areas, and Kamakshi Amman) for evening darshan and to admire Dravidian architecture; many temples have evening pujas from about 5:00–8:00PM.
Quick pre-dawn/early-morning darshan at Ekambareswarar or Kamakshi Amman (temples typically open ~6:00AM) to experience morning rituals and avoid later traffic.
Drive from Kanchipuram to Srikalahasti with an early start to ensure timely arrival for the mandatory stop at 10:00AM; expect highway travel of ~3–4 hours depending on traffic.
Arrive at Srikalahasti and perform darshan at the famous Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple — important stop required by your plan; typical morning hours: 6:00AM–1:00PM (varies by seva).
Option to visit nearby spots (local bazaars, small shrines, or rest) or continue your onward journey from Srikalahasti; plan timing based on your next destination.