Nature Trip to Tiruvannamalai via Arunachala Hill

• Day 1: Arrival and Local Exploration
  0 minutes (0 miles) from your hotel

  Start your adventure with some exploration of your hotel's surroundings. Enjoy local parks like Central Park, followed by a visit to the Museum of Modern Art for some external nature inspiration.

• Day 2: Arunachala Hill
  2 hours (70 miles) from your hotel

  Visit the sacred Arunachala Hill - on the full moon day, the temple organizes a soothing musical event in the night. Take a dip in the waterfall at the base of the hill and relax in meditation.

• Day 3: Gingee Fort and Sathanur Dam
  3 hours (70 miles) from Arunachala Hill

  Visit the historic Gingee Fort and enjoy a nice birdwatching session. Post that, spend some relaxing time at the Sathanur Lake and Dam. Take a dip in the lake and relax by the peaceful scenery.

• Day 4: Chidambaram and Pichavaram
  3 hours (80 miles) from Sathanur Dam

  Visit the famous Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, a huge temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. After that, treat yourself to Mada Veedhi - a divine feast at the temple. Follow it up by enjoying the serene beauty of Pichavaram mangrove forest by taking a boat-ride.

• Day 5: Kodaikanal
  4 hours and 30 minutes (150 miles) from Pichavaram

  Visit The Princess of Hill Stations: Kodaikanal. Get fantastic views of the valley from Green Valley View. End the day strolling at the relaxing Bryant Park

• Day 6: Coimbatore
  4 hours and 30 minutes (130 miles) from Kodaikanal

  Visit the relaxing Siruvani Valley and Dam and get the perfect Instagram-worthy picture at the Dhyanalinga Temple. For art lovers, visit the Gandhi Museum for its quaint exhibits.

• Day 7: Madurai
  3 hours and 30 minutes (100 miles) from Coimbatore

  Visit the world famous Meenakshi Amman Temple for its stunning architecture followed by a visit to Gandhi Memorial Museum for its fascinating galleries.

• Day 8: Departure
  0 minutes (0 miles) from your hotel

  End your trip with some last-minute souvenirs in Tiruvannamalai city.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Central Park (2 hours, free)
• Museum of Modern Art (2 hours, $25)
• Arunachala Hill (4-5 hours, free)
• Gingee Fort (2-3 hours, free)
• Sathanur Dam (2-3 hours, free)
• Nataraja temple at Chidambaram (2-3 hours, free)
• Pichavaram mangrove forest (2-3 hours, $10 for boat ride)
• Kodaikanal (6-8 hours, free)
• Siruvani Valley and Dam (2-3 hours, free)
• Dhyanalinga Temple (2-3 hours, free)
• Gandhi Museum in Coimbatore/Madurai (2-3 hours, free)

Total Estimated Costs: $35 (excluding lodging and meals)

Transportation

You can rent a car for a more comfortable and safe ride. Average transportation cost is around $100 per day. However, public transport including local buses and trains are a great budget option. It's best to plan the route ahead and choose the mode of transportation accordingly. Total travel distance is approximately 700 miles.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can visit more hill stations and beaches on the way. Don't miss the mouth-watering South Indian cuisine throughout the trip. If you have less time, skip Coimbatore and depart early from Madurai.

Airports

The nearest international airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA) which is 100 miles away from Tiruvannamalai.