Day trips nearby

Quick list

Place	Distance (district administration)	What it is
Sathanur Dam	About 30 km	Reservoir on the Thenpennai river built in 1956, with parks and a crocodile park
Parvathamalai	About 30 km	Sacred hill with a hilltop temple, known as “Then Kailayam”
Renugambal Temple, Padaivedu	About 55 km	Famous Shakti temple set among hills and groves
Periyanayagi Temple, Devikapuram	Not given	Large Vijayanagara-era temple
Thirumalai Jain temple	Not given	Hilltop Jain complex with a large image of Neminatha, cave paintings and inscriptions
Mamandur cave temples	Not given	Pallava-era rock-cut cave temples
Javadhu Hills	Not given	Hill region with falls, a boat house and the Vainu Bappu Observatory

Nature and hills

Sathanur Dam

The district administration describes Sathanur Dam, across the Thenpennai river, as one of the bigger dams in Tamil Nadu. It was built in 1956, about 30 km from Tiruvannamalai and 24 km from Chengam, with parks and a crocodile park holding more than a hundred crocodiles. It is popular with families, especially on weekends.

Parvathamalai

A sacred hill about 30 km from Tiruvannamalai (25 km from Polur) at the foot of the Javadhu Hills. The district administration notes that it is also called “Then Kailayam” (the southern Kailash). It has a temple to Mallikarjunar and Abidagujambal on the summit. The climb is steep and demanding, so go prepared and with local advice.

Javadhu Hills

Part of the Eastern Ghats and home to the Malayali tribal community. The district lists Beema Falls, a boat house, a Chola-era Shiva temple at Kovilur, the Vainu Bappu Observatory and the Amirthi zoo among its attractions. Buses run from Polur and Tirupattur.

Temples

Renugambal Temple, Padaivedu

A famous Shakti temple about 55 km from Tiruvannamalai (40 km from Vellore), set among hills, coconut groves and banana plantations. Ruins of a Sambuvarayar fort are nearby. Fridays in the Tamil month of Aadi are especially busy.

Periyanayagi Temple, Devikapuram

Described by the district administration as the next biggest temple in the district after Annamalaiyar Temple, and an example of Vijayanagara architecture. There is a hilltop temple to Ponmalainathar nearby.

Thirumalai Jain temple

A hilltop Jain complex with a large image of the Tirthankara Neminatha, cave paintings and stone inscriptions. It is reached via Polur, Arni or Devikapuram.

Mamandur cave temples

According to the district administration, one of the biggest groups of cave temples in Tamil Nadu: four rock-cut caves with Pallava inscriptions of King Mahendravarman.

Beyond the district

• Gingee Fort (Villupuram district, about 40 km by road): a hill fortress spread over three hills, often combined with the Chennai–Tiruvannamalai drive.
• Kanchipuram (about 120 km): the temple city famous for silk.

Plan it

The three-day itinerary includes a day trip. If you’re driving, check distances and road conditions in a maps app, since the figures here are approximate.