I came across an image of a temple built at the top of a rocky hill, surrounded by verdant mountains. The picture intrigued me so much that I started doing research on it, to find out that this place is called “Parvathamalai Mountain” which is part of the Jawadhu hill range located in Tamil Nādu.  

Parvathamalai is an old and sacred mountain, worshipped by Hindus as a place of pilgrimage. Located in the Tirunelveli district, it stands at 848 meters above sea level and is known for its breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Its name translates into “The Hill of Light” and is considered one of the oldest mountains in India. Visitors can explore various temples situated in the Parvathamalai area, which are devoted to different Hindu gods and goddesses. The temple on the summit is a Lord Shiva temple, stays open 24 hours a day and is not protected by doors or walls, and has no priests; devotees are free to perform their own puja.

The legend says that Parvatamali is part of the hill of Sanjeevini, which fell in this place when Hanuman was carrying the hill to revive Lakshman. This is why this region is renowned for the varieties of herbs and medicinal plants found in this mountain range.

Another legend associated with this sacred site recounts that when Lord Siva returned from the Himalayas to South India, he stepped on Parvathamalai on his way to Arunachala.

Since I read about the place, I decided that I will add this place to my bucket list, challenge myself to complete the trek, and test my own strength after almost recovering from GBS.

My Journey Up The Hill

The trek begins in the foothills of Parvatamalai,  which covers various sections, starting from the entrance point of the Shri Pachaiyamman temple.

Here are the details of the sections and the trekking I did.

3:00 a.m. – Triuvennamalai to Shri Pachaiyammam Temple

It took 45 minutes to reach the entry point of Parvathamalai from my hotel in the morning. Situated on the foothills of Parbatamalai, the Shri Pachaiyamman Temple is one of the most revered temples in India and serves as the entry point.  Not only is this a gateway to trekking, but the temple has also been a source of inspiration for many devotees since ancient times. It is considered one of the oldest temples in India, with a history going back over 2000 years. It is dedicated to the goddess Pachaiyamman, who is also known as the goddess Parvathamalai.

There is ample paid parking available, once parked and paid, I headed to the front gate and the Forest Department checkpoint to start my journey on foot.

4:00 a.m. – Shri Pachaiyamman temple to Veerabhadrar temple

As soon as I walked through the gates of the checkpoint, I noticed another temple on the left called Shri Anjaneya Temple. The path ascends progressively towards the temple of Veerbhadrar. The total distance covered in this area was about 1.5km and it took me 30 minutes to reach the temple of Veerabhadrar. The temple staff provides complimentary 24-hour food to all visitors. I had a bowl of Pongal and a mango pickle. The food was delicious and soulful. I rested and explored the temple for a few minutes and started my onward journey at 5:00 a.m.

5:00 a.m. – Veerabhadrar Temple to Kadaladi – Thenmathumangalam Junction

After crossing another small temple about 100 meters from the temple of Veerabhadra, the path becomes a flight of stairs. I took a total of 1265 steps, and once the stairs were finished, the rocky path began. After another 10 minutes walk on the rocky path, I reached a small plateau to find a temple made of stones. It was a great experience to think of the accomplishment I have just achieved. The total distance from the temple to this point was about 2km that I finished in 1.5h and took several breaks.

I spent 20 minutes exploring the place before advancing, and within 10 minutes I reached the Kadaladi-Thenmathumangalam junction.

7:00 a.m. – Kadaladi-Thenmathumangalam Junction to Parvatamalai Top

This was the final lap of the journey to reach the top of Parvatamalai Mountain, and this was the most challenging and exciting part of the journey. The path to the top is a mix of walking on big rocks supported with iron rods and chains, the iron bridge & ladder, a small narrow path cut through the Rocky Mountain, and finally walking on the steps to reach the temple. It took me 1.5 hours to complete the 1 km walk. I was overjoyed to reach the peak. For the first time, I wanted to capture memories within my soul rather than my camera. I didn’t click on any photos while I was up on the mountain.  I explored the area for a while and started the descent to the starting point.

9:10 a.m. – The downhill trip to Shri Pachaiyammam Temple took approximately 3 hours, with short breaks and another food stop at Veerabhadarar Temple.

Tips:

1. Start the trek early in the morning to avoid the harsh sun and to catch the sunrise from the top of the hill.
2. Keep drinking water and energy drinks to keep yourself hydrated. There is no need to pick up the water bottles with you. The small stalls are available all the way up to Kadaladi junction. The prices are on a little higher end for drinks and snacks, support the local business and the hard work they put in to transport these goods to the top.
3. Do keep energy bars with you as these are not available on these stalls.
4. Watch out for monkeys, they will try to steal your food.
5. Use a trekking pole, it is useful to support the walking and to scare the monkeys away.
6. Take breaks if you have to.
7. Enjoy the area, and absorb the atmosphere; it’s divine.
8. Don’t littler, I have seen people throwing plastic bottles and leftover garbage. Bring your rubbish with you and dispose properly, let’s not spoil the serenity and cleanliness of the place.