Spiritual seekers from all over world comes to Tiruvannamalai, an Pilgrimage city filled with living enlightenment gurus . This sacred city is Located 180 kilometer from Chennai. This ancient town has been built around Arunachala hill (annamalai hill), an mountain raising 2668 Meter heavenly from the ground. Tiruvannamalai is famous for sprawling temple arunachala temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Every full moon day people walk around the annamalai hill and offer special prayers to Arunachala temple called Girivalam. Spiritual gurus Yogi Ramsuratkumar , Ramana Maharshi, Arabindo, Shesathiri Swamigal , Muniyandi swamigal and many more saints and sadhus were living and still living here to bring the divine close to people. .

Tiruvannamalai is the capital city of Tiruvannamalai district. In order to improve the Tamil Nadu government administration this district has been carved from North Arcot district on 1989. North and west of Tiruvannamalai is covered by Vellore, where the Southwest is by Krishnagiri District. Both Villupuram and kanchipuram are located in South and east side of Tiruvannamalai district respectively.District total population is 2181856. During summer the temperature reach upto 34.93 Celsius. On winter (November,december and January) 19.36 Celsius degree.

Tourism Around Tiruvannamalai! - History of Gingee Fort

To know about the history of a Fort situated in Tamil Nadu, more than the Universities and Research Institutions in India, the French institute called Ecole Francaise D'Extreme Orient has been rendering valuable services - a contribution which must be acknowledged with a deep sense of gratitude.

Professor M. Bourdat of Lycee Francaise in his book '18th Century Pondicherry' published in 1992 writes about Inland Forts. The task to write about Senji (Gingee) falls on the shoulders of Jean Deloche of the Ecole Francaise D'Extreme-Orient and he has produced a monumental work in his mother tongue French entitled " Senji (Gingi) Ville fortifie'e du pays Tamoul". The English version of this book had also appeared. It will take decades to see it in Tamil. The archaeological excavations of Arikamedu referred to in a book by Vimala Begley and titled "The Ancient Port of Arikamedu" is yet to be translated into Tamil. Now the French book on Senji by this institute must awaken Indian Research institutions to keep pace and translate both books in Tamil for the benefit of Tamil speaking people.

Far away from Pondicherry the entrance of the Gingee Fort has got a Pondicherry Gate. Similarly Pondicherry has a Gingee Salai, road that leads to Gingee. Why so? It denotes the inseparable historical connectivity between these two places. French captured Gingee and it remained with the French for almost a decade.

The battle for Gingee is vividly portrayed in volume XV of the " Lettres edifiantes et curieuses " written by a Jesuit priest Father Lavaur.

" On September 11, 1750 Bussy and d'Auteuil arrived at the scene of battle towards 7 o'clock in the evening. While the besieged opened fire in un-coordinated fashion French artillery contained them within their cover. When the moon had set, a detachment under the command of three officers scaled the hill of Rajagiri. It is not known how these men were able to clear the deep breach with its drawbridge, which defended the topmost boulder, an enormous natural donjon. Then towards 4 o' clock in the morning, a loud cry was heard coming from the top of one of the mountains. " Vive Le Roll". It was Mm de Saint Georges, Veri and Le Normand who, followed by their troops had carried out the order they had been given. The attack then became general. M d' Fauteuil had the gate of the citadel blown up. Terror spread amongst the defending Moors who fired weekly several times and then fled. In less than an hour one had become master of all." This how French conquest of Gingee is recorded. Many have conquered and many have ruled Gingee but a young man known for his bravery is still the hero of Gingee, that too after being killed in a war. Yes, this brave man Desingh at the age of 22 with just 500 troopers and 350 horses faced an army of 8000 horsemen and 10,000 soldiers. The result was that he lost his life, his wife was immolated in his funeral pyre. But he lives in history and in peoples memory.

History of Sathanur Dam

his magnificent Sathanur dam was built in the year 1958. It is located near the Chennakeshava hills in Chengam district. One can reach from Lord Arunachala temple by road which takes about half an hour drive by car. Sathanur dam is built across the Pennaiyar river that originates at the Chennakesava hills. A large area of agriculture lands are benefited through water stored in this dam. Roughly it irrigates around 8000 hectares of lands. The total storage capacity of this dam is 7321 million cubic feet when the water stands at the full level of 119 feet.

The other added attraction of this Sathanur dam is its picturesque location. This nature’s beauty draws millions of tourists every year from all over the world. And people who visit Tiruvannamalai never fail to visit this dam. There is also a beautiful garden and a children’s park as part of this dam. A small zoo is maintained here near this dam with some wildlife varieties.