Tiruvannamalai (called Trinomali during British times) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is administered by a special grade municipality that covers an area of 16.33 km2 (6.31 sq mi) and had a population of 144,683 as of 2011. It is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvannamalai District. Roadways are the major mode of transport in Tiruvannamalai, while the town also has rail connectivity. Chennai International Airport is the nearest domestic and international airport to the town. Tiruvannamalai is named after the central deity of the Annamalaiyar Temple, Annamalaiyar. The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated during the day of the full moon between November and December, and a huge beacon is lit atop the Annamalai hill. The event is witnessed by three million pilgrims. On the day preceding each full moon, pilgrims circumnavigate the temple base and the Annamalai hills in a worship called Girivalam, a practice carried out by one million pilgrims yearly. Located on the foothills of Annamalai hills, Tiruvannamalai has been ruled by the Pallavas, the Medieval Cholas, the Later Cholas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Carnatic kingdom, Tipu Sultan, and the British. It served as the capital city of the Hoysalas. The town is built around the Annamalaiyar Temple like other Nayak capitals. Tiruvannamalai is administered by a special-grade a municipality constituted in 1886. Tiruvannamalai has an average elevation of 200 metres (660 ft) and experiences a hot and humid climate. Being a pilgrimage town, most of the people are employed in the teritiary sector. There are 25 elementary schools, nine high schools, 18 higher secondary schools, four arts & science colleges and four engineering colleges in the town.
TRANSPORT
The Pondicherry – Krishnagiri national highway, NH 66 and the Villupuram – Mangalore National highway NH 234 pass through Tiruvannamalai. The town has eight arterial roads that connects it to other towns. The Tiruvannamalai municipality maintains a total length of 75.26 km (46.76 mi). The town has 9.068 km (5.635 mi) concrete roads, 50.056 km (31.103 mi) BT roads, 7.339 km (4.560 mi) of WBM roads and 8.797 km (5.466 mi) earthern roads. A total of 452 roads is maintained by the State Highways Department. Tiruvannamalai is served by town bus service, which provides connectivity within the town and the suburbs. There are private operated mini-bus services that cater to the local transport needs of the town. The main bus stand covers an area of 2 acres (8,100 m2) and is located in the heart of the town. There are regular inter-city bus services to Tiruvannamalai. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates daily services connecting various cities to Tiruvannamalai. The Corporation operates a computerised reservation centre in the bus stand of the town. The State Express Transport Corporation operates long distance buses connecting the town to important cities like Chennai, Pondicherry and Bengaluru. The major inter city bus routes from the town are to cities and towns like Chennai, Villupuram, Tirukoilur, Avalurpet, Kanji, Chengam, Sathanur, Sankarapuram and Manalurpet. Tiruvannamalai railway station is located in the rail head from Vellore to Villupuram. The Madurai-Tirupathi bi-weekly expresses connects Tiruvannamalai to Madurai and Tirupathi in either directions. There are also passenger trains running either side from Vellore to Villupuram. The nearest domestic and international airports are at Chennai located 155 km (96 mi) and Bangalore located 170 km (110 mi) away from the town.
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