girivalam.docx

8/12/2019 girivalam.docx

1/15

Geography

Annamalai Hill

Tiruvannamalai is situated 185 km (115 mi) from the state capitalChennaiand 210 km (130 mi)fromBangalore.The height of the Annamalai hill is approximately 2,669 ft (814 m).

[16]

Tiruvannamalai is located at12N 79.05E.It has an average elevation of 200 metres (660 ft).

The town is located to the east ofEastern Ghats.The topography of Tiruvannamalai is almost

plain sloping from west to east. Tiruvannamalai experiences hot and dry weather throughout theyear. The temperature ranges from a maximum of 40 C (104 F) to a minimum of 20 C

(68 F). Like the rest of the state, April to June are the hottest months and December to January

are the coldest. Tiruvannamalai receives scanty rainfall with an average of 815 mm (32.1 in)

annually, which is lesser than the state average of 1,008 mm (39.7 in). The southwest monsoonwith an onset in June and lasting up to August brings scanty rainfall. Bulk of the rainfall is

received during the northeast monsoon in the months of October, November and December. The

average humidity of the town is 77% and varies between 67% to 86%. During the summermonths of April to June, the humidity ranges from 4763%. The municipality covers an area of

16.3 km2(1,630 ha)

[17][18]

[hide]Climate data for Tiruvannamalai (19511980)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Record high

C (F)

35.3

(95.5)

39.8

(103.6)

42.8

(109)

44.4

(111.9)

45.0

(113)

44.3

(111.7)

40.9

(105.6)

39.4

(102.9)

39.6

(103.3)

39.2

(102.6)

35.8

(96.4)

35.0

(95)

45.0

(113)

Average

high C (F)

29.2

(84.6)

32.0

(89.6)

35.0

(95)

37.1

(98.8)

38.5

(101.3)

36.3

(97.3)

34.6

(94.3)

34.0

(93.2)

34.0

(93.2)

33.0

(91.4)

29.5

(85.1)

28.3

(82.9)

33.46

(92.23)

Average lowC (F)

18.2(64.8)

19.2(66.6)

21.3(70.3)

24.8(76.6)

26.3(79.3)

26.0(78.8)

25.1(77.2)

24.6(76.3)

24.1(75.4)

22.9(73.2)

20.8(69.4)

19.2(66.6)

22.71(72.88)

Record low

C (F)

10.2

(50.4)

12.0

(53.6)

12.1

(53.8)

13.8

(56.8)

18.1

(64.6)

19.6

(67.3)

18.8

(65.8)

18.7

(65.7)

18.7

(65.7)

15.6

(60.1)

12.1

(53.8)

9.3

(48.7)

9.3

(48.7)

Precipitation

mm (inches)

9.0

(0.354)

7.1

(0.28)

5.9

(0.232)

21.8

(0.858)

83.9

(3.303)

71.0

(2.795)

117.0

(4.606)

124.9

(4.917)

149.6

(5.89)

176.9

(6.965)

155.2

(6.11)

78.6

(3.094)

1,000.9

(39.406)

Avg.

precipitation

days

0.8 0.5 0.4 1.3 4.7 5.3 6.6 7.8 7.6 9.4 7.7 3.9 56

Source:India Meteorological Department,[19]

Jan 22.4.2010

Robberies in tiruvannamalai

A few days ago I heard the very disturbing news - that a young attractive western girl was raped and

murdered on the inner path last week. I am trying to verify this story as there has been no media
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-arunachala_height-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-arunachala_height-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-arunachala_height-16http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Tiruvannamalai&params=12_N_79.05_E_http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Tiruvannamalai&params=12_N_79.05_E_http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Tiruvannamalai&params=12_N_79.05_E_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Ghatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Ghatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Ghatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-urbaninfra7476-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-urbaninfra7476-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-urbaninfra7476-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Meteorological_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Meteorological_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Meteorological_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-urbaninfra7476-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-urbaninfra7476-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Ghatshttp://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Tiruvannamalai&params=12_N_79.05_E_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalai#cite_note-arunachala_height-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai


2/15

coverage of it whatsoever, but the local villagers are talking about it.

Please pay attention to the following -

When people come to Tiruvannamalai they imagine that it is full of saintly and holy people. Nothing

could be further from the truth. There are many spiritual people here, but there are also many

opportunists.

Over the past ten years, the robbery and rape of western women has been reported a number of times

amongst the western community, taking place both on the mountain and on the girivalam paths, the

inner path being the most common because it is isolated. A few years ago two men were imprisoned for

robbery and rape on the mountain.

There is a very common and very mistaken belief here that western women are easy and want sex with

any man. This has come about because of the reportedly profligate behaviour of a few women and

movies which depict western women in a bad light.

Western culture is very different from Indian culture. Western females are generally friendly towards

strangers, smiling and talking freely, they also hug each other. Unfortunately the western style of close

communication is taken here as an open invitation to sex by those whose minds live in the sewer - it is

frowned upon by most Indians.

Last year a friend of mine came here for a few weeks of meditation and was approached within the first

few days by two Indian men demanding sex - not asking, demanding, one followed her to her

accommodation and the other approached her in the ashram. She was horrified and very upset by this. I

have heard of many other females who are constantly pestered in this way.

Indian females will generally only speak to men they know and only from a distance - they will never

touch.

I repeat here the cautionary advice posted in ashrams and elsewhere.

I will add a further caution for western ladies - under no circumstances should you go anywhere

alone with any male that you have not known for a long time.

Do not think that because some fellow sits in meditation pose or speaks of religious matters that

he is spiritual. Watch carefully if you are approached and see if the fellow approaches other

women. If he does then avoid him - his intent is sex, money or both.


3/15

Do not think that because some fellow wears orange that he is a sadhu (holy man) - 99% of those

wearing this garb are beggars or worse.

Four years ago I was told that three of these ochre-robed fellows raped a 12 year old, very pretty,

but mentally challenged Indian girl in the college ground near the ashram.

When the police 'are' informed they will try to do their best with limited resources.

However, prevention is the better course ..... you will rarely see any Indian lady climbing the

mountain or performing girvalam alone, they take this stance out of caution that has beendrummed into them since birth and not because they feel lonely.

Do the same!A long-pending grievance of some of the residents of Periyar Nagar, Tiruvannamalai,

situated in and around the Girivalam path that they do not have power connection, is gettingredressed with the Madras High Court directing those authorities to provide the supply based on

their applications along with necessary undertaking and indemnity bond. The connection should

be provided within four weeks from the date of receipt of applications and other requirements.

The case of the petitioners, T.M.Prakash and 10 others was that they were residing ingovernment poromboke lands for the past two centuries. The petitioners engaged in laundrywork have put up huts and their children were studying in schools and colleges, but they did not

have electricity connection. When they submitted applications to the electricity authorities, the

latter insisted on NOC from the District Collector. Their representations seeking NOC wererejected for which this plea was filed.

The electricity board counsel said that at a meeting at the Collectorate in November 2005 inwhich eminent persons and officials of various departments participated, the board was

instructed not to effect new service connections and also to disconnect all connections on both

sides of the Girivalam (devotees going round the hill) path.

Justice S. Manikumar said the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code made it mandatory on

the licensee to provide the supply to those who were in poromboke lands, on production of NOC.When no such certificate could be produced by the applicants and when they could give no

undertaking or declaration, the board could not deny service connection to the petitioners who

had substantiated that they were continuously residing in the place. This was also admitted by the

electricity authorities.

Lack of electricity supply was one of the prime factors affecting education and health and the

cause for economic disparity. Right to electricity to a person in occupation of a governmentporomboke land was recognised in the distribution code and it was integral to the achievement of

socio-economic rights. Also, access to electricity should be construed as a human right, of

course, to the satisfaction of the requirements under the electricity laws. Denial of the same, even

after satisfying the requirements, would amount to violation of human rights. The authoritiesaction were regressive. The petitioners were residing in and around the Girivalam path at least

from 2005 without electricity supply. Though the district administration had claimed that the


4/15

petitioners were encroachers in and around the path, the residents could not be expected to live in

darkness, the Judge said.

Keywords:Madras High Court, Girivalam path electricity supply, TANGEDCO, Periyar Nagar

An earth mover tears into shops illegally erected along the Girivalam path near the Sree

Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Sunday.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madras-high-court-orders-power-supply-for-girivalam-path-residents/article5218191.ece


5/15


6/15

ns posted.

I do not know what this really means in terms of the actual enforcement that will be done. Wewill see. Certainly this is a painful decision for many who love Arunachala.

The situation as far as I know is there is no evidence that anyone doing Pradakshina has everstarted a fire. There have been fires on the hill for hundreds of years, started by local for various

reasons. So I doubt if this will solve the problem of fires on Arunachala.

If any reader knows Indian people of high office or status, who could talk to the Forest

Department leadership, this would be a good time. Ramana devotees, people walking on the

Inner Path, are not the ones starting the fires.

I think whatever is done to limit access to Arunachala will have little effect on the actual fire

starters, since the mountain has a perimeter of 14 KM, and there will never be enough
http://richardarunachala.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/girivalam-ban.jpg


7/15

enforcement to keep locals away from Arunachala. And what of the tens of thousands who trek

up to the top of Arunachala during Deepam? This has been going on for I think at least 3000

years! Each year you see fires started by these people. What about this? The effect of this banwill be to remove Arunachala, beloved by Sri Ramana Maharshi and his followers, from the

reach of those who love the mountain the most. Can anyone help? This is the time.

If you do talk to anyone, please use the Deccan Chronicle article as your source, not this blog.

India is our home now, and we do not want problems for ourselves for calling attention to this

issue.

TIRUVANNAMALAI: A social activist, who had filed several cases against politicians and businessmen,

was hacked to death by a gang in Tiruvannamalai on Monday.

Police said K Rajmohan Chandra, 53, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Tiruvannamalai, was returning

home on his bike on Monday morning after buying milk for his pets.

When he crossed Singamuga Theertha Kulam on the Girivalam path, an armed gang of seven to eight

people, which was hiding behind a bush, waylaid him and one of the gang members threw chilli powder

on his face. Chandra lost his balance and fell down. The gang members attacked him with sharp

weapons, inflicting severe cuts on his head and limbs, and fled the spot. He died in a pool of blood.

TIRUVANNAMALAI March 30. With the temple town of Tiruvannamalai having gained aprominent place in the world heritage map thanks to the centuries-old Arunachaleswara Temple

and the monthly congregation of pilgrims from all over the State for the `Girivalam' (walk

around the holy Annamalai Hills) on the `Pournami' (full moon) day and night, the

environmental problems posed by the indiscriminate throwing of refuse on the 14-km path

requires greater attention.

A walk on the `Girivalam' path which stretches from the Anna arch at the entrance toTiruvannamalai through the heart of the town via bus stand, Chinnakkadai Street, Rettai Pillayar

Koil Street, Thirumanjana Gopura Veedhi, Chengam Road (forming part of the Pondicherry-

Bangalore National Highway-66) and back to the Anna arch revealed that used plastic cups and

plastic food packets continue to be strewn on the roadside in the absence of adequate dust bins.


8/15

A survey done by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) revealed that about three

lakh to four lakh devotees walk along the `Girivalam' path every `Pournami' day and night. With

numerous eateries and milk and coffee stalls lining the pathway to cater to the demand of thedevotees, lakhs of plastic tumblers were thrown on the roadside. The Board has received

complaints from farmers about the used non-bio-degradable plastic covers and cups lying over a

wide area and getting deposited in the farmers' fields. During the rainy season, this prevented theseepage of rainwater underground. In other seasons, the irrigation water pumped by motors gotblocked by layers of plastic papers.

The Environmental Training Institute of the TNPCB did conduct an awareness campaign here

about a year ago to persuade the public not to use plastic materials in the `Girivalam' path. They

were instead asked to use stainless steel tumblers or mud cups for serving water or beverages.

Though the problem has been reduced to some extent after the campaign, it remained, as couldbe seen from the indiscriminate disposal of plastic cups on the path. Awareness needed to be

created not only among the people of Tiruvannamalai but also among devotees from all over the

State, since devotees came from places as far away as Coimbatore, Salem and Erode besides

Vellore, Chennai and Kancheepuram who regularly visited the town for `Girivalam'.

Asked about the problem, Dheeraj Kumar, Tiruvannamalai Collector, told The Hinduthat theState government has sanctioned Rs.31.75 lakhs during 2001-2002 for the development of basic

amenities on the `Girivalam' path. With this amount, it has been planned to provide a number of

dust bins along the entire 14-km route, construct two shelters and five toilets in that portion of

the path which came under the jurisdiction of village panchayats. More drinking water facilitieswould also be provided.

The Collector said the portion of the `Girivalam' path from Anna arch to Avaloorpettai wasfreshly laid and widened recently. Road improvement works have now been sanctioned for about

a half km route from the bus stand. The Tiruvannamalai municipality and all the villagepanchayats through which the path passed have already passed resolutions banning the use ofplastic materials on the path, and the ban was being enforced, he said. A philanthropist has

donated 5000 stainless steel tumblers for use by the devotees. As for the works on development

of infrastructure facilities, the tenders were being finalised, and they would commence in anothercouple of months, Mr. Dheeraj Kumar said.

Facilities

Girivalam path

The circumambulation path has been well laid to make the journey on foot more comfortable for

pilgrims.To benefit the devotees who perform circumambulation during night times sodium

lamps are provided for the entire stretch of 14 Kilometers. Adequate drinking water supplyaround the hill is provided by Thiruvannamalai Town Administration through borewells.More

over for the benefit of devotees food packets and milk are distributed during certain periods in a

year by private donors.

Arunachaleswarar Temple


9/15

To enable the devotees to worship Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Unnamulaiamman

quickly and comfortably ceiling fans are provided and the queue lines using GI pipes have been

installed at the expense of temple administration. Exhaust fans have also been provided to sendout hot air.

For the benefit of devotees roofed queue lines around Swamy Sannathi have been formed withthe contribution from donors. In addition to this, in prakarams water tanks have been provided to

ensure continuous water supply. Accommodation

* The temple authorities have provided accommodation at nominal cost for the benefit of the

devotees.

* The rent for the rest houses is Rs. 200 and Rs. 150 per day.

* The rent for the rooms at Appar Illam is Rs. 100 per day.

* The rent for rooms at Unnamulai Amman Rest House is Rs.100 (Double room) and Rs.50(Single room) per day.

* Apart from this private accommodation is available in and around the temple.

TIRUVANNAMALAI: The Highways Department has laid a 5.2-km footpath along the entire stretch

of the highway from Chengam road junction to Abaya Mandalam for the benefit of thousands of

devotees

TIRUVANNAMALAI: The Highways Department has laid a 5.2-km footpath along the entirestretch of the highway from Chengam road junction to Abaya Mandalam for the benefit of

thousands of devotees who would walk the 14-km Girivalam path around the Annamalaiar hillon the Karthigai Deepam day on Sunday.

According to a highway official the work on footpath with cement tile flooring at an estimated

cost of Rs 4 crore began in September and was expected to be completed before the Deepam

festival.

The remaining 1.2-km distance would be completed in a month, he added.The footpath has come

as a boon for the devotees.

Rajalakshmi (65) of Thirukovilur, who has been taking part in the Girivalam for more than 20

years, said that the footpath would help the pilgrims to have a safe journey as they trek through

the Tiruvannamalai-Bangalore highway which would always be busy with movement of heavyvehicles.


10/15

In addition, the potholes were also being filled up and just a few more remain to be covered,the

official said. While the work had almost been finished within the Tiruvannamalai

Municipality limit, the 700-m Chengam road was still in a bad shape.

The delay has been attributed to the unfinished Underground Drainage (UGD) works.

The 11th hour initiative of the municipality to fill those pits with mud with a solid concrete base

has been affected in the heavy rains this week


11/15


12/15


13/15


14/15


15/15

Documents

girivalam.docx