New Timings Set for Devotees Visiting Parvathamalai Hillock Due to Rains

The Forest Department has restricted visiting hours for devotees heading up the Parvathamalai hillock in the Tiruvannamalai district. Devotees can now only climb the steep 4,560-foot hillock between 5.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. every day.

Rules and Route

Only adults between 18 and 60 years old are allowed to make the climb. Children, persons with illnesses, and those with disabilities are barred from going up. Officials stated that rain makes the path slippery, and reaching the Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy temple from the foothills takes at least four hours on average. Pilgrims use a three-foot-wide mud pathway near Then Mathimangalam and Then Kadaladi villages, covering 4.5 kilometres through the forest. A committee headed by Collector Vandhana Garg will decide on future visits based on rain forecasts. This committee also includes Superintendent of Police R. Uthayakumar, District Forest Officer K. Sudhagar, and members of the HR&CE Department.

Visitor Limits

The hill temple draws about 1,000 visitors daily. To stop overcrowding and stampedes, authorities cap entry at 100 devotees per hour. Bringing plastic items and water bottles is strictly banned to protect the forest from litter.

Context

The Parvathamalai hillock falls under the Pudupalayam Range of the Tiruvannamalai Forest Division and houses over 30 tribal hamlets. A mud pathway built during British rule in the 1920s serves as the main route connecting these local communities to the plains.