Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai is a city and the administrative headquarters of Tiruvannamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also a Hindu cultural hub and prominent pilgrimage destination, home to the Arulmigu Annamalaiyar Temple situated along the Annamalai hill, where the monthly Girivalam practice and the annual Karthika Deepam festival attracts thousands. Tiruvannamalai has a thriving service sector industry, including retail, resorts and recreation activities. Apart from the service sector, the city is also the hub for many industrial setups including SIDCO, spinning mills and premier educational institutions. The city is administered by the Tiruvanamalai City Municipal Corporation, originally constituted in the year 1886 as Tiruvannamalai Municipality. The city is connected to the state capital Chennai (150 km) and neighbouring state Karnataka's capital Bengaluru (145 km) via highways and railways.