Arulmigu Sathuragiri Sundara Mahalingam Temple

Sathuragiri is most positive vibe place and many sidhar living there as per history said. While climbing the hills can feel good environment and connected with nature in Western Ghats. Most high divine location in Tamilnadu. Om Namashivaya……

We had visited Sadhuragiri on 26th Jan 2024 from Chennai. We started our trekking at 7 o clock, reached the top at 10.30, had a great Annadhanam then started back at 11.30 & finally reached down by 1.30 P.M. I would say its a great experience & I really loved to visit Sadhuragiri. The temple & trekking hills are opened on very limited days during Amavasya & Pournami times.
Dont carry too much things during the climbing of the hills, as you get Drinking Water & Soda at 4-5 places & you can walk with barefoot if possible as this really gives a different experience. Will surely visit again if I get a chance next time.

Blissful experience ☺
Ladies can also climb. Bit tough if you walk barefoot, as there are smaller chip like stones which might hurt. But if you Love Lord Shiva, everything will be blessings! Will be crowded in Pournami days, you can go before or after so that there will be less crowd. Free food at foothills and at top so don't have to worry about going hungry.

Sathuragiri Shiva Temple is a blend of adventure and spiritual exploration. An apt place for seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva and to get a breath of fresh air.
Temple is open only for 6 days a month – 3 days during New Moon (Amavasya) and 3 days during Full Moon (Pournami). It is also open during Aadi and Thai Amavasya
The ideal time to start the trek would be before 7:00 AM and to return to the base after darshan by 6:00 PM.
Annadanam is provided to pilgrims

Every month open only 4days Kindly check that date in google then go

This was my second visit here and loved trekking it was cloudy and chill day, went on guru Pournami started at 7.30 in the morning reached at 11 then got blessing from temple and annadhanam was provided then reached down at 4.30 evening was lucky rain has started drizzling and at vazlukuparai it was very difficult to cross and slippery few people have fell down. Totally a great experience and full of positive energy.

Takes about 3 to 4 hours to climb. Hard at times but manageable. Started at 8 AM & Came down by 5 PM.

Beautiful Place for Adventure Seekers.....

Great place. Really I wondered about the place, way of trekking, temple etc...

But really I worried about one thing, while you are walking towards hill top or getting down from hills. If there is medical emergency means there is no possibility to reach forest department officials. Mostly there ll be no network to inform anyone.

So please be safe while travelling

Thank you

Adventurous place. Ideal place for pilgrims and trekking. I am surprised lot of aged people > 60 are confidently trekking.

I went on Siva Rathiri and it was crowded.Going up and down are in the same way and there are lot of narrowed path where you need to wait till the path is cleared. Drinking water was available in the morning but after 4 pm, it is not. Its better carry enough water bottle.

I would suggest carrying lemon and this will help avoiding dehydration. Totally 18.5km from Thani parai to Temple and back to Thani parai.

We started at 09:40 am and reached there by 1:30 pm and spent 1 hour for darishanam. 15 mins break for lunch. Annadhan available too. Started going down by 02:45 pm and reached thani parai 05:40 pm. In between travel, we took multiple breaks.

Overall its a great experience.

Memorable temple, toughest hill avoid carrying plastics and childrens upto age 10 and above people's age 60,heart patients don't involve you in climbing this hill superb experience devine and natural place 4500 feet height

Temple is open only for 6 days a month – 3 days during New Moon (Amavasya) and 3 days during Full Moon (Pournami). It is also open during Aadi and Thai Amavasya and devotees usually throng the temple during this time.

These hills are mysterious and known to be the abode of all the 18 Holy Siddhas of the South not just in those days of physical reverence but even today they are known to be in and around this place, especially known to be worshipping Shiva in the main Mahalingam Temple on the top, that is about 4500 feet above sea level. There are actually four routes to reach the top and the Thaniparai route was considered the most safest because there was some public traffic on this route, which is the route we had taken. Most of other routes were either closed or needed guides to move up with or needed permission from the Reserve Forest because these mountains are actually forests, also with wild animals. It is always advised that the trekking up or down done before dark because of the risk of wild animals prowling at night. Often we would see some devotees in small groups moving with empty plastic bottles in both hands and hitting the bottles to create noise and that was to ward off any wild animals. Often as we moved up, we were alone just among ourselves or we encountered small groups coming down. Most of the while we kept silence and being ‘connected’ as we walked up unless it was really necessary to talk something. In such locations, the benefit does not lie in just reaching the top of mountains or to the main deity temples but what helps is how much one is connected with the source while going to the main spot or darshan. It is simply because such places are full of high spiritual energies that work on our subtle bodies whether one is aware of it or not. The deeper one is absorbed in pure awareness of the moment, the better experiences or connections will happen. It is also true that the divine beings and Holy Masters are in contact with the seekers here and it may be in any way, subtly or with physical encounters. But, if one is not ‘aware’ one will never realize this. They can appear in any form from a beggar to a bird to an insect to a man or woman. Best is not to judge ANYTHING and treat everything and everyone with reverence.

It's my pleasure and blessing to review Sathuragiri. We were visiting the temple more than 10 years. This time (April 2023) after a gap of three & half year we got an opportunity on a shivaratri day to visit and after confirming the morning entry time we reached to start by 7am at Thaaniparai entrance.

Just prior to COVID, the Tamilnadu Aranilaya Thurai has taken over control along with forest department and imposing entrance fee Rs. 10 for maintenance and restricted temple visit timings (entry 7am to 2pm)

Thaaniparai entrance: Open Car and bike parking available at Rs.50, many refreshment and other shops available here. Annathanam is served by some charitable trust just near the entrance and drinking water tank available at the gate queue.

The initial path (500m) till vinayagar temple is now renovated with stone block which is comfortable in the morning but very hot to walk after noon. Likewise after vinayagar temple the path (750m) is roughly concreted and left without softening or topping with stone block causing discomfort to devotees. Remaining path will be of mud and stone, few steps made of stones. By the way the forest stream will be crossed thrice.

Drinking water tank is available at regular intervals. The small vendor on the way provide refreshments, snacks at high price as they are bringing it with a help of labourers. The devotees also after consuming throwing garbage all way which is to be avoided, earlier the forest department won't allow even a plastic cover while entering the Thaaniparai gate.

The temple is now facilitated with solar power, new roofs, entrance arch and maintaining neatly compared to few years back. One bath tank facility noticed near the parking, seperate toilet near entrance but no other toilet facilities in the entire path. Mostly the devotees take bath in the streams on the way and near the main temple.

The darshan was good at Sundara Mahalingam and Santhana mahalingam with little crowd as it's week day and academic working day. Free annadhanam is good with rice, sambar, rasam, poriyal. You can also see kaliamman, Bairavar, aththiri maharishi, Pasukidai, korakkar kugai, rettai lingam, naval ooththu, vana durgai amman, palaavadi karuppusamy respectively.

While returning almost all who were not wearing foot wear faced difficulty with bare foot struggled a lot in the flaming path, took twice the actual timing to descend from the hill. The foot is fried in heat, difficult to walk and dehydrated due to heat.

At the end reached parking by 5pm, had a satisfied trip even though faced a tough time in return. The next trip will be planned soon.

Note:
1. Taking photo prohibited at the temple premises
2. if you are not wearing foot wear arrange accordingly to walk before noon or after 4pm to avoid foot burning due to heat,
3. Keep your water bottles filled, avoid drinking artificially chilled products to prevent dehydration.
4. Keep glucose, some fruits to energise.
5. Avoid dumbing/throwing wastes, instead drop it at dust bin spots.
6. Enjoy the trekking with care and responsibility.
7. Be safe avoid venturing the untravelled path to risk, as wild animals were spotted.

The hill is sacred place filled with many Siddhargal invisible to us, so dont make noise, littering or dumping wastes. Also it's advisable to avoid disturbing or plugging trees, plants. Its experienced by many that you will be helped and guided by a people or animal beside you when you feel down or exhausted to reach the temple. Also there is belief you will be cured from disease or illness once you get blessings of Lord Shiva.

Self belief is required to claim the hill
Plan to reach down hill as early morning as 6am or 7am
Hill climbing distance is aprx 7km
Avoid rainy days because slippery
Hill hiking time minimum: 1.5hours and maximum: 6hrs
Reach down hill before sun set because no light in the path way
Note: reduce your luggage weight and avoid hiking at noon time because steps may be hot and may get dehydrated

Its hard to climb for first time and take 4-5 hours in general but experienced person can do it in 2Hrs. There is always small river so most of time we get water supply from tanks. There is no shops in between top and base. There us lot of monkeys so don't expose food items. Its great for treaking and religious. 80% we need to climb up only no paths or stairs. Paths are made from rocks.

Lovely place. The scenery climate all was rejuvenating. Enjoyed Trekking great experience to worship lord Shiva. Special mentions to the waterfalls though small was very clear and tasty. Only thing was the places were littered with plastic bottles biscuit cover and other trash. Strict measure should be taken to avoid these and moreover temple administration should engage to clean them regularly. After all it's our heritage and we must preserve it for the future generations to come

No words to say. It's very devotional place.
Especially saivam.om namisiva.
Lot of lingam .
No pros and cons
Some tips.
Full of herbal and you can feel and breath pure air.
Small ponds ,you can bath and drink.
In the hill top and start place food is there.
No charges for that.
Pls carry water bottle, you can fill. Water tank is there in frequent interval
Small shop is there .you can get curd and other energy drinks
Pls care full while return (Especially valuaku parai).
60 + ageed person moved energetically.
30 + age stglling to move forward ,it's purely will power and God's

Spiritual and energetic worship. The only way to reach the temple (7 kms) is by walk. No palanquin is here. You will come across the Forest entry (ticket- Rs.10/-) followed by series of steps, Slippery rock, small streams and more. Lemon soda, biscuits, watercane are sold on the way. Drinking Water facilities are provided at four places. Better you can bring a glucose packet with you.

Reaching the hill top, right side is Sundara Mahalingam temple and left side (half km) is Santhana Mahalingam temple. Staying here is not allowed but once you reached the temple after 6 pm, you may stay there. Free food is provided by the tamilnadu government from morning 8 am to night 9 pm.

Temple is opened only in New moon & Full moon (4 days).
Example : If New moon is Sep 25, then opens from Sep 23 to Sep 26.
Also opens in 9 days of Navarathiri every year.

Trekking - Difficult
Up hill : 4 hrs & Down hill : 3 hrs
Entry- 6 am to 4 pm
Parking - Available
Best season - September to January

Scared place. Keep the place clean, can b visited during valpirai pradhosam to full moon & theipirai prathosam to new moon.

Very good divine place
First of all you need a stick for climbing
Since there is no water available bring water it is essential . Monkey are present in this place having stick also gives as a defence against it . The route moves about 8.6km to up . Moving down in the same day is tough job. In top there is pleasant atmosphere which forgets all the pain . This one of place which every Hindu must go . The route so slippery and avoid slippers . Going in the day after pradhosam you can pray in peace without any crowd

My native near Holy place... God Sivan is main God...it gives best experience for ur holy spiritual activities and give more self confidence...