Entry to Arunachaleswara Hill in Tamil Nadu closed due to landslide threat

Chennai: The Tiruvannamalai district administration in Tamil Nadu has banned devotees from climbing the Arunachaleswara Hill for this year’s Karthigai Deepam festival. This was done due to a heavy rain alert and ongoing safety risks on the trekking route.

The order comes at a time when the district is under an orange alert due to the forecast of heavy rains associated with Cyclone Ditvaah.

According to a trigger release, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has warned that the hill’s path remains unstable. Several trigger rocks remain a threat, especially at the intermediate points where landslides occurred earlier. Officials said these conditions make the traditional climb unsafe for the thousands of devotees who usually climb the hill to witness the burning of the Maha Deepam.

“Based on the cyclone alert and the report of the Export Committee, climbing the hill is temporarily prohibited this year as well for the safety of devotees,” the administration said in a statement.

Officials also urged devotees to strictly adhere to safety restrictions and not attempt to climb the hill under any circumstances. Police, forest, and revenue departments have been instructed to maintain constant vigil along the walking path to prevent unauthorized movement and ensure compliance with the restrictions.

More personnel are expected to be deployed to control crowds in and around the temple town during peak festival hours.

This year’s Karthigai Deepam festival began on November 24, and the most significant rituals are scheduled for December 3. The Bharani Deepam will be lit inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple on the morning of December 3, followed by the Maha Deepam on the hilltop that evening.

While the lighting at the hilltop will be traditional, devotees will be permitted to view it from the ground. Memories of last year’s tragic incident remain fresh in the minds of officials and devotees. In 2024, heavy rains caused by Cyclone Michang triggered several landslides on the hill, killing seven people. Following the incident, authorities suspended the festival for the remainder of the season, and export teams later confirmed that the route required extensive stabilization work. With the route still not fully repaired and the weather deteriorating, authorities decided to once again impose a complete ban on the 2025 festival. The administration emphasized that the ban was imposed to protect lives and ensure that the sacred festival proceeds without incident, albeit under altered arrangements.