Sathuragiri Hills (), also known as "Chathuragiri" or "Sundara Mahalingam",
is a
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
site located in
Madurai district
Madurai District is one of the 38 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India., United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the famous Sri Meenakshi ...
and 10 km from
Watrap, near
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu. As of 2011, the town had a population of 75,396. The most important landmark of Thiruvilliputhur is 11-tiered tower st ...
, in the state of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
in South
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
.
The hills are a part of the
Western ghats. This hills located in the Border of Madurai District.
There are a few specific days when the general public is permitted to visit the Sathuragiri Hills. These days include
new moon
In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar eclipse. ...
and
full moon days and on two
Pradhosham days . Visiting hours are between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. There are 3 trecking paths available. Out of 3 paths, first two paths are located along the thaliparai side of Watrap in
virudhunagar district
Virudhunagar District is a district (an administrative district) of Tamil Nadu state in south India. Virudhunagar is the district headquarters of Virudhunagar district. Virudhunagar district was formed by the separation of Old Ramanathapuram D ...
end and the last path (i.e. 3rd path) is located in vazhai thoppu side of T. Krishnapuram in Madurai District itself. But 1 & 2 path are the most usual path for trecking. Unlike other mountain trecking places in Tamil nadu, here Men and Women both are allowed for trecking. Srivilliputhur Railway Station is the nearest railway station for 1st & 2nd trecking path where as Usilampatti Railway station is the nearest railway station for 3rd trecking path. Bus transportation facilities are frequently available till Watrap as well as to T. Krishnapuram.
Origin of the name
The name Sathuragiri originates from the words "Sathuram" means "Square" in Tamil and "Giri" means "Hill." The name is attributed to the fact that the hill is square-shaped and therefore known as "Sathuragiri." Many "Sithars" are considered to be walking around the hill in an invisible form even today, and the localites usually advise visitors to be respectful of anyone they come across in the hill - as it might even be an encounter with a powerful "Sithar", and they warn against upsetting them
References
External links
Chennai to Chathuragiri route map and distance*https://www.tripadvisor.in/HotelsNear-g2305754-d8321021-Sathuragiri_Shiva_Temple-Srivilliputhur_Virudhunagar_District_Tamil_Nadu.html
{{coord missing, Tamil Nadu
Madurai district
Hills of Tamil Nadu