Panch Bhoota Sthalam Darshan Yatra, ₹30,699

Plan last checked: 7 November 2026. Dates, prices and permits are confirmed again on call before you pay. How we check

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Highlights & Route

Quick answer: The Panch Bhoota Sthalam Darshan Yatra is a 6-day, 5-night road journey from Chennai to Tiruchirappalli covering Shiva's five element temples at Kanchipuram, Tiruvanaikaval, Tiruvannamalai, Srikalahasti and Chidambaram, plus Tirumala darshan. Elderly yatris manage it comfortably. Travel is by private air-conditioned vehicle, from ₹30,699 per person. Call or WhatsApp +91 78178 98687 or send an enquiry.

In the Shaiva tradition of the south, Shiva is worshipped as each of the five elements at five great temples: earth at Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram, water at Jambukeswarar in Tiruvanaikaval, fire at Arunachaleswarar in Tiruvannamalai, air at Kalahasteeswarar in Srikalahasti, and space at the Nataraja temple of Chidambaram. Together they are the Pancha Bhoota Stalams. Four lie in Tamil Nadu and one just across the border in Andhra Pradesh, and a road journey linking all five is one of the most rewarding week-long yatras in India.

We have arranged the circuit so that the Vayu sthalam at Srikalahasti is combined with a darshan of Venkateswara at Tirumala on the second day, since the two are barely 40 km apart and no family travelling this far would want to miss Balaji. From there the route swings south through Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai, east to Chidambaram and finally to Tiruvanaikaval beside Trichy, where the yatra ends. Each night halt is in a temple town, and each day has one or two main darshans rather than a crowded list.

The temples are large, with long stone corridors and some steps, but no trekking is involved. Elderly yatris manage this route comfortably provided the days are not rushed, which is exactly how we have planned it. Tirumala darshan tickets are the one item that needs booking well in advance, and we guide you through the TTD portal.

Route

Chennai (1 night) → Srikalahasti → Tirupati/Tirumala (1 night) → Kanchipuram → Tiruvannamalai (1 night) → Chidambaram → Kumbakonam (1 night) → Tiruvanaikaval → Tiruchirappalli (1 night)

Good to know before you book

Tirumala darshan slots (Special Entry Darshan at Rs 300, or free Sarva Darshan tokens) are booked by the pilgrim on the TTD portal ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in; we tell you when the quota opens for your dates.
The Chidambaram Nataraja temple is run by the Dikshitar priests and keeps its own timings, with a long afternoon closure; the evening puja is the best time to visit.
At Tiruvannamalai the 14 km Girivalam (circling the hill) draws lakhs of devotees on full-moon nights; roads are closed to vehicles and hotels sell out, so avoid or embrace Pournami dates deliberately.
Rahu–Ketu pariharam pujas at Srikalahasti are performed throughout the day and can be booked on arrival (own cost).
Dress modestly in traditional clothes; some temples do not admit men in shorts or anyone in sleeveless tops, and the Jambukeswarar sanctum is reached by a low doorway.
Pure vegetarian meals are easy everywhere on this route; most hotels serve South Indian breakfast and thali dinners.

Yatra Highlights

All five element temples of Shiva in a single road journey
Darshan of Venkateswara at Tirumala on the Srikalahasti day
Evening puja at Chidambaram and the Chidambara Rahasyam

Day 1 :

Arrive Chennai, Parthasarathy temple

You are received at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time at Chennai airport or railway station and taken to your hotel. In the evening we visit the Parthasarathy temple at Triplicane, one of the oldest Vishnu shrines in the city, and if time permits the Kapaleeshwarar temple at Mylapore with its tank and busy evening bazaar. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Chennai

Day 2 :

Srikalahasti (Vayu sthalam) and Tirumala

After an early breakfast we drive about 120 km north-west to Srikalahasti. The Kalahasteeswarar temple is the air element: the lamp inside the sanctum flickers although there is no draught, and the lingam is never touched by the priests. Many devotees also perform the Rahu–Ketu pooja here. We continue 40 km to Tirupati, check in, and drive up the ghat road to Tirumala for the darshan slot you have booked. Depending on the queue, this takes two to four hours. Return to Tirupati for dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Tirupati

Day 3 :

Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam) and Tiruvannamalai (Agni sthalam)

We leave after breakfast for Kanchipuram, about 110 km south. The Ekambareswarar temple is the earth element, with a 3,500-year-old mango tree in its courtyard and a lingam made of sand that is never bathed in water. Nearby are the Kamakshi Amman and Varadaraja Perumal temples if you wish, and the silk weaving lanes. After lunch (own cost) we drive another 130 km to Tiruvannamalai. In the evening we visit the Arunachaleswarar temple, the fire element, spread over 25 acres below the sacred Arunachala hill. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Tiruvannamalai

Day 4 :

Chidambaram (Akasha sthalam) and on to Kumbakonam

An early darshan at Arunachaleswarar for those who wish, or a short section of the Girivalam path before breakfast. We then drive about 210 km south-east to Chidambaram, the space element, where Shiva is worshipped as Nataraja and the Chidambara Rahasyam, a curtain behind which there is no image, teaches the formless. We time the arrival for the evening puja around 6 pm when the temple reopens. The Govindaraja Perumal shrine stands inside the same complex. After darshan we continue about 70 km to Kumbakonam for the night. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Kumbakonam

Day 5 :

Kumbakonam temples and Tiruvanaikaval (Appu sthalam)

Kumbakonam itself has the Adi Kumbeswarar and Sarangapani temples, and a brief morning round of them is included before we leave. We drive about 90 km to Tiruvanaikaval on the north bank of the Cauvery near Trichy. The Jambukeswarar temple is the water element: the lingam stands in a sanctum fed by an underground spring and the floor around it is always wet. If energy permits, we add the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam across the river, the largest functioning temple in India, before checking in at Trichy. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Tiruchirappalli

Day 6 :

Departure from Trichy

Breakfast at the hotel. If your flight or train is in the afternoon, we can include a visit to the Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar temple (about 400 steps, optional) or a quiet stop on the Cauvery bank before dropping you at your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel) at Tiruchirappalli airport or railway station.

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Chennai	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Tirupati	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Tiruvannamalai	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Kumbakonam	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Tiruchirappalli	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the Pancha Bhoota Stalams?

Five Shiva temples where the Lord is worshipped as one of the five elements: earth (Ekambareswarar, Kanchipuram), water (Jambukeswarar, Tiruvanaikaval), fire (Arunachaleswarar, Tiruvannamalai), air (Kalahasteeswarar, Srikalahasti) and space (Nataraja, Chidambaram). This yatra covers all five.

How do we get Tirumala darshan tickets?

Darshan slots are issued by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on its official portal (ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in). Special Entry Darshan costs Rs 300 per person and the quota opens in advance; free Sarva Darshan tokens are also issued. We tell you exactly when to book for your dates and help you through the steps, but the ticket must be in the pilgrim’s own name.

Is it a tiring itinerary?

It is steady rather than hard. Drives are three to five hours a day, and each temple involves walking through long corridors. There are no climbs except optional ones. Elderly yatris do well on this route if they carry good footwear and we keep the day to one or two major darshans, as planned.

What is the Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai?

It is the 14 km walk around the Arunachala hill, done barefoot by devotees, especially on full-moon nights when lakhs of people take part. Our itinerary gives you an early-morning window to walk a part of it if you wish; a full round takes four to five hours.

Which is the best season?

October to March. Karthigai Deepam at Tiruvannamalai (November–December) and the Natyanjali festival at Chidambaram (February–March) are special but crowded. April to June is very hot across Tamil Nadu.

Can the yatra start at Tirupati or end at Chennai?

Yes. Starting at Tirupati drops the Chennai night, and a return to Chennai from Trichy adds a driving day or a short flight. We will adjust the plan and price when you enquire.

Can non-Hindus enter these temples?

The outer precincts of all five temples are open to everyone. Inner sanctums at some of them restrict entry, and Tirumala asks non-Hindus to sign a declaration of faith in the deity. We will brief you on each temple’s practice before the visit.

Is Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple included on this Pancha Bhoota yatra?

Srirangam is not one of the five element temples, but it lies just across the Cauvery from Jambukeswarar at Tiruvanaikaval, the water sthalam we visit on Day 5. If the group still has energy that day, we add Ranganathaswamy at Srirangam. If your departure on Day 6 is in the afternoon, a second morning visit is also possible. Tell us when you book if Srirangam darshan matters to you.

Panch Bhoota Sthalam Darshan Yatra

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Highlights & Route

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Yatra Highlights

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