Parvathamalai: Location, Height, Distance & Visitor Guide

Parvathamalai is a hill in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, associated with the Mallikarjuna Swamy Shiva temple at the summit. It is part of the Javadi/Eastern Ghats hill region and is known among visitors for its steep rocky trekking sections, metal ladders and religious significance.

This page brings together the basic facts a visitor usually searches for—Parvathamalai location, height, distance, routes and the Parvathamalai top—before going into the detailed trek guides.

Important: ParvathamalaiTrek.in is an independent visitor guide, not an official temple, Forest Department or government website. Access rules and local arrangements can change.

Parvathamalai at a glance

Published sources commonly describe Parvathamalai as approximately 3,500 feet above sea level and around 20–25 km from Polur, although exact distance depends on the reference point and route. A 2010 article from the C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre gives the hill’s height as about 3,500 feet and places it about 25 km from Polur.

Where is Parvathamalai?

Parvathamalai is in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, near the villages of Thenmathimangalam and Kadaladi. Polur is an important transport reference point for visitors travelling towards the hill.

For practical journey planning, use the How to Reach Parvathamalai guide rather than relying on one fixed distance shown by an online map.

Parvathamalai distance from Tiruvannamalai

The road distance depends on which trailhead or temple map point is used. Online route services currently show figures in the mid-30 km to mid-40 km range for different Parvathamalai Temple reference points.

For that reason, it is better to plan around your actual trailhead rather than treating one number as the exact Parvathamalai distance.

From Tiruvannamalai, allow additional time for the road journey, parking and the local approach to the hill. The summit itself cannot be reached by road.

Parvathamalai height

The commonly published figure is about 3,500 feet (approximately 1,067 metres) above sea level. This figure appears in older environmental, trekking and regional references.

Because different websites sometimes publish conflicting elevation numbers, this site uses “about 3,500 ft” rather than presenting the figure as a precise modern survey measurement.

The number is useful for understanding the scale of the hill, but elevation alone does not describe the difficulty. The steepness, exposed rock, weather and ladder sections are more relevant when preparing for the trek.

Reaching the Parvathamalai top

The Parvathamalai top is reached on foot. Visitor accounts describe approaches from Thenmathimangalam and Kadaladi, with the routes joining before the upper ladder/rock sections. Historical visitor accounts also describe a substantial climb from the base.

Do not choose a route solely because an older article calls it easier or shorter. Check the current local access situation before starting.

For the actual climb, see the Parvathamalai Trek Guide.

Parvathamalai hills and landscape

The wider Parvathamalai/Javadi hill landscape is associated with the Eastern Ghats. Research on the local hills also documents the area’s vegetation and traditional use of medicinal plants.

The visitor experience is shaped by the terrain: rocky surfaces, steep gradients, exposed sections and changing weather can make the same route feel very different on different days.

The Shiva temple at the summit

The summit shrine is associated with Lord Shiva as Mallikarjuna Swamy. Religious and local traditions also discuss the lingam, Siddhars and the spiritual significance of the hill.

The site distinguishes between a religious tradition and a historically verified claim. For example, beliefs about the origin or nature of the lingam are presented as beliefs rather than scientific or archaeological conclusions.

See the Parvathamalai Shiva Temple guide for visitor-focused information.

Before you travel

Check all of these before leaving:

1. Current route/access status.
2. Current trekking hours or cut-off time.
3. Weather forecast.
4. Transport and parking arrangements.
5. Whether any permission or local instruction applies.
6. Whether you have enough daylight and time for the return journey.

If a current official or local instruction conflicts with an older page on this website, follow the current instruction.

Explore the detailed guides

• Parvathamalai Trek Guide
• How to Reach Parvathamalai
• Parvathamalai Shiva Temple
• Safety & Packing Checklist
• Parvathamalai Weather & Best Time
• Parvathamalai History & Siddhar Traditions

Last reviewed: September 21, 2026. Distances, access rules, transport and local facilities can change.