ArunachalaSeva — Home

ArunachalaSeva

Serving Arunachala, One Step at a Time

Who We Are

ArunachalaSeva is a volunteer group dedicated to keeping the sacred Arunachala hill clean and accessible. Every week, a group of devoted volunteers walk the ancient paths of Arunachala — picking up litter, clearing overgrowth, and restoring the trails that pilgrims and seekers have walked for centuries.

We believe that serving the hill is a form of devotion. No special skills are needed — just the willingness to show up, walk, and care.

Our Route

Our weekly cleaning follows the historic path from the heart of Tiruvannamalai up to the caves where sages lived and meditated:

Ramanashram Back Gate → Skandashram → Virupaksha Cave

This route covers approximately 2 km of hill trails, passing through some of the most spiritually significant sites on Arunachala:

  • Ramanashram Back Gate — Our starting point. We gather here, distribute supplies, and begin the ascent.
  • Skandashram — The ashram where Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi lived from 1916 to 1922. A serene spot on the eastern slope with a natural spring.
  • Virupaksha Cave — Where Ramana Maharshi spent 17 years (1899-1916) in deep meditation. A sacred cave on the southern slope of Arunachala.

How to Join

Anyone is welcome. You don't need to register or sign up. Just show up at the meeting point on the scheduled day and time.

What to bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes (the trail is rocky in places)
  • Water bottle (at least 1 litre)
  • Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
  • A willingness to get your hands dirty

What we provide:

  • Gloves
  • Trash bags
  • Pick-up tools
  • Refreshments after the seva

Schedule

  • Off-season (April — September): Every Monday morning, starting 6:30 AM at Ramanashram Back Gate
  • Peak season (October — March): Every Monday and Thursday morning, starting 6:30 AM at Ramanashram Back Gate

We also organise special drives on festival days and full moon days.

Check our Next Cleaning Event page for the upcoming session details, or browse the Event Calendar for the full schedule.

Our Values

  • Seva (Selfless Service) — We serve without expectation. The hill gives us everything; we give back what we can.
  • Consistency — Showing up regularly matters more than grand gestures. One bag of trash removed every week adds up.
  • Community — We are not an organization. We are neighbours, pilgrims, and friends who care about the same hill.
  • Simplicity — No bureaucracy, no hierarchy. Just people cleaning a hill together.

Contact

Want to learn more or coordinate a group visit? Reach out to us:

"The greatest seva is to keep Arunachala clean for those who walk its paths in search of peace."