Devotees and the general public have urged the authorities concerned to repair the damaged girivalam path at the foot of the Perumal Malai, a revered hillock where Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy temple is located and lay a new tar road on that stretch for the benefit of those taking a sacred walk.

The nearly 5-km girivalam path near Thuraiyur is damaged badly and requires immediate attention, say local residents. The Perumal Malai adjoins the Thuraiyur-Perambalur state highway. A large number of devotees perform girivalam on full moon day. They walk barefoot with deep devotion, says N. Saravanan, a resident of Puthanampatti near Thuraiyur.

The bad condition of the road has been causing hardship to devotees. Many devotees who were unable to embark on a girivalam at Tiruvannamalai, fulfill their vow at Perumal Malai, said Mr. Saravanan.

Mr. Saravanan had sent a petition online to the Mudhalvarin Mugavari portal urging the authorities to take steps to lay a new tar road on the girivalam path at the foot of the Perumalai Malai in the interest of devotees and the general public.

In a written reply to Mr. Saravanan, the Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) of Thuraiyur panchayat union stated that a proposal to lay a new tar road on the girivalam path at a cost of ₹1.84 crore had been sent for administrative sanction.

The work would be taken up once administrative sanction was accorded and funds were allocated, the BDO said in the reply.

Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy temple is revered as ‘Then Tirupati’ (Tirupati of the south) and attracts devotees from various places all through the year.

Published - July 31, 2026 07:30 pm IST