Karthigai Deepam 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November in India, when the Maha Deepam is lit on the Annamalai hill at Tiruvannamalai in the evening. Tiruvannamalai has no airport. The usual choices are Chennai, Puducherry, Bengaluru and Salem, with Chennai the main gateway for most visitors. The rest of the journey is by road or rail.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Karthigai Deepam draws huge crowds to Tiruvannamalai every year. If you plan to be there for the Maha Deepam, here are the date, the airport options and how to plan the trip.
When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
For India, Karthigai Deepam 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. A Tiruvannamalai temple guide also gives 24 November and describes the festival as a ten-day Karthigai Brahmotsavam. Note that some calendars for the USA and Canada show Monday, 23 November, because the Krittika nakshatra is judged at local sunset, so a panchang set for another country can differ by a day. If you are booking from India, 24 November is the date to use.
On the final day, the Bharani Deepam is lit at the Arunachaleswarar temple in the early hours, and the Maha Deepam is lit on top of the hill in the evening. The evening lighting is the central event, and it is the moment that brings most of the crowd.
Is there an airport in Tiruvannamalai?
No. Tiruvannamalai does not have a commercial airport, so you fly to a nearby city and continue by road or rail. The options most travellers consider are:
- Chennai (MAA): the largest airport in the region, with the widest choice of flights and fares. It is the main gateway for most visitors.
- Puducherry (PNY): a smaller airport that can suit travellers coming from a few connected cities. Check what your preferred airline actually flies there.
- Bengaluru (BLR): a major hub, useful if you are connecting from elsewhere in India. The road journey is of a similar length to Chennai, so compare fares and timings.
- Salem (SXV): a smaller airport with limited services, worth checking only if a flight happens to suit your plans.
Distances vary with the route and with traffic, so use roughly as a guide: Chennai is usually the shortest practical flight-plus-road combination for most people, and the road transfer is a matter of several hours, not minutes. On festival days, expect it to be longer than usual.
How do you get from the airport to Tiruvannamalai?
From any of these airports, most travellers continue by road, using a pre-arranged taxi or a state or private bus, or by train for part of the way. Roads into Tiruvannamalai are very busy around the Maha Deepam, and local authorities typically announce traffic and parking arrangements close to the date. Since HappyFares sells flights only, arrange your onward transport and stay directly with providers you trust, and book early.
A sensible approach is to land the day before the Maha Deepam, rest, and reach the town early on the festival day instead of racing from the airport on the evening itself. The crowds build through the day and the final stretch of road can move slowly.
If you are travelling as a family, decide early whether you want to be in the town for the final evening or to watch from a calmer spot. Many visitors plan the trip around one anchor day and keep the days either side flexible, which also makes flight dates easier to adjust. Keep a printed or saved copy of your booking details, since mobile networks can slow down in very large crowds.
When should you book flights for Karthigai Deepam?
Karthigai Deepam comes a couple of weeks after Diwali, so flights into Chennai and Bengaluru can already be busy for other reasons. Fares on the busiest days are generally higher than on quieter weekdays, and booking early tends to help.
- Search Chennai first, then compare Bengaluru and Puducherry for your dates.
- Check the days either side of the festival, since a one-day shift can change the fare.
- Set a price alert if you are undecided.
- Check the baggage allowance on your fare family before you pay.
What should you carry and check?
Web check-in and airport check-in are free on Indian airlines. Carry photo ID for every adult. The temple and the hill path have their own rules about footwear, dress and entry, so read the temple’s notices and follow the guidance of local authorities. Did you know that the festival is also called the Karthigai Brahmotsavam and runs for ten days, so the temple town is busy well before the final evening?
Common Questions
What is the date of Karthigai Deepam in 2026?
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in India. Calendars abroad may show Monday, 23 November.
Which is the nearest airport to Tiruvannamalai?
There is no airport in the town. Chennai, Puducherry, Bengaluru and Salem are the usual options, and Chennai is the main gateway for most visitors.
Is the Maha Deepam lit in the morning or evening?
The Bharani Deepam is lit in the early hours at the temple. The Maha Deepam on the hilltop is lit in the evening.
How long is the road journey from the airport?
It depends on the airport and the traffic. Expect several hours from Chennai and longer on festival days, so plan for a buffer.
Are flights to Chennai expensive in late November?
Fares usually rise on busy days. Booking early and comparing nearby dates generally helps.
Do Indian airlines charge for check-in?
No. Web and airport check-in are free on Indian airlines.
Heading to Tiruvannamalai? Search and compare flights to Chennai and nearby airports on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, price alerts, and Meera, our AI assistant, to help you choose dates.
Festival dates, rules and fees change; verify current specifics with the airline, the temple authorities or a local panchang before you travel.
