Sri Vijaybalaji Mahal

We found the room clean, comfortable, and affordable, with the basic amenities we needed. It’s around 4 km from the temple, which worked well for our Arunachalam trip. I’ve shared a detailed reel with visuals and more information on our Instagram page, @vins_eats. Owners with an Instagram page who’d like to collaborate can DM us. Follow us for more travel and food videos.

We only stayed one day, but the family room worked well for us. It had two queen beds, plus a king bed in a separate attached bedroom, and each room had its own bathroom and AC. There was enough space for at least six people. The rooms were very clean, and both check-in and check-out were quick and easy. The staff were polite and helpful.

With clean rooms, decent beds, plenty of parking, and restaurants nearby, the Mahal is good value for its price and location. Being right on the girivalam road also makes it easy to start and finish the route.

The bathroom was awful to use, with water dripping from another room’s AC, and neither of the two charging ports worked. My husband, our 2.5-year-old, and I struggled the next day with no way to charge our phones. The stay felt like a waste of money and wasn’t worth what we paid. The Agoda listing gives the impression of a proper place for travellers, but this is a marriage hall with very, very small rooms. They advertise AC rooms for Rs.850, though I felt the room was only worth Rs.300 with an AC fitted. When I raised the issue, I was told to pay Rs.2000+ for good rooms. The customer handling was unsatisfactory, and I wouldn’t visit again or recommend it to families. There are many better hotels near Tiruvannamalai temple offering rooms worth the Rs.850 within 5 to 6 kms. I also asked the person in the front room about hourly rooms where we could rest and freshen up after darshan, but was told none were available. What I shared about the room issue is what they told me during our phone discussion. We weren’t ignoring anything. It felt like customers are treated according to how much they pay. Please be honest with your customers. People come based on your reviews and posts. Be genuine. I do girivalam every month, so there’s no need for me to post anything fake. We know the good rest stops in Tiruvannamalai. Thank you for writing back. Sivaya namah.