Tiruttani is a pilgrimage town northwest of Chennai, built around one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan. The town itself is plain and busy, but the hill temple above it is important enough to justify a day trip for travellers interested in Tamil religious life.
Subramaniya Swamy Temple crowns a rocky hill about 700 feet above sea level. Devotees climb the 365 steps, one for each day of the year, or take the road up when the heat is too much. The reward is not only the shrine but the view across the low hills and town below.
Tiruttani is not a broad sightseeing base. Come for the temple, the rhythm of pilgrims, and the sense of a working Tamil sacred town rather than for cafes or polished heritage streets. It combines naturally with Kanchipuram, Tirupati, or a temple-focused day out from Chennai.