Poondi Arugar Temple
Poondi Arugar Temple is a Jain temple which located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Arani, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple was built by Cholas. It is one of the protected monuments in Tamil Nadu declared by Archaeological Survey of India.
Poondi Arugar Temple, tucked three kilometres north of the traffic‑jammed market town of Arani in Tiruvannamalai district, is the only Jain shrine you’ll stumble upon in a state that worships Shiva with far more gusto; built by Chola artisans in the twelfth‑century, its modest stone sanctum houses a weathered image of Mahavira that still glints under the sagging tiles of a roof that has survived more monsoons than most South Indian forts. The site is protected by the ASI, so you’ll find a discreet plaque and a small caretaker’s kiosk, but expect no guidebooks or souvenir stalls – just the quiet murmur of a few devotees and the occasional pigeon. Arrive before noon to avoid the blistering heat that turns the surrounding paddy fields into a mirage; a bike ride from Arani through the narrow lane off NH 234 lets you see the lone tamarind tree that locals claim shelters the temple’s original bell. Skip the dreaded “heritage walk” advertised by tour operators – the route is a dusty loop that leads you back to the same pothole‑filled road. Instead, park your scooter, linger for thirty minutes, sip chai from the nearby stall that sells idiyappam, and let the understated carvings of the mandapa speak for themselves. A short stay is honest; a full morning lets you appreciate the rare Jain narrative in a Tamil landscape dominated by towering gopurams, and you’ll leave with a story no other guidebook will offer.
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