Northern Tamil Nadu Jain Tirths
A pilgrimage through the ancient Jain heritage sites of Northern Tamil Nadu, including mountain temples and rock-cut shrines.
Day 1
1. Shree Kshetra Arihantagiri
TirthMajor pilgrimage center located 230 km from Bangalore. A gurukul is also being run by the trust for young students, with a large temple complex.
2. Arihanthgiri Ancient Mountain Temples
TirthFeatures 3-4 temples, 18-foot ancient idol of Neminatha, Samadhi Sthal of Acharya Shri Samantabhadra and Pandava Caves.
4. Shri 1008 Bhagwan Adinath Digambar Jain Temple, Arani
TempleAnother significant Digambar Jain temple in Arani.
5. Poondi Ponezhil Nathar Digamber Jain (Arugar) Temple
TempleAncient Jain temple located in Poondi, 6 kms from Arani
6. Ancient Jain Temple Munigiri, Karandai
TempleHistorical temple site located 45 km from Poondi. With a magnificent seated idol of 1008 Kuntunatha Bhagavan, finished in a radiant golden hue, this place also has the honour of being tapasthali of Acharya Shri Akalank Swamy.
7. Thiruppanamoor Digambar Jain Temple, Karandai
TempleWith moolnayak as Bhagwan Pushpadantnath, this temple is just 1 km from Munigiri temple, Karandai.
8. Thiruparuthikundram Sri Digambar Jain Temples, Kanchivaram
TempleImportant Jain heritage site in Kanchivaram, 20 kms from Karandai.
9. Ponnur Malai Dharmshala
DharmshalaNight stay featuring 2 temples.
Day 2
1. Acharya Kund Kund Charan, Ponnur Hill
TirthThe sacred ancient footprints of Acharya Kund Kund.
2. Sri Adinath Digamber Jain Temple, Ponnur Malai
TirthIncludes 3-4 other temples at the site.
3. Thirakoil Jain Hill
TempleContains rock-cut cave temples on the hill and at the base, 8 kms from Ponnur Malai.
4. Ariyampoondi Rock Cut Mahavir Jain Temple
TempleAn ancient rock-cut temple dedicated to Bhagwan Mahavir, 6 kms from Ponnur Malai.
5. Sri 1008 Adinath Digambar Jain Temple, Ponnur
TempleLocal Adinath temple in the Ponnur city, 12 kms from Ariyampoondi.
6. Ancient Bhagwan Adinath Temple, Salukkai
TempleA 2300-year-old ancient temple site, 16 kms from Ponnur city.
7. 1008 Bhagavan Sri Adinath Digambar Jain Basadi, Vizhukkam
TempleDigambar Jain temple located 40 kms from Salukkai.
8. Mel Chitamur (Jin Kanchi)
TirthThe administrative center (Jin Kanchi) of the Tamil Jain community, 7 kms from Vizhukkam. It features a seven-storeyed Raja Gopuram, a 52-foot manastambha, and a 14-foot black idol of Parshvanatha.
9. Thirunathan Kundru Jain Hill, Gingee
TempleAn ancient Jain hill site near Mel Chitamur, 15 kms from Mel Chitamur.