Karaipoondi
This is the second place where Ambal Kamakshi stopped and prayed on her way to Tiruvannamalai. The temple built during the Ninth Century by the Chola Dynasty was renovated extensively in the 90’s. The deities here are Karaikandeswarar and Balasundari. River Cheyyar flows here towards north and hence the place is considered equivalent to Kashi.
In the sixteen pillared Mandapam in front of the shrine, one could still see inscriptions and paintings of the Chola period. There is a beautiful and ancient idol of Surya in the north east corner of the temple; one could also here see a very large Vilwa tree bearing fruits which is the Stala Vriksham for temple.
The temple is located 41 kms to the east of Tiruvannamalai and 5 kms to the east of Polur.
