Arcot

Arcot is a town and urban of Vellore city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Located on the southern banks of Palar River, the city straddles a trade route between Chennai and Bangalore or Salem, between the Mysore Ghat and the Javadi Hills (Javvadhu malai)., the city had a population 55,955. The sweet makkan peda is a local speciality while Arcot biryani, a rice-based traditional food, is also served here.EtymologyIts name is commonly believed to have been derived from the Tamil words aaru + kaadu . However, arkaadu meant 'a forest of fig trees'.Jainism was flourishing in this part of Tamil Land who were otherwise known as Arugar most probably corrupted form of Arhants or the perfected souls. The word Arugar is found in many ancient literary works and places dominant with arugars were related to them viz Arakonam, Arumbakkam, Aruvur, etc. Not far away from present day Arcot there is a place called Arungundram. Hence Arcot or Aarkaadu would have derived its name from Arugarkaadu.