Arni

Arni was ruled by the Cholas after they defeated the Pallavas. Some of the important Chola kings who ruled out Arni are Kulothunga Cholan I, Vikrama Cholan, and Kulothunga Cholan II.[citation needed]

During the rule of the Vijayanagara Kingdom in Arni, the Dasara function was celebrated grandly. In 1640 jagir of Arani was granted to Vedaji Bhaskar Pant a Marathi bramhin. The jagir continued to be headed by the descendents of Bhaskar Pant till the Zamindari Abolition Bill was passed in 1948.

Poosi Malai Kuppam is 12 kilometres (7 mi) away from Arni. Thirumalai Saheb built a sophisticated bungalow for his lover, an Anglo-Indian lady, there. During the Nawab period, there was a struggle between the British, French and Nawab Hyder Ali. The victorious British captured Arni. There is also a palace near the town, now used by the Agriculture Department.

The town was used by Arcot nawabs for their military training campus. The famous 18th-century Marathi poet, author of the very beautiful poem "Nal-Damayanti Swayamvarakhyana" (the story of swayamvara of Nal & Damayanti) Raghunath Pandit is believed to have lived here[citation needed].

The tomb situated in the heart of city for Sir. Ensign Robert Kelly who was a surveying Arni area, a Colonel by then, died in September 1790