Madurai City Travel Guide -
Tamil Nadu
General Information Of
Madurai
-
Area 46.99 sq. km
-
Population 9,40,989
-
Altitude 101 metres above
sea level
-
Languages Tamil, English
-
STD Code 0452
Best time to visit October to March
|
 |
Introduction to city Madurai -
In Tamil Nadu
One of the oldest cities in South India, Madurai has been the
centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. Spread along
the rocky banks of the river Vaigai in the state of Tamil Nadu,
this modern industrial city is today famous as a temple town.
The history of Madurai dates back to prehistoric times.
Archaeological evidences unearthed from this region suggest the
existence of settlements in the Megalithic Age and the Neolithic
Age. The earliest recorded history of Madurai, available from
the fourth century BC, can be found in the Tamil and Greek
documents. The ancient city had links with Greece and Rome and
traded primarily in spices. Madurai also finds mention in many
ancient texts and especially the Puranas, where sage Agastya
eulogizes the greatness and glory of the city.
The city of Madurai has been ruled by various dynasties. The
Cholas took over the city in the 10th century AD. The Pandyas
regained control in the 12th century AD, only to loose it again
to the invaders under Malik Kafur. In 1364, the Vijayanagar
kingdom was established with the overthrowing of the dynasty
established by Malik Kafur. The Nayaks, who were the local
governors of Madurai, took over the city after the fall of the
Vijayanagar kingdom in 1565 and ruled it till 1781. It was
during this period that Madurai reached its cultural zenith. The
city was taken over by the British East India Company in 1801.
The summers in Madurai can get very hot with the with
temperature going up to around the 40°C. Winters are the best
season to visit the city, as the daytime temperature is around
20°C making it pleasant for all excursions.
Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination - Madurai
Along with its burgeoning industrial set up, the legends, myths
and the thousands of pilgrims swarming the city have given
Madurai a unique character and ambience. The architectural
marvels of the temples and the exquisite sculptures fascinate
all those who have a look at them. You can also participate in
the many festivals and regale in the rich tradition of the
locals. Some of the major attractions in the city are the
Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Mahal, The Gandhi Museum,
Koodal Azhagar Temple, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam and
Pazhamudhirsolai.
Madurai
Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination Madurai
|
|
Places to visit in the city Madurai |
MEENAKSHI TEMPLE - Madurai
|
|
One of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage, the
Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple is located at the heart of
the city and is the hub of the religious and cultural life
of the city. Built by Kulasekara Pandya in the
pre-Christian era, the temple was in ruins before it was
rebuilt by Tirumalai Nayak. Spread over six hectares, the
temple is an outstanding example of Vijayanagar temple
architecture. The temple has four entrances to it and its
gopurams (large gateways) and mandapams (multi-pillared
halls) are covered from top to bottom in a profusion of
multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and
mythical figures. The southern gopuram, which is about
48.4-metre-high is the most spectacular of all gopurams,
and has over 1,500 sculptures. You can even climb the
gopuram to get a panoramic view of the city. The sculpted
pillars in the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi
temple tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai
and her marriage to Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the
princess was actually an incarnation of Parvati who came
to earth to honour a promise. Shiva came to Madurai as
Sundareswarar to marry Meenakshi, and the two ruled over
the kingdom for many years. The spot from where they left
for their heavenly abode is where the temple now stands.
It is believed that the Sangam litterateurs decided the
merit of the literary works presented to them at
Portamaraikulam (literally, the golden lotus tank). The
manuscripts that sank in the tank were dismissed while
those that floated were considered great works of
literature. The two presiding deities are seated at Oonjal
Mandapam on the western end of this tank. The deities are
worshipped every Friday on a swing. Next to this is the
Kilikootu Mandapam (hall of parrots) where some beautiful
sculptures as well as parrots that chant the name of
Meenakshi can be seen. The shrine dedicated to the goddess
is just beyond this hall and entry is restricted only to
Hindus. Within the temple is located an art gallery. The
gallery contains beautiful stone and brass images and some
fine examples of South Indian scripts and friezes.
|
|
|
TIRUMALAI NAYAK MAHAL -
Madurai
|
|
About 1 km from the Meenakshi Temple lies the palace of
Tirumalai Nayak. Constructed in 1523, this Indo-Saracenic
building was originally four times as large as it is
today. Swarga Vilasam, which served as the audience hall,
is the most remarkable part of this palace. Its dome,
which lies beyond a huge courtyard and rises to a height
of 20 metres without any support, is a magnificent example
of the engineering skills of its builders. You can also
watch the sound and light shows on the life of Tirumalai
Nayak and the story of Silappathikaram (a Tamil classic)
here. |
|
|
THE GANDHI MUSEUM -
Madurai
|
|
Housed in the old palace of the Rani Mangammal and
dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, the museum provides a
historical account of India’s struggle for independence. A
bookshop in the premises of the museum offers a good
collection of books on Gandhi. |
|
|
KOODAL AZHAGAR TEMPLE -
Madurai
|
|
Two kilometres to the west of Madurai is located the
Koodal Azhagar Temple, an ancient Vaishnavite temple. The
temple has a statue that depicts Lord Vishnu in three
poses—sitting, standing and reclining—one above the other.
|
|
|
VANDIYUR MARIAMMAN
TEPPAKULAM -
Madurai
|
|
Five kilometres east of the Meenakshi temple is a tank
called Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam. At the centre of the
tank is an idol of Lord Vinayaka or Vigneshwara installed
on a platform. The tank was built by Tirumalai Nayak in
1646 and is connected to the Vaigai River by underground
channels. The tank is also the site of the annual
Teppakulam float festival conducted in the month of
January-February. |
|
|
PAZHAMUDHIRSOLAI - Madurai
|
|
Located on a picturesque wooded hill, Pazhamudhirsolai is
one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya. |
|
Excursions : Places
nearby city - Madurai
Excursions around Madurai can be equally interesting. You can
travel to many scenic spots in the Western Ghats that are
located around the city. A trip to Kodaikanal, one of the
country’s most beautiful hill stations, is not be missed. You
can also visit Rameswaram, which is considered one of the
most important pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. The town is also
famous for its enchanting beaches.
Madurai
Excursion : Places nearby
Madurai
- Tamil Nadu
|
|
Places to visit nearby destination - Madurai |
|
Kodaikanal
|
|
Around 120 km away from Madurai lies Kodaikanal, one of
the most beautiful hill stations in India. It is situated
in the Western Ghats at a height of 2,130 metres above sea
level. The focus of the town is the lake created in 1910
by the building of the dam. You can go in for boating or
fishing in the lake. For fishing, you need to take prior
permission. You can also take pleasant strolls among the
wooded hills and have a look at the picturesque
waterfalls. |
|
|
Rameswaram
|
|
Located on an island in the Gulf of Mannar, Rameswaram is
connected to the mainland by the Indira Gandhi Bridge,
which is regarded as one of India’s engineering wonders.
The town has many temples dedicated to various Hindu gods
and goddesses. It is considered one of the most important
pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. Sacred for both
Vaishnavites and Shaivites, it is said that no Hindu
pilgrimage is complete without a visit to this holy city.
Apart from the temples, the beaches of Rameswaram are also
worth paying a visit. |
|
|
Vaigai Dam
|
|
About 70 km from Madurai on the way to Thekkady lies
Vaigai Dam, a popular picnic spot with beautiful, well
laid out gardens. The dam offers a breathtaking sight on
weekends when it is illuminated. |
|
|
