Tourist Attractions in Madurai

It is one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is the hub of the religious and cultural life of the city.

This pre-Christian era temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya. However, it was in ruins before it was rebuilt by Tirumalai Nayak who brought back the glory to this magnificent structure.

The Meenakshi temple is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams (large gateways) and mandapams (multi-pillared halls) covered from top to bottom in a profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. Spread over six hectares, the temple has four entrances to it.

Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.4-m-high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and has over 1,500 sculptures. You can even climb the gopuram to get a panoramic view of the city.

The Rajagopuram on the eastern side is an unfinished structure that has a 174 sq. ft base, and had this tower been completed, it would surely have been the largest of its kind in the country. The eight smaller gopurams are within the compounds of the twin temples.

In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. It was believed 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 before they left for their heavenly abode from the spot where the temple now stands.

The Portamaraikulam or the golden lotus tank is the place where the Sangam littérateurs used to meet to decide the merit of the literary works presented to them. The manuscripts that sank in the tank were dismissed while those that floated were considered great works of literature.

On the western end of this tank is the Oonjal Mandapam where the two presiding deities are seated and 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.

At the Sundareswarar temple across the courtyard, Lord Shiva is represented as a lingam (phallus) and here too, entry is restricted. The corridor outside the shrine has the stump of a tree under which Indra is believed to have worshipped a lingam.

In the Kambathadi Mandapam, there is a unique idol of Nataraja dancing with his right leg raised to the shoulder instead of the other way round. The pillars of the Mandapam are decorated with scenes from the wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, many of which depict Shiva and Vishnu together, the latter having come to give Meenakshi away in marriage.

The Temple Art Gallery is located within the temple and contains beautiful stone and brass images, examples of South Indian scripts, friezes and attempts to explain the Hindu pantheon and many other legends associated with it.

Mariamman Teppakulam:
At a distance of 5 km east of the Meenakshi temple is a tank called the Mariamman Teppakulam. The tank has an idol of Vinayaka or Vigneshwara installed on a platform in the centre. It is also the site of the temple's annual Teppakulam float festival.

Tirumalai Nayak Mahal:
The palace of Tirumalai Nayak is about 1 km from the temple. This Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1523 and was originally four times as large as it is today. The palace displays the architectural style of the Nayaks.

The Swarga Vilasam (the audience hall) is one of the most remarkable features of the palace. Its dome rises up to a height of 20 m without any support and is an engineering marvel in itself. You can watch the sound and light shows on the life of Tirumalai Nayak and the story of Silappathikaram (a Tamil classic). These shows are held here every evening in both English and Tamil.



The Gandhi Museum:
Housed in the old palace of the Rani Mangammal, the Gandhi Museum provides a historical account of India's struggle for independence. There is a shop in the premises from where you can buy books on Gandhi.

Thirupparankunram:
At a distance of 8 km south of Madurai is Tirupparankundram. You can find the Pandyan rock-cut shrines dating back to the 8th century and the later Nayaka Hindu temple here. The temple has a wide range of Hindu gods carved on the walls. The Subramanya cave temple has a shrine dedicated to Durga, with the figures of Ganesh and Subramanya on either side. Located atop a hill, the temple is believed to be one of six abodes of Lord Subramanya.

Azhagar Koil:
Azhagar Koil (also, Alagarkoil temple), 21 km north of Madurai, is dedicated to one aspect of Lord Vishnu. This ancient temple is placed atop a picturesque wooded hill called Alagarmalai and has many beautiful sculptures of Vishnu.

Koodal Alagar Temple:
Koodal Alagar Temple is an ancient Vaishnavite temple is located 2 km to the west of Madurai. The temple has many beautiful sculptures depicting Vishnu in three poses-sitting, standing and reclining-one above the other.

Weekend Trips/Excursions:

There are several places to see and visit near Madurai too.

Vaigai Dam:
At a distance of 69 km, on the way to Thekkady, you will come across the Vaigai Dam. It is a beautiful picnic spot and is very popular with the tourists and locals alike. You can laze around in the well laid out gardens. The dam offers a breath-taking sight on weekends when it is illuminated.

Kodaikkanal:
If you want to escape to some cooler place, travel 120 km out of Madurai to the hill station of Kodai or Kodaikkanal. It is situated in the Western Ghats at a height of 2,130 m above sea level. You can take pleasant strolls among the wooded hills, picturesque waterfalls or simply sit by the magnificent lake at this beautiful hill station of the South.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
At a distance of 155 km from Madurai is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is renowned as the natural habitat for the Indian elephant among other wild animals. The forests of this sanctuary slope down to the manmade lake where you can see the elephants, gaurs (Bos gaurus) and sambhars (Cervus unicolor) wallowing in the waters over here. October to June is the best period to visit this sanctuary.

Events and Festivals:

The city of Madurai, especially the Meenakshi Temple, has an elaborate cycle of festivals. However, the most important and spectacular-the only ones to involve processions and rituals outside the temples-are associated with the annual cycle. The times and dates vary and are determined by the temple authorities. The most interesting feature of the festivals is the processions that are carried out along the routes. Elephants and musicians lead the processions, especially those for the major festivals.

Chittirai Festival:
The Chittirai festival celebrates the marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwara (Shiva). Held in the months of April/May, the festival is a grand affair. The festivities last for 12 continuous days. An elaborate wedding ceremony is organised in the Meenakshi temple, and later the deities are wheeled around the city in massive chariots, decorated elaborately. The resounding notes of the nadaswaram and the drums create a vibrant ambience.

Avanimoola Festival:
Held in late August or early September, the Avanimoola festival marks the coronation of Sundareshwara (Shiva). The special feature of the festival is its series of plays based on the myths from the legend of the temple. The coronation of the deity and the procession of the images all form an integral part of this elaborate festival.

Teppam Festival or the Float Festival:
Usually held during January/February in the Meenakshi Temple, Teppam festival or the float festival is one of the most important festivals of Madurai. The last two days of the 12-day festival are specially marked as the King's Festival. It was believed to have been started by the Tirumala Nayak, and is celebrated annually to mark his birthday by Tamil reckoning.

The images of Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwara are mounted on floats or rafts, and taken to the Mariamman Teppakkulam Tank. The illuminated rafts embellished with flowers are floated on the waters of the tank. The floats carry them back to the central shrine amidst chants and music.

Panguni Festival:
Panguni Festival is a 14-day annual event is held in the Tirupparankundram temple during April/May. The celebrations mark the coronation of Lord Subramanya and his marriage to Devyani, the daughter of Indra. The festivities involve elaborate coronation rituals, wedding ceremonies and grand processions. The deities from the Meenakshi temple actually travel in a procession to attend the wedding and return in the evening.