| Indian City Information,
Travel to Indian Cities, City In India, Hotels in India, Tourism in
India, Flights in India, Hotels In India. |
 |
 |
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
One of South
India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated
Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai
has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil
era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural
and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital
city for the great Pandya kings.
Known as the "city of nectar", Madurai is the oldest city in
Tamil Nadu and was home to the ancient Tamil Sangam, the literary
conclave that produced the first epic, Silappathikaram. Today,
it is known to produce some of the finest textiles in India
and some of the best harvests of jasmine flowers. One cannot
ignore mention of the Meenakshi Temple, which is as well known
for its architectural splendor as also a shelter, which inspired
a thousand arts.
Madurai has found mention in Megasthenes' Indica, where the
ancient Greek diplomat and envoy to India in the 3rd century
BC wrote about this temple-city in the most glowing terms. Madurai
reached its pinnacles of glory during the time of the Cholas
and then during the Pandyas' regime in the 13th century.
General Info
Area: 22 Sq. Kms ( 8.56 Sq. Miles)
Population : About 10.9 lacks
Altitude:101 meters (330 ft) above sea level
Climate : Chennai has a very hot tropical climate. The
temperature variation between winters and summers is minimal.
Rainfall is timely and tends to be heavy during the monsoons.
Proximity to the sea makes the atmosphere heavy and humid. The
summers are sultry and hot while winters are warm. As such Chennai
has enough to offer a year round tourist season and one can
visit the place any time.
Languages:Tamil, English, Sourashtra
Shopping: Shopping Areas in Madurai city
(Books, Handlooms, Fabrics & Sarees, Departmental Stores).
Best times to visit : Between November and February.
|
| |
| Places of Interest
|
| |
Meenakshi
Temple
Your trip to this city would not just be incomplete but pointless
without visiting the Meenakshi Sundareswar temple. Dedicated
to Meenakshi, the lovely consort of Shiva or Sundareswar, as
he is known here, the Pandya king Kulasekhara originally built
the temple in the 13th century though it attained its present
splendor only in the hands of the Nayaks, 400 years later.
Legend has it that Meenakshi, the beautiful princess born to
the Pandya king of Madurai had three breasts. This deformity
is said to have vanished when she met her divine consort, Shiva.
The temple holds in thrall visitors from all over the country
and world.
The temple complex with 12 towers, the Thousand Pillared Mandapam
and the Potramaraikulam (the golden lotus tank) is a perfect
example of Dravidian architecture. The temple tank also played
host to the ancient Tamil Sangam who met here to decide on the
merits of literary compositions.
The outer towers are the landmarks of Madurai. They are:
1. East Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 161'3". This Gopura
has 1011 sudhai figures.
2. South Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 170'6". This Tower
has 1511 sudhai figures.
3. West Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 163'3". This Tower
has 1124 sudhai figures.
4. North Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 160'6". This Tower
has lesser figures of sudhai than other outer towers.
The Thousand-Pillared Mandapam, which actually has 985 pillars,
make musical sounds when struck and houses the Temple Museum.
The gopurams are covered with extensive carvings depicting stories
from Hindu mythology, and the one on the east serves as the
principal gateway to the shrine.
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal
This Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with
the help of an Italian Architect. The building we see today
was the main Palace where the King lived. The original Palace
Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. This
palace consisted mainly of two parts, namely Swargavilasa and
Rangavilasa.
Muslim armies on the rampage brought an end to the royal line
of the Vijayanagar Empire paving way for the Nayaks, who assumed
royal powers over their principalities, which included Madurai.
The city and the dynasty flourished from the 16th to the 18th
century. Thirumalai Nayak built this palace 1 km Southeast of
the temple. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, all that remains
of this magnificent mansion today are the principal entrance,
the dancing hall and the main hall. The main attraction now
is the light and sound show in the palace, which depicts events
from Thirumalai Nayak's life and also snatches from the ancient
Tamil epic Silappathikaram.
It can be visited from 9a.m to 5 p.m on payment of the entrance
fee.
Mariamman Teppakulam
This is a huge temple tank about 5 kms east of the Meenakshi
temple. The mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara
(Vinayaka). This tank was said to have been dug by Tirumala
Nayaka. It is the biggest tank of its kind in Tamil Nadu and
one of the most imposing sights of Madurai when it is full of
water.The vinayaka idol was found when the earth was being dug
out from here to build the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. So, the
place attained sanctity and was converted into a teppakulam
(tank).
Tirupparankundram
Thirupparankundram, 6 kms southwest of Madurai, is a small town
known for its sacred granite hill. It is regarded as one of
the six abodes of Lord Subramaniya.
This cave temple is cut out of solid rock. There are myths and
legends surrounding the deity Murugan here. This is one of his
six abodes, Murugan being the second son of Shiva. Situated
10 km south of the city, the place where the temple is built
is supposed to have been the site of his marriage to Devayani.
Gandhi Museum
This museum as the name suggests is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi,
fondly known as the Father of the Nation. It is housed in what
used to be the palace of Rani Mangammal. Among the collection
of Gandhi memorabilia exhibited here is the bloodstained dhoti
that he was wearing on the fateful day of his assassination.
The Picture Gallery presents a visual biography of Gandhiji.
It contains photos, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, quotations,
and some original articles used by Gandhiji (Relics and replicas).
|
| |
| Excursions Of Madurai |
Hotels
of Madurai |
Make
your Package for Madurai |
| |
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.
|
| |
| Special Festivals |
Hotels
of Madurai |
Make
your Package for Madurai |
| |
Chithirai
Festival
This festival is celebrated between the months of April and
May (Chithirai - according to the Tamil Calendar), when the
celestial marriage of Meenakshi to Sundareswarer is celebrated
, Azhagar travels to Madurai. A gold processional icon called
The Sundararajar is carried by devotees in procession from Azhagar
Koil to Madurai for wedding ritual.
The Float Festival
Held in January - February, the float festival takes place in
the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam. The night comes alive as
the specially constructed raft carried the deities around the
lake. Brightly lit with flowers on all sides, not to mention
the throng of people that gather to watch the fetivalm there
is a sense of peace that this ritual seems to inspire. decorated
with flowers and lights carries the deities around the tank.
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.
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.
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. |
| |
| How to get
there |
Hotels
of Madurai |
Make
your Package for Madurai |
| |
By Road
:There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts
of South India. Madurai City has 5 Major Bus Stand.
By Air : There are daily flights to Madurai from Chennai,
Bangalore,Tiruchi & Coimbatore. Madurai Airport is 10 Kms
away from Madurai City.
By Rail : Madurai is an important railway junction of
the Southern Railway and is directly connected to Chennai and
Tirunelveli. Madurai is on the Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul-Quilon
line. The Vaigai Express, which is a super-fast day train between
Chennai Egmore and Madurai takes 7 hours for the 495kms.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
