INTRODUCTION

ABOUTMADURAI:

Madurai,probably over 2500 years old, is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu. Its origin and name emerge from a misty and lovely legend. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai, the temple city is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, in South India. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city of the great Pandya kings. This sacred town attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from India and abroad.

This city is 191 Km south west of Thanjavur. It is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu. The name of this city is derived from the Tamil word for Honey.

AREA : 3676sq.kms

POPULATION : 24,00,339

RAINFALL : 92.2mm Average

CLIMATE : Summer:- Max- 39.4'C, Min-23.3'C

Winter: Max-32.8'C, Min-20.7'C

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.

The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri. Madurai is famous for Jasmine Flowers.

The Meenakshi Temple is near by to the Chithirai street. Visit : Daily from 0430 to 1230 and 1600 to 2130. For photography permission is required from the main office, when the temple is open. Time from 1230 to 1600 only. There are two sanctuaries in the temple, one is to Meenakshi (the fish eyed Goddess, consort of Shiva) and the other is to Shiva in the form of Sundareswar. The gopurams have been repainted in bright colours. The high point of the temple is the 'Hall of a Thousand Pillars', was built around 1560. This hall adorned with 985 elaborately carved pillars. The Temple art museum is in the hall of a Thousand Pillars. This pillars have beautiful images. Among the mandapams, the Kambattadi Mandapam is outstanding for its excellent sculptured representations of the manifestations of Shiva on the pillars.

Tirumala Nayak Mahal is 1.5km north of Meenakshi temple. Visit to Palace: Daily from 0900 to 1300 and 1400 to 1700. It is an Indo-Saracen Palace, built by Tirumala Nayak in 1636. The Sound and Light show, shown here is excellent. Show start at 1845. This show dramatizes the Madurai's past in English.