Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India, is a vibrant cultural hub located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The city is renowned for its rich history, architectural marvels, and a spiritual atmosphere that envelops its ancient temples.
The Meenakshi Amman Temple, with its towering gopurams (pyramidal gateways), is the city's most iconic landmark. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, and its intricate carvings and vibrant sculptures are a testament to the Dravidian architectural style.
Madurai's cultural heritage is celebrated during the annual Meenakshi Thirukalyanam festival, a grand event that attracts devotees and tourists alike. The city's bustling markets offer a glimpse into the region's vibrant traditions and craftsmanship, particularly in textiles and jewelry.
Evening visits the Meenakshi Temple to attend the evening ceremony known as 'Bedtime of the God'. A colorful procession, in which the image of Shiva is carried accompanied by musicians, temple singers, and priests from his shrine. Enroute Shiva visits the other deities before entering Parvati's (Meenakshi) temple to sleep with her for the night. This ceremony is worth witnessing.
This temple is nearly 2000 years old placed in the heart of the old town-a a splendid example of Dravidian architecture. The present temple was designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak. There are four entrances to the temple with an area of six hectares. Each of its 12 towers has a height of 45 to 50 meters. The Potrama Raikulam or the Golden Lotus Tank is the place where the Tamil literacy society, called Sangam used to meet to decide the merits of the work presented to them. The temple museum has 985 richly carved pillars and each one surpasses the other in beauty. (It remains closed from 1200 hrs till 1530 hrs).
The palace (or Mahal) was built by Thirumalai Naicker, the greatest of Nayakkar kings of Madurai. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from 1545 till 1740, after the Pandya kings. The palace is the place where Thirumalai Naicker lived and held his court. The palace complex area was originally four times bigger than it is now, consisting of two portions – Swarga villa and Ranga Vilas. There were also other portions like the palace shrine, harem, theater, royal bandstand, armory, and other structures that were used to accommodate palanquins, royal chariots, relatives, servants, guests, and other regal paraphernalia.
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is the pond located near to Vandiyur Mariamman Temple and situated at a distance of about 2 km from the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Literally, Teppakulam means temple pond mainly used for devotional festivals. The tank is connected to the Vaigai River through an ingenious system of underground Channels. It has a total of 12 long stairs (steps) made of granite on all four sides. The temple as well as the stairs were built by the King Thirumalai Nayak. In the center of the tank there is a Mandapam called Maiya Mandapam (Central Mandapam) with Vinayakar temple and garden.