Madurai is a large city in Tamil Nadu in south India. It’s the cultural capital city of the Indian state and an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The most prominent landmark is the Meenakshi Amman Temple and the city is literally built around the temple. Another historical monument is the Tirumalai Nayak Palace. The temple city of Madurai, India is a short overview of three cultural places to visit and historical information about the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

History

Madurai is situated at the banks of the Vaigai river. The city is founded in the 6th century BC and one of the oldest cities in India. The city already had trading contacts with Greece in the 3rd century BC. Like Varanasi, Madurai was a leading centre for centuries for the study of Hindu culture. The city is named after the drop of nectar (mathuram) dripping from the hair of Shiva. The drop of nectar fell on the earth on the same spot of present Madurai.  

Until the 10th century Madurai was the capital city of the Kingdom of the Pandya’s. After that the Chola’s ruled for six centuries until the sultans of Delhi and the Nayaks ruled Madurai from 1559 until 1781. After the fall of the Nayaks and until the Indepence, the British ruled the city.

Today

The city of Madurai is a prominent temple city and place of pilgrimage. It is lively city in south-India with a typical Indian character. You can find many small markets and shops. They have a market where they only sell bananas (I forget the name of the market). In the middle of the busy streets you see women selling vegetables and exotic fruits.

Meenakshi Amman Temple

The most important site in Madurai is the incredible Meenakshi Amman Temple. The temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya but the current design dates back to 1560. King Vishvanatha of the Nayak Dynasty started the construction but most of the temple was constructed by King Tirumalai Nayak from 1623 – 1655. Today, the temple is a major pilgrimage destinations within the Shaivism tradition. They are dedicated to Meenakshi Devi and Shiva. Meenakshi is the daughter of a Pandya King who married Shiva in his appearance as Sundareshwara. Meenakshi is therefore considered an incarnation of Parvati, the companion of Shiva.

The temple also includes many narratives, rituals and sculptures of Vishnu. He is considered to be Meenakshi’s brother. The Meenakshi temple shows other narratives of Lakshmi, the flute playing Krishna, Brahma, Saraswat and artwork showing narratives from major Hindu texts.

The Meenakshi Temple is the most prominent landmark in Madurai. The ancient temple used to have an open plan but is now surrounded by walls to protect against invaders and plunderers in the early days. The temple attracts over a million pilgrims and visitors during the annual Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival. The 10-day festival is held during the Tamil month of Chittirai, or April/May following the Gregorian calendar.

The temple complex is around 6 ha and it has four entrances. Every entrance is marked by a gopuram, a tower. The colourful and detailed gopurams are an architectural wonder. The sculpted images are from gods, goddesses and other mythological creatures. There are so many sculptures on the gopurams you can see it every day and see something different every time. In the centre of the complex is a lotus pond where Hindus can take a bath in the holy water.

Thirumala Nayakkar Mahal

The Thirumalai Nayak Palace is built in 1636 by King Tirumala Nayaka from the Nayaka dynasty. The architecture of the palace is a mixture of Italian and Rajput styles. The original palace was four times larger as it is today. The structure today is only a part of what’s left of it. When entering the palace you walk straight into the courtyard which is surrounded by large circular pillars. After visiting the Meenakshi Temple the palace can be a bit disappointing but if you have some time left over it’s nice to walk around in Madurai and visit the palace. Hire a guide and listen to the forgotten stories of the palace.

Gandhi Memorial Museum

The Gandhi Memorial Museum is founded in 1959 and is one of five Gandhi Museums in India. The museum displays original items used by Gandhi as well as photos from his childhood, paintings, sculptures, manuscript and copies of letters he wrote. They also show the bloodstained dhoti which Mahatma wore on the day he died.

In the world’s jungle Travel blog

Read other India-related articles such as most interesting cities to visit in Rajasthan or the best beaches in west India. Do you need inspiration about other places to visit in India? Explore the historical city and ruins in Hampi, admire the colonial architecture in Kochi, visit the capital city of India, Delhi, or go east and travel to the UNESCO- village of Mahabalipuram. Not in the mood to read much? Go for a virtual picture tour of India.

Are you planning to go to India for the first time? Read the Beginners Travel Guide India and start your travel research. The Beginners Guide to Indian Culture and Hinduism is a good read when you like to know more about the Indian culture.