»
Meenakshi
Temple
The
Meenakshi
temple,
as
we
know
it
today,
covers
a
vast
area
and
is
an
eclectic
mix
of
architectural
styles,
improved
upon
by
different
dynasties
such
as
the
Vijayanagara
and
Nayaka
rulers.
The
temple
is
dedicated
to
Meenakshi,
the
consort
of
Lord
Shiva.
The
original
temple
was
built
by
Kulasekara
Pandya,
but
the
entire
credit
for
making
the
temple
as
splendid
as
it
is
today
goes
to
Tirumalai
Nayak
who
brought
back
glory
to
this
magnificent
structure.
Located
at
the
heart
of
the
city,
the
Meenakshi-Sundareshwar
temple
has
long
been
the
focus
of
both
Indian
and
international
tourist
attraction
as
well
as
one
of
the
most
important
places
of
Hindu
pilgrimage.
People
of
the
city
wake
up
to
the
chant
of
hymns
at
the
temple,
which
is
the
very
center
of
their
cultural
and
religious
life.
»
Vandiyur
Mariamman
Teppakulam
This
is
a
huge
temple
tank
about
5
km
east
of
the
Meenakshi
temple.
The
mandapam
in
the
center
has
an
idol
of
Vigneshwara
(Vinayaka).
Discovered
during
excavation
to
build
the
Thirumalai
Nayakkar
Mahal,
the
place
was
believed
to
be
sanctified
and
was
converted
into
a
teppakulam
(tank).
This
enormous
temple
tank
is
fed
by
water
brought
from
the
Vagai
through
an
ingenious
system
of
underground
channels.
It
is
the
site
of
the
temple's
float
festival.
»
Thirumalai
Nayak
Mahal
There
is
no
other
building
in
Madurai,
which
better
illustrates
the
architectural
style
of
the
Nayaks.
The
palace
of
Tirumalai
Nayak
is
about
1
km
away
from
the
temple.
This
Indo-Saracenic
building
was
constructed
in
1523
and
was
originally
four
times
as
large
as
it
is
today.
This
palace
consisted
mainly
of
two
parts,
namely
Swargavilasa
and
Rangavilasa
which
house
the
royal
residence,
theatre,
shrine,
apartments,
armoury,
palanquin
place,
royal
bandstand,
quarters,
pond
and
gardens.
The
most
remarkable
part
of
this
palace
is
the
dome
of
Swarga
Vilasam,
which
lies
beyond
a
huge
courtyard
and
is
a
magnificent
example
of
the
engineering
skill
of
its
builders,
rising
as
it
does
to
a
height
of
20m
without
support
of
any
kind.
»
Koodal
Azhagar
Temple
This
ancient
shrine
has
Vishnu
in
sitting,
standing
and
reclining
postures
one
above
the
other.
»
The
Gandhi
Museum
The
Gandhi
Memorial
Museum
is
one
of
the
distinct
places
to
be
visited
in
Madurai.
This
museum
is
one
of
the
rare
living
memorials
of
"The
Father
of
India"
and
has
an
elaborate
historical
account
of
India's
struggle
for
independence.
»
Annamalai
and
Nagamalai
Annamalai
and
Nagamalai
are
two
striking
rock
formations,
and
home
to
ascetics
of
the
Jain
and
Hindu
faiths.
There
are
inaccessible
caves
with
Tamil
Brahmi
inscriptions
on
rock
beds,
which
are
chiselled
out
as
quarters
for
the
sages.
The
sages,
reclusive
philosophers
and
savants,
were
responsible
for
the
development
of
the
Tamil
Language,
Madurai,
the
cradle
of
Tamil
Literature,
attained
further
eminence
on
hosting
the
Tamil
Sangam-an
epochal
events
in
the
history
of
the
language.
»
Manalur
The
chance
discovery
of
13th
century
icons
of
Bikshadanar
and
Krishna
in
child
form,
a
sacred
conch,
a
lamp
and
other
vessels
at
Manalur,
about
20
km
from
Madurai,
has
thrown
fresh
light
on
the
history
of
this
place.
For
most
people
living
in
Madurai,
Manalur
is
known
as
just
a
sleepy
suburb
of
the
temple
city,
situated
on
the
banks
of
river
Vaigai,
known
for
its
brick
kilns
and
as
a
main
quarry
for
sand.
But
very
few
know
that
the
place
once
served
as
the
capital
of
the
Pandya
kings.
Places
with
names
like
Iravathanallur,
named
after
Lord
Indri’s
elephant
Airavata,
Virahanur,
Konthagai
(Kunthinagaram)
etc.,
near
Manalur
suggest
links
to
the
episodes
mentioned
in
Mahabharata.
The
place
was
also
famous
during
the
rule
of
later
Pandyas.
A
detailed
excavation
at
Manalur
may
help
unravel
many
mysteries
connected
with
Pandya
kings.
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