Megasthenes, the Greek Ambassador to the Court of the Mauryas, refers in 320 BC to the Pandyan princess who ruled over Madurai. Today, the beautiful Goddess Meenakshi, with her lovely fish-shaped eyes, together with her consort, the Lord Sundareswarar or Shiva, rules the present city of Madurai from her magnificent temple, in the heart of the town.

The huge temple complex at Madurai with its immense portals or gopurams is quite overwhelming. The tapering superstructure of the gate spills over with painted stucco figures of various incarnations of Gods, Goddesses and mythical animals which served in earlier times to instruct the populace about the legends of their mythology.

The old temple complex with its magnificent stone carvings was built in the 17th century by the Nayak kings of Madurai. The temple has a marvellous hall of a thousand elaborately carved pillars. A set of musical pillars, each carved out of a single block of granite into 22 slender rods, emit musical notes when tapped. Most of the walls and pillars of the temple are exquisitely decorated with carvings of the manifestations of Shiva or the Meenakshi Sundareswarar legend.

And in the Ashtashakti Mandapa facing the Meenakshi Shrine are beautiful carvings of the eight Goddesses of power. Not too far from the temple is another example of the architecture of the Nayaks, the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, built in the Indo-Saracenic style in 1636. Apart from the medieval atmosphere of the temple and its surroundings, Madurai is a busy modern city, engaged in commerce.

Festivals:

Madurai is a city of festivals. The most important festival is the month long 'Chithirai' from April to May, every year, when the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi with the Lord Sundareswarar is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Every January and February, the float festival is held at the large Mariamman Tank on the outskirts of Madurai. The images of Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar are floated on a raft, decorated with flowers and lights. This is a good time to visit the city.

CHITHIRAI FESTIVAL

Held in the famous Madurai Temple, this festival goes on for 10 days in the Tamil month of Chitrai. The highlight is the procession of Lord Kallazhagar (Lord Vishnu), from Azhagarmalai, to give away his sister Goddess Meenakshi, in marriage to Lord Sundareswar.

Shopping:
Hand-woven silks and cottons, bell metal lamps, bronze images, wood and stone carvings are available at the Government Emporia, Poompuhar.

Season:
October to March.

How to get there:
Madurai has an airport and is linked with Chennai, Bangalore and Cochin. It is a major junction on the Southern Railway line and is connected directly with Chennai, Rameshwaram, Tiruchirapalli, Bangalore and Tirupati. It is connected by road with major towns in the state.

Accommodations:

Hotel Madurai Ashok (ITDC), Hotel Tamilnadu (TTDC), Hotel Pandyan, economy class hotels are also available.