Where is Madurai?
Madurai is situated on the banks of river Vagai in the state of Tamil Nadu
in Southern India. It is the second largest city of the state.
What is the city famous for?
The city of Madurai is famous for the magnificent Meenakshi Temple,
dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Meenakshi. Myriad of devotees and
visitors pour into the city to pay homage and to seek blessings from the
lord. The city is also well known for producing some of the finest textiles
in the country.
How will you gain access?
The Madurai Airport (10 km from the city) connects the city to Chennai and
Tiruchirappalli. There is a flight from Madurai to Chennai every day. The
Indian Airlines connect the city with Chennai, Calicut and Mumbai. Madurai
is connected by rail-route to all the key tourist destinations in Tmil Nadu.
The city has a total of five bus stands and is linked with Chennai (472 km),
Trichy (142 km), Rameshwaram(139 km), Kanyakumari (132 km), Palani (122 km),
Kodaikanal (120 km), Tirunelveli (151 km), Thanjavur (223 km), Bangalore
(446 km) , Mumbai (1454 km) etc.
What does the climate say?
Madurai
experiences a warm climate. The minimum temperature during the winters
records only 20 degrees centigrade. The city receives frequent rainfall,
spreading throughout the year.
What magnetises people?
» Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi Temple is the chief attraction of the city of Madurai. It
stands in dedication to Lord Shiva and Goddess Minakshi. The 1000-pillar
Mandapam is the centre of attraction inside the temple complex. The temple
is also a chief centre of Tamil dance, music and art.
» Tirumalai Nayak Palace
The Tirumalai Nayak Palace was built in 1523 AD. The palace is a living
example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The garden and the
surrounding wall could not withstand the test of time. Though the entrance
gate, the dancing hall and the main hall exist even today. The enchanting
Light and Sound show is the main attraction of the palace.
» Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
Another prime attraction in Madurai is the exquisite Vandiyur Mariamman
Teppakulam. Lord Vigneshwara is the presiding deity of the temple. The
annual festival, celebrated in the months of January/ February attracts a
huge number of devotees and visitors.
» Koodal Alagar Temple
The Koodal Alagar Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here, the lord can be
seen in different postures of sitting, standing and reclining. The intricate
wood carvings in the temple can enchant anyone.
Which are the nearby hotels?
Taj Garden Retreat (15 km from the Airport) is a perfect blend of old-world
charm and modern design sense. The hotel provides with facilities like
banquet/conference hall, multi-cuisine restaurant, swimming pool, tennis
court etc, with a bird's eye view of the city and the Mennakshi Temple.
Hotel Madurai Ashok (14 km from Airport) and Hotel Madura Park Inn (2.5 km
from Meenakshi Temple) are the popular 3-star hotels in the city.
Where should you shop?
The city of Madurai is popular all around as a chief textile centre. The
streets and the lanes of the city are paved with numerous shops selling
fabric materials. The exquisite Sungundi Sarees are liked greatly by the
Indian women. The brass lamps of the city are also a favourite buy of the
visitors. The chief shopping areas of the city are Chithirai, Avanimoola,
Puthumandapam and Thevangu Chetty Choultry.
