Introduction

Madurai, also known as the temple town of Tamil Nadu can be located on the banks of the Vaigai River. Built by the Pandyan king Kulasekhara, this city is historically very important and boasts of a rich cultural heritage. It is an important town and has great religious significance. Madurai is also famous commercially and is known all over the world for its fresh sweet scented jasmine flowers.

Climate of Madurai

Madurai experiences a dry and hot climate marks the climatic condition. The winters in Madurai in Tamil Nadu remain very pleasant and is the best tine to visit this city. October to December remains the rainy season and the average annual rainfall received in this city is about 86 cm.

Tourist attractions in Madurai

Large number of travelers and pilgrims from all over the country come to Madurai to visit the various temples and religious places in the city. Counted as one of the major pilgrimage and religious sites in India, Madurai is dotted with numerous temples and monuments, which are flocked by the tourists. It is through the religious sites that the cultural richness of the place is reflected. Some of the major tourist places, which are largely visited by the pilgrims and tourists alike, are the following:

• Meenakshi Temple
• Azhagar Koyil
• Gandhi Museum
• Thiruparankundram
• Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
• Kazimar Periya Pallivasal
• Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

Transportation in Madurai

You can reach Madurai very easily. To facilitate the travelers, this city is connected by almost all modes of transport. You can access the Madurai Airport, which facilitates the visitors coming from all parts of the country. The Madurai railway station has been recognized as one of the busiest railway stations in India. You can take the roadways as well to get to this religious city.

Hotels in Madurai

To accommodate the pilgrims and the tourists to this religious site, there are large numbers of hotels in Madurai. You can find hotels of various categories to meet the individual needs of the travelers. You will find hotels that match your requirements, taste and affordability. You can make your choice from the various hotels in Madurai like The Madurai Residency, Hotel Royal Court, Hotel Madurai Ashok (ITDC), Hotel Chentoor, Hotel Germanus, Hotel M. R. International, Hotel Hotel Pearls, T.M. Lodge, GRT Regency Madurai, Hotel President, Taj Garden Retreat, Hotel Park Plaza, Pandiyan Hotels, Hotel Sulochana Palace, Hotel Supreme, Hotel Annapoorna and Hotel Duke.

The Madurai temple complex in itself is breathtaking, given the fort like walls pierced with lofty towers, surrounding an area of about 640000 square feet. The Aadi, Chittirai and the Maasi, and Veli streets surround the temple.

The towers, or the gopurams for which this temple is known, are visible from a distance. No less than 12 gopurams or towers adorn this temple and the 4 outer ones tower to a height of over 160 feet.

There is a large tank – the Potraamaraikkulam within the temple complex. The thousand pillared hall within the temple complex is also of great importance; its pillars feature sculptural work beyond compare.

The panoramic spectacle of the temple immediately sinks in - upon entering the templeThe spectacular Potraamaraikkulam Temple tank, is surrounded corridors depicting murals of the Tiruvilayadal puranam.

Meenakshi’s shrine is located to the southwest of Sundareswarar’s shrine; the north east position being that of dominance, architecturally, the shrine to Sundareswarar shows this dominance. The Koodalazhagar temple is also located to the Southwest of the Sundareswarar temple, thus reflecting the importance of the Sundareswarar temple.

Both the Meenakshi shrine and the Sundareswarar shrine are huge temples in themselves– with their own sets of 2 prakarams mahamandapams and gold plated vimanams. Here is also seen the Mukkuruni Vinayakar shrine, with a collossal image of Ganesha.

The Sundareswarar temple alone has 5 gopurams – four 5 tiered ones on its outer walls and a single three tiered one adorning the entrance to the inner prakaram. This tower is said to be an ancient structure.Crowning the sanctum is the Indra Vimaanam. Also seen here are several images of the manifestations of Shiva, as seen in the Tiruvilayadal Puranam. Within the Sundareswarar temple complex is a shrine to Nataraja – the Rajata Sabha or the Velliambalam.

Meenakshi’s image is made of green stone. The eastern entrance to shrine houses a 13^th century gopuram. A 5 tiered gopuram adorns the Western entrance to the Amman temple complex. At every entrance along the axis of the shrine are shrines to Vinayakar and Subramanyar.

Surrounding the Shiva and Meenakshi temples is a huge prakaram with imposing 9 tiered gopurams, in each of the 4 cardinal directions. The tallest of these is the southern tower, rising to a height of 170 feet. There are thus a total of 12 gopurams, two gold plated vimaanams (crowning the sancta) and several mandapams with carved pillars within the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple complex.