Madurai
City Information
Madurai, originally known
as Madhurapuri got its name from the
falling of divine nectar from Lord Shiva's
rocks. This ancient city has been a
centre of learning and pilgrimage for
centuries. Madurai is belieed that this
is more than 2500 years old ancient
city, situated on the banks of the river
Vaigai Madurai is believed to have been
built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara.
Madurai was the capital of the Pandyan
Kings. The Chola emperors captured the
city in the 10th century A.D. The Pandyas
regained their rule in the 12th century
only to lose it to the Muslim invaders
under Malik Kafur. The Vijaynagar kings
of Hampi defated Malik Kafur. After
the fall of Vijaynagar, in 1565, the
Nayaks ruled Madurai till 1781 A.D.
Major portion of the Meenakshi temple
was constructed during the Nayak regime.
During the rule of the Nayaks Madurai
became the cultural centre of the Tamil
people. In 1781, Maduri passed on to
the East India Company. The company
demolished the fort surrounding the
city and filled in the moat. Four streets,
the Veli streets, which were constructed
on top of the fill, till today, define
the limits of the old city. The 200
year old reign of the Natakas marked
the golden era when art, architecture
and learning scaled new heights.
Main
Sightseeing of Madurai
Meenakshi Temple : This
temple is the city's main attraction.
This temple is nearly 2000 years old
placed in the heart of the old town
- a splendid example of Dravidian
architecture. A striking feature of
the temple is the astonishing structure
know as “Ayiramkaal Mandapam”
or the Hall of Thousand Pillars and
each pillar features high, ornate,
bold sculptures that look life like.
The present temple was designed in
1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently
built during the reign of Tirumalai
Nayak. There are four entrances to
the temple with an area of six hectares.
Each of its 12 towers has the height
of 45 to 50 meters. The Potrama Raikulam
or the Golden Lotus Tank is the place
where the Tamil literacy society,
called Sangam used to meet to decide
the merits of the work presented to
them. The temple museum has 985 richly
carved pillars and each one surpasses
the other in beauty. Visiting
Timings : The temple is usually open
between 0500hrs and 1230hrs and again
between 1600 hrs and 21.30 hrs.
Tirumalai Nayak Mahal
: This Indo-Saracenic building was
built in 1636 by the ruler whose name
it bears. The imposing edifice is
famous for the “Stuccowork”
on its domes and impressive arches.
The Sorgavilasam (Celestial Pavilion),
measuring 75m x 52m, constructed entirely
of brick and mortar without the support
of a single rafter or girder, is a
marvel of indo-Saracenic architectural
style. Among other striking features
of the palace are the massive white
pillars, several of which line the
corridor that runs along the courtyard.
Connected by high decorated arches,
these pillars measure 20m in height
and have a circumference of 4m. Elsewhere,
there are polished black stone pillars
of varying heights. It was King Thirumalai
Nayak’s grandson who demolished
much of the fine structure and removed
most of the jewels and woodcarvings
in order to build his own palace in
Tiruchirapalli. (His dream never came
true). There’s daily sound
and light show in English at 1845
hrs and in Tamil at 2015 hrs. This
half an hour show extols the virtues
of King Thirumalai, particularly his
passion for arts, his victories in
battle and his love for his subjects.
Visiting Timings : The Palace
is open for visitors between 0900hrs
and 1300 hrs and again between 1400
hrs and 1700 hrs.
Gandhi Museum : The
300-year-old palace now converted
into Museum has a picture gallery,
a library of personal memorable of
the Mahatma Gandhi and an exhibit
of South Indian handicrafts and village
industries. Timings: 1000hrs to
1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1730 hrs.
(Open all days)
Vaniyur Mariamman Teppakulam
: This enormous temple tank
is fed by water from the Vaigai river.
Mariamman Teppakulam is a beautiful
square tank spread over a huge area
of almost 16 acres, located about
5Kms East of Meenakshi Temple. The
tank is the scene of the colourful
float festival held in January/February
to celebrate the birth anniversary
of King Thirumalai Nayak, who built
this tank. The deities of Meenakshi
and Sundareswarar are placed in a
float, called “Teppam”,
decorated with flowers and illuminated
with hundred of lights. This float
is taken around the tank to the sound
of traditional music. On the Northern
side of the tank a temple is dedicated
to Mariamman , a famous village deity
of Tamil Nadu.
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Excursions
from Madurai
Thirumohur : It is
just 10 km away from Madurai. It has
its legendry origin in the distant mythological
past when Devas and Asuras churned the
ocean to get Amritham (nectar), a sip
of which ensure immortality . When the
pot of nectar emerged Lord Vishnu, in
the form of beautiful Mohini , took
it away and while the Asuras mesmerized
by her beauty, Vishnu distributed the
nectar among the Devas.
Azhgar Koil : Situated
at a distance of 21 kms away from Madurai,
it has a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
. On the festive day, the image of Azhgar
is taken in a procession to the river
Vaiga to participate in the marriage
of Meenakshi and Sundareswara.
Kodaikanal : Approximate
120 kms from Madurai this beautiful
place is situated at an altitude of
over 700 feet on the Palani hills of
the western ghats, Ko- daikanal is a
beautiful and unspoilt hill station
of Tamil Nadu. Kodai has more sunshine
than any other Indian hill station .
STAR SHAPED 24 hectare lake is set amidst
the sylvan serenity of wooded slopes.
The BYRANT park lies near the lake and
has 325 species of trees and shrubs.
Green Valley view offers some unforgettable
spectacles of the hill resort and a
beautiful view of the Vaigai Dam. PILLAR
ROCKS is a panoramic spot with vertical
rock boulders towering over 121 meters.
The SHENBAGANUR museum has an splendid
collection of Orchids. One of the world's
oldest solar observatories built in
1899 is situated in Kodai.
Courtallam (160 km) : Courtallam
is situated at an elevation of about
16.7 meters on western ghats. Some of
the most important falls in Courtallam
are Peraruvi ( main fall), Chitraruvi
( small fall), Shenbaga Devi falls,
Thenaryvi ( Honey falls), Aintharuvi
( five falls), Puli Aruvi ( Tiger fall)
Pazhaya Courtallam (old fall), Puthu
Aruvi( new falls) and the Pazhathotta
Aruvi ( fruit garden fall) .These water
falls are said to have medicinal properties
as they run through a herbs forest .
A bath in them has a soothing tonic
effect on the entire physical system
. The main fall is formed by a sharp
three stage drop of about 91 meters
high and is flood - lit for bathing
at night. .
How
to reach Madurai ?
By Air : Madurai airport
is about 11 km form the city centre
and have regular domestic flights connecting
Chennai and Mumbai.
By Trains : Madurai
is one of the major railway junctions
of South India. Regular trains connect
Madurai to Coimbatore, Chennai, Rameswaram,
Kanyakumari and other towns of South
India.
By Road : At the cross
roads of NH 7 & NH 45, Madurai is
very well connected by a network of
roads and road transport to all major
centres of Tamil Nadu and other centres
in its surroundings and neighboring
states. Some major road distances are
Trichy (130 km), Dindigul (70 km), Coimbatore
(227 km), Chennai (484 km), Bangalore
(447 km), Thanjavur (160 km), Kanyakumari
(240 km).
