Best Places to Visit in Madurai – Temples, Culture & History

1.Meenakshi Temple

Lending its spiritual touch to the souls of devotees is a temple, Meenakshi Temple, which is the oldest temple of the city of Madurai. Built over 2500years ago and believed to be as old as the Twin city it beautifies , lies on the southern bank of River Vaigai Meenakshi is an avatar of Goddess Parvati the consort of Lord Shiva. It is also referred to as Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and the place where Lord Shiva (Sundareswarar) married Goddess Parvati(Meenakshi). Adorning Dravidian style of architecture, it has even found its place among the list of ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. The other thing that you should not fail to witness during your spiritual journey in Madurai is the procession that involved the priest of the temple. In the ritual, a picture of Sundareswarar is taken in a chariot and is taken to worship the Meenakshi temple. Then there are some poojas that are performed when the golden feet of Krishna are taken out of the temple of his consort. Thus the wheel of the Lord’s chariot is fanned at every stage.

Stories Associated with the Temple

If we go by the tradition then we would come across the fact that the city as well as Meenakshi temple was built at the same time. In addition to this, they said that after vanquishing a demon, lord Indra also did a penance and did not get absolution and later on descended to the earth. The weighing remorse seems to have lifted as soon as he came across the Kadamba trees in the land away from the Pandayas. Some time after that he realized that it was due to the shivalingam located underneath a kadamba tree that has the power to satisfy the Lord’s heart. And to show respect to the lord of the heaven he constructed a building called Indra Vimana around the Shiva Linga which is worshipped presently in Madurai.

Opening/Closing/Arti time

• 5:00 AM to 12.30 PM; 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Best Time to Visit

• Any devotee would love to visit the temple in the month of April to witness the celebration of Chithirai festival.However the best time to visit Madurai in general is between the months of December and February.

2.Pazhamudhir Solai

Tenated in the Alagar Hills, 20 km away from the provincial capital of Madurai lies one of the most revered temples of South India – the Pazhamudhir Solai Temple. It is one of the six Arupadai Veedu, the sacred places of Lord Murugan and hence attracts pilgrims in Tamil Nadu.

🏛enda Temple 🌳

Unlike any heavily decorated and complex temples, Pazhamudhir Solai is more unpretentious and surrounded by lush nature. Surrounded by thick forest and vegetations, the temple gives out an aura of serenity and holiness, making it a favourite among visitors. The atmosphere of the place is calm and serene which provides a way of relating to matter in a spiritual way.

In this temple, Lord Murugan is gracefully joined with his consorts Valli and Deivayanai. Especially for learning blessings, as well as to find a companion, is important in this Khmer temple.

💧 A Dip in Nubragangai

It is important to mention that the location of the temple is not very far from yet another source of water called Nubragangai which is a natural spring. Pilgrims going into the temple for worship they wash themselves here because this water is said to have purification effects. Having the water source as a natural spring which is located off the hills fosters a spiritual feel of the entire pilgrimage.

📌 Quick Facts:

• Location: The Alagar Hills lie 20 km off Madurai having the Alagar temple situated there.

• Deity: Lord Murugan – the Hindu Deity, god of war and the deity of Tamil people; Valli: Deivayanai

• Significance: One among the six abodes of Lord Murugan, the Aim is located in the Kanjamalai hills, in Sivagangai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

• Best Time to Visit: It is usually done during early mornings or during other festive occasions such as Skanda Sashti and Thaipoosam.

🌟 Why Visit?

For those interested in Lord Murugan and devotees who wish to go for a simple religious vacation, Pazhamudhir Solai is arguably the best place for those who would wish to spend their holidays. Due to the significance of devotion, natural beauty, and mythological values local and foreign tourists should rarely forget the visit to this temple during a tour of Tamil Nadu state.

3.Aayiram Kaal Mandapam

Aayiram Kaal Mandapam or the Thousand Pillar Hall is an architectural marvel of the temple being situated within the spiritual temple premise of Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.

A BIG bureaus, more than a marvel of South India.

Contrary to its name, the hall has 985 pillars all of which are intricately carved from a single rock and are all different from each other in terms of design and workmanship. The stone work chiselling is not only aesthetic, but speaks volumes of the quality of workmanship of the Nayak dynasty sculptors of the 16th century.

The engineering of the hall is so well done that the rows of pillars seem to be parallel regardless of one’s position — a classic piece of architecture.

🖼️ The Temple Art Museum

The art gallery of the temple is known as the Temple Art Museum located beneath the Mandapam and is managed by the ASI. It makes the people shed light on thousand years of history of Meenakshi Temple which displays sculptures, paintings, musical instruments, and other religious artifacts that enriches one to explore the cultural aspect of Tamil Nadu.

📌 Quick Facts:

• Location: Inside Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

• Pillars: 985 intricately carved pillars

• Museum: : Temple Art Museum, which is being professionally managed by ASI is yet another museum in Tamil Nadu.

• Highlights: While there are many intriguing items, monuments, and installations that attract tourist’s interests, only a few are uniquely fascinating as much as monolithic carvings, stone music pillars, and any other relics in history.

🌟 Why Visit?

This is not only a beauty of sculpture but can also be silenced place to seek spiritual and cultural touch. It is a famous landmark in the city’s city and is especially important for history lovers, artists, and architects. The very places where you are allowed to step now contain the dust of the past – devotion, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

4.Koodal Azhagar Temple

Right in the heart of the city of Madurai stands a divine edifice steeped in religious belief and architectural brilliance – Koodal Azhagar Koil, a temple of Lord Vishnu incarnation Koodal Azhagar. This temple is one of the most sacred Vaishnavite temples and epitome of Dravidian style, which enjoys popularity all over India.

It can be seen that this temple is steeped in history and appears to have significant importance of its own.

Often given a probable date of the eleventh century A.D the temple has received additions from the Vijayanagar Empire and the Madurai Nayaks who donated carvings, the gopura and other picture gallery art work.

This temple mentioned as the one of the divya desam in the divya prabandha of the Alwars, the Tirumalis idol (the Lord Vishnu) of the temple is worshiped as the Nigama Nayakiya appa raju.

🌟 Architectural Highlights

Dravidian Architecture: The temple has magnificent and magnificently carved towering towers known as gopurams, the main hall called mandapa, and exquisite ceiling murals.

Three-Tiered Idol: The uniqueness of the temple art is that the temple has depictions of the Lord Vishnu in three forms – standing, seated and reclining which is very rare in terms of architectural and religious perspective.

Vimana (Sanctum Tower): The Temple tower over the sanctum, known as Ashtanga Vimanam is well designed and is carved as per the Agama Shastra.

🙏 Divine Experience

The pilgrims that go to worship in Koodal Azhagar look to worship Vishnu as the god of protection deluxe as well as the preserver. Sankrantri, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Brahmotsavam and Chitra Pournami are occasions when the temple comes alive with the procession troupes and other rituals being performed.

📍 Quick Info

Location: City center, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Significance: One of the 108 Divyadesams

✨ Why Visit?

If you are a ‘lover’ of history, an ‘enthusiast’ of South Indian temple architecture or an ‘aspirant’ of spirituality, Koodal Azhagar Temple is sure to give a call for a soul stirring experience. Being spiritually connected classical city and with rich architectural outlook one cannot afford to miss it while in Madurai.

5.Gandhi Museum Madurai

Gandhi Museum is among the most interesting and appealing museums in Tamil Nadu because of its rare display of fascinating collection. This is housed in the old age structure of Tamukkam Palace imposed to All India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi by the state government in the year 1955. Due to which, the place has been turned into a memorial gallery to pay a homage to the ‘Father of the Nation’ and needless to say became one of the leading tourist destinations of Tamil Nadu. It is perhaps one of the best places for students and children in particular who have a passion towards the History of Indian Freedom Movement. There are three gallery to visit at the museum, including India Fights for Freedom, the Visual Biography of Mahatma Gandhi, and the Relics & Replicas. This daunting memorial house has a sequence of the galleries from where one first gets to view when entering the durbar hall and is the first ever gallery in the house and accordingly is known as India Fights for Freedom. It contains 265 illustrations and this has been made in 30 panels that depicts the history of freedom struggle of the country. When you continue your journey in the museum, the most fascinating thing that you will find there is the piece of cloth that was stained with the blood of Gandhiji when he was killed. Other preservations at Gandhi Museum are the letter to Narayanan Satsangi of Devakottai and Adoalf Hitler, photo gallery of his tours and travel, painting, sculptures, quotes, information about Khadi and Village Industries which was revived by him. It offers an appealing outlook to Gandhian style of living and therefore becomes one of the main attractions for Tourist interested in knowing more about Gandhiji in Madurai. To accommodate the number of people, there is a theatre within the complex which has the capability to host one hundred persons where various films regarding Gandhiji, an environmentalist, freedom fighters, and a topic on disarmament are played to enable one to have a better view of the mentioned subjects. For sightseeing tours, they even have the largest library in the temple town of Gandhian studies in the entire southern region of India. Of all the documents in this library; periodicals books and documents written by Gandhiji for instance, are of great consumption. At the same time, there are many ordinary items that belonged to him and which was used in his daily life which are out there for display.

Timings

• Monday to Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM

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