Madurai City Description

Madurai, situated in southern Tamil Nadu, on the banks of Vaigai river, is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is more than 2,500 years old and is an important cultural and commercial center. Madurai, once the seat of Tamil learning and still the place where Tamil language is spoken in its purest form, is an ancient city planned in the shape of a lotus. Modern Madurai is a burgeoning industrial center, even through the vast stretches of lush paddy fields, dusty roads and crowded bazaars make it seem almost like an overgrown village. Neon signs above shops selling designerwear clothes with international labels light up the spires of the nearby century-old temples. Youngsters driving Japanese-model motor-cycles overtake women carrying baskets of bananas on their heads. Modernity has reached the city, but not at the cost of its rich tradition and culture.

Mdurai is an ancient city, with its history dating back to 2,600 years. This lotus shaped city s around the Meenakshi temple and was constructed by the Pandyan King Kulasekhara on the banks of the river Vaigai.

Madurai had trade contacts with the Greeks and the Romans. Foreign travellers like Megasthenes, Pliny (77 AD) Ptolemy (140 AD) have left a graphic account of the rule of the Pandyan Kings.

Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarer Temple is the pivot around which the city has evolved. The temple complex consists of two shrines-one dedicated to Shiva or Sundaresawarar and the other to his consort Meenakshi. There are fine gopurams or gateways to the temple of which the southern gateway is the tallest standing at 48.8 m. A most fascinating part of this temple is the thousand pillared mandapam (halls) lined with sculptures. Within this hall is a museum of temple art with icons, Photographs, and paintings on display . It has also been the center of Tamil culture, sponsoring literature, are music and dance over the centuries.

By Air Madurai is connected by regular daily flights from Bombay, Madras, Cochin and other important cities in South India. Madurai Airport is 11 km from the city center.

By Rail There are four trains linking Madurai to Chennai daily.