Holiday in Madurai

About Madurai

Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the cultural heart of South India. For over 2,500 years, the city has been a center of Tamil civilization, literature, and temple architecture. Madurai is affectionately referred to as Thoonga Nagaram — the city that never sleeps — as life around the great temple pulses around the clock. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is the undisputed masterpiece of Dravidian architecture and one of the most impressive Hindu temples in the world. The complex spans six hectares and features 14 Gopurams (gateway towers) rising up to 52 meters, adorned with thousands of colorful deities, demons, and mythological scenes. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (a manifestation of Parvati) and her husband Sundareswarar (Shiva). The Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace, built in 1636 by the Nayak king Thirumalai, combines Dravidian and Islamic architectural elements: The 15-meter-high columns of the audience hall (Swarga Vilasam) and the expansive courtyard testify to the grandeur of the Nayak dynasty. An evening light and sound show takes place. The Meenakshi Temple Festival (Chithirai Thiruvizha) in April/May is one of the largest temple festivals in India: Over a million pilgrims gather for the ritual wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. Processions with decorated elephants and temple chariots parade through the streets. The Gandhi Memorial Museum documents the history of the Indian independence movement with Gandhi's blood-stained Dhoti. Madurai was an important stop on Gandhi's travels through South India.