Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi
Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is the historic Hindu temple
which is located in the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. This temple is among the
most famous temples of India which is known throughout the world for its
outstanding and impressive architectural beauty. In the Hindu religion temple
is the place which is reserved for spiritual and religious activities that include
prayers and analogous rites.Sri Meenakshi Amman temple of Madurai is dedicated
to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati). Goddess Meenakshi is
another form of the Goddess Parvati who is worshiped mainly by South Indians.
The utmost architectural wonder of Meenakshi Amman temple is a testimony to the
affluent Dravidian Culture. Some of the prominent features of this colossal
temple are Temple Architecture, Ashta Shakthi Mandapam, Meenakshi Nayakkar
Mandapam, and Porthamarai Kulam Golden Lotus Tank.
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai
Nayak Palace is a 17th century palace was built by King Thirumalai Nayak, one
of the Madurai Nayak rulers in 1636 AD in the city of Madurai, India. This
Palace was built with the help of an Italian Architect and is a classic fusion
of Dravidian, Islamic and European styles.Tirumalai Nayak's Palace at Madurai
was considered to be one of the wonders of the South. Thirumalai Palace was
declared as a national monument and is now under the protection of the Tamil
Nadu Archaeological Department. The time for the visit to the palace is from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. on the payment of the entrance fee. The palace is well equipped
to perform Light & Sound shows depicting the story of Silapathigaram both in
Tamil and English languages. The Palace is located in the eastern side of the
city, around 1.2 km South East of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in the city of
Madurai. Madurai being a popular tourist center is well connected by railways
and has daily flights to Mumbai and Chennai.
Gandhi Museum
Rani
Mangamma's palace has been renewed and converted to Gandhi museum. The museum
displays information about Mahatma Gandhi, and most importantly it showcases
the original blood-stained garment of Gandhi when he was assassinated by
Nathuram Godse. The other piece of the garment is kept at the Gandhi Museum in
Delhi. This museum is one of the 5 museums in India (others in Mumbai,
Barrackpore, Sabarmati and Patna) known as Gandhi Sanghralayas. No entry fee
for museum visitors. Gandhi Memorial Museum at Madurai has been built and
organized by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. It is accepted as a building probably
constructed by the Nayak Queen Rani Mangammal, as evidenced by a letter written
to her in 1700AD. It was in the year that the palace with about 13 acres of
land was gifted by the Tamilnadu state Government, to the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi
for the purpose of housing Gandhi Memorial Museum.
Thirupparamkundram
Thiruparankundram
is one of the abodes of Lord Subramanya. It is situated 8 kms south of Madurai.
The six abodes of the deity are known as `Arupadai Veedu`. This is a cave
temple. This temple is known from the Sangam times. One of the Sangam poets
Nakkiran has sung a long poem about this temple called Thirumurugatrupadai.
Thiruparankundram temple has become a symbol of the religious harmony as of the
people of Madurai. The important characteristic of this temple of
Thiruparankundram is that Siva is holding the flag of Rishaba in his hand while
dancing. It is a rare sculpture and cannot be found elsewhere. There is another
group of sculptures separated by wall. These are with Nandi standing in
bull-head and human-body form beside some sages. Another interesting fact about
the Thiruparankundram temple is the presence of subsidiary cave shrines
excavated in the rock, with idols arranged so orderly like a military session.
These small cave shrines can be approached through narrow dark passages. It is
quite difficult to find similar group of cave shrines elsewhere.
Azhagar Kovil
Alagar
Koil is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated at a distance of 21
km from Madurai, on foot of Alagar hills. It is a temple that has the residing
deity as Vishnu. The Lord here is known by the name Azhagar. He is the brother
of Goddess Meenakshi and when the wedding of the Lord and Goddess takes place
in the month of Chithrai, amongst the natural beauty of the woods. The
Vaishnavite temple is famous for its beautiful sculptures and exquisite 'Mandapam'.
It is believed that pilgrims visited Azhgar Koil even in the early days of the
Sangam age. There is another shrine nearby, dedicated to Karuppannaswamy, the
God of Kallars. There are finely carved eighteen steps, which are an object of
both worship and amazement by the devotees. It is claimed that nobody dares to
tell a lie at this spot. The place is also known for its holy springs called
Silamboru and Noopura Gangai. According to local tradition, these springs
originated from the anklets of Maha Vishnu during His incarnation as
Trivikrama.
Pazhamudhircholai
Pazhamudhircholai
is a Hindu temple located 10 miles north of Madurai, a top a hill covered with
dense forests. One of the six important abodes Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga,
it is very close to the Vishnu temple of Azhagar Koil. There is a bus shuttle
for every 20 minutes from the foot of the hill to the Temple. It takes
approximately 15 minutes to reach the temple. This Pazhamudhircholai Lord
Murugan is praised in old Tamil literature such as Silapathigaram, Ettuthokai,
and Pattupattu etc. Pazhamudhircholai is rich in fruits, vegetables and
flowers. It is a dense forest where Valli is supposed to have lived. It is a
small temple with Valli, Deivayanai, and Lord Muruga in a separate shrine. Lord
Ganesha is also present in a separate shrine. There is a Temple Tower and
monkeys play around the area. There is another small temple above
Pazhamudhircholai. Local tribes lead their lives here. It is a fertile hill
with many natural springs and herbs.
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
Vandiyur
Mariamman Teppakulam is situated at Madurai that is about 5 kms from the
Meenakshi Amman Temple. There is a huge tank and in the middle is situated a
Vinayakar temple. There is a temple located with the tank. The water supply for
the tank is from the Vaigai River. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam in Madurai is
famous for float festival. One of the most picturesque is the Float Festival or
' Teppothsavam'. On that day, the idols of Goddess Meenakshi and her consort
Lord Sundareswarar are taken in grand procession to the big lake called
Teppakulam, and drawn round and round a shrine built in the middle of the small
island in the center of the lake, seated on a decorated float called Teppa.
Sri Narasingam Perumal Temple
This
rock-cut temple for Sri Narasinga Perumal is situated at the foot of Aanaimalai
hills in its Northern side, which is at a distance of about 12 km north of
Madurai. The main God and Goddess of this temple are Sri Narasinga Perumal and
Sri Narasingavalli Thayar. This temple is known for "Girivalam' meaning
circumnavigating the hills. The presiding deity Sri Narasinga Perumal seen in
seated posture and doing penance is the special feature of this temple.
Narasingam Patti is the birthplace of Poet Perungoushiganar known for his
literary work 'Aatru Padai' in "Paththuppattu". According to legends,
once Saint Romasanmar penanced near the holy pond Chakra theertam, wishing for
a child and darshan of Sri Perumal in Narasinga incarnation. Satisfied by the
penance, Lord Narasingar appeared before Romasanmar. Unable to withstand
Narasingar's flame of anger, Devas brought Pragaladhan. When Goddess Lakshmi
embraced Narasingar's bosom, his anger settled down and he blessed Romasanmar.
Later Sri Narasinga Perumal penanced here. A temple was formed at this site for
Yoga Narasingar.
Pandi Kovil
Pandi
kovil temple is dedicated to Lord Shri Pandi, one of the kaval deivams that is
guardian of Tamilnadu. People come and pray for their wellbeings and offer to
God, when their desires are fulfilled. Pandi kovil is most powerful temple in
Madurai which is located near Gomathipuram.
Thirumohur
Thirumohur Kalamegaperumal Temple
Thirumohur is a small town located at north east of Madurai
at a distance of 12 kilometers on the Madurai Melur road. The temple was
renovated and expanded by 1st Pandiya emperors to king Krishna devarayor and
Siva Ganga - Maruthu Pandi brothers. From the inscriptions available, it has
been reported that the temple was built around 7 century. The idols are
reported to be more than 5000 years old. It is a well known legend that Lord
Vishnu took the Mohini avatara. The Vishnu temple here is dedicated to
Kaalamegha Perumal. In the shrine of Chakrathalwar, the deity is installed on a
peetam with Bhijaakshara Mantra. Thirumohur is considered as holy as
Nannisaranyarn in the North. Thirumohur belongs to the Pancharatra agama and is
one of the 108 Divya Desams in the Vaishnavite tradition. Nammalwar and
Thirumangai Alwar have written in praise of this temple. Thirumohur, Madurai,
has its legendary origin in the distant past when devas and asuras churned the
ocean to ger amirtham.
Thiruvathavoor
Thiruvathavoor rests 35 km North East of Madurai in
Madurai District, Tamil Nadu. This is the birth place of one of the four great
saints of Shiva ‘Manikavasagar’. A beautiful temple built by him is located
here. Narasingam and Thirumohur are the nearby important places. A Siva Temple
located 25 km from Madurai and 5 km from Othakkadai. The presiding deity of
this temple is Siva and Parvathi. This is the birth place of Saivit Saint
Manikka Vasagar.
Koodal
Azhagar Temple
Koodal Azhagar Temple is ancient and acclaimed
Vaishnavite Temple is noted for its remarkable architectural and sculptural
magnificence. The lord here is in the sitting (Asana), standing (Sthanaka) and
reclining (Sayana) postures all enshrined in one vertical plane.
Kutladampatti
water falls
Water falls is located 36 km from Periyar bus stand on
the way to Kodaikanal. An amusement park lies in a hill called “Sirumalai” with
a natural beauty 7 km away from Kutladampatti near Vadipatti village. The
height of the falls is 87 feets. During holidays and festive days thousands of
domestic tourists take bath and enjoy the natural beauty. Near this falls a
500-years-old temple dedicated to Goddess Thadagai Nachiamman is there.
Rajaji
Park
A recreation children’s park owned and maintained by the
Corporation of Madurai, located near Corporation Office (Anna Maaligai).
Timings 10:00 am to 08:00 p.m. open all days. Entrance lee: Rs. 5 /- per head.
No tickets for children below 3 years.
Madapuram
kali koil
Madapuram kali is the Kaval deivams of Madurai Pandyan
king. This temple has no roof and it’s famous for goddess kali. Madapuram kali
koil is located in thirupuvanam on the eastern border of Madurai. Madapuram
kali is very famous here she stands with no roof and about 12 feet high. People
sought her blessings. Ammavasya days will be very crowded and al the people
offer 54 lemon mala and archani.
Nagamalai
Nagamalai is a suburb of Madurai situated about 10 km
west of Madurai City along the Madurai-Theni Highway.Samanar Hill which is
present opposite to Nagamalai is of historical importance. Samanars were said
to have stayed in the hill fearing persecution from the then rules of Madurai.
Many stone statues and other artifacts are present in Nagamalai. Nagamalai is
also known for its snake biodiversity, and a government proposal is in the
works for creating an eco-tourism snake park in the area. The Madurai Kamaraj
University is located in Nagamalai Archeological Department Says that there is
a cave and some Samanars are staying inside, they come out once in twelve
years. They will collect food and return to the caves.
Teppakulam Mariamman
Temple
The
Teppakulam Mariamman Temple is one of the most popular places of interest in
Madurai. It is actually a big temple tank, which is situated quite close to
another important tourist attraction of the city called the Meenakshi temple.
The distance between the Meenakshi Temple and the Mariamman Teppakulam is only
5 km. The Mariamman Teppakulam at Madurai is the biggest temple tank in the
state of Tamil Nadu. The idol of Vinayaka was discovered when earth was dug out
from this region, which is said to be dug out by Tirumalai Nayaka. Following
this incident, this place has been considered sacred by the people of the
state. Therefore, this place has been transformed into a Teppakulam or a tank.
St. Mary's Church
St.
Mary's Church in Madurai, Tamilnadu, India was first constructed in 1840. An
imposing building with two tall (42 meters) Bell towers, the church has been
elevated to the status of a Cathedral in 1969. St. Mary's Church is located on
East Veli Street in Madurai; St. Mary’s Cathedral is the seat of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai. It is one of the oldest Roman Catholic
churches in India, situated about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) south-east of
Madurai Railway Station. Its two elegant Roman style bell towers, about
42-meter-high (140 feet), are visible from a distance. The façade of the church
is an amalgamation of various forms of European and Continental styles. The new
church, the one we see today, was constructed during 1916.
Thanks to the tourists who helped provide information
தகவல்கள் தந்து உதவிய சுற்றுலா பயணிகளுக்கு நன்றி
Thirumohur Kalamegaperumal Temple 
