Tamil Nadu · South
Madurai
A city grown around the vast Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
- Principal temple
- Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple (Meenakshi Amman Temple)Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and her consort Sundareswarar (a form of Shiva)
- Best time to visit
- December to February (most pleasant; the city can be visited year-round)
- Nearest airport
- Madurai International Airport (IXM), ~12 km from the city
- Nearest railway station
- Madurai Junction railway station (MDU)
- Tradition
- Śaiva · Śākta
Overview
Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of Tamil Nadu, with a recorded history reaching back to the 3rd century BCE and rule by the Pandyas, Cholas and Madurai Nayaks among others. The city grew around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in India, which remains the centre of its religious and cultural life.
See sources [1–4]- Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and her consort Sundareswarar (a form of Shiva)
