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Chennai |
Mamallapuram
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Kanchipuram
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Tiruvanamalai
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Chidambaram
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Kumbakonam |
Thanjavor |
Tiruchinapalli
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Madurai |
Rameshwaram
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Kanyakumari
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Ooty |
Kodaikanal |
Coimbatore |
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Area : 22 sq.kms.
Altitude : 101 metres
Madurai is more than 2500 years old and was an important cultural
and commercial centre during 550 AD. The capital of the pandyas,
this ancient city is said to have been blessed by maduram ( nectar)
from lord siva’s locks. The cholas and the nayakas briefly ruled the
city whose promotion of art and architecture still reflect their
glorious era.
This is an animated city packed with pilgrims, beggars, business
people, bullock carts and underemployed rickshaw drivers. It’s one
of south india’s oldest cities, and has been a centre of learning
and pilgrimage for centuries.It’s main attraction is the famous Sri
Meenakshi temple in the heart of the old town, a riotously baroque
example of Dravidian architecture with gopurams covered from top to
botoom in a breathtaking profusion of multicoloured images of gods,
goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple seethes with
activity from dawn to dusk, its many shrines attracting piligrims
and tourists from all over the world.
Madurai’s main claim to fame is as a temple town, though it has
become a major industrial city. The greatest of the nayaka rulers,
thirumalai built the gopurams of the temple. After the carnatic wars
the british destroyed the fort in 1840, filling the surrounding
moat. The nayakas laid out the old town in the pattern of a lotus
with narrow streets surrounding the meenakshi temple at the centre.
The streets on the four sides of the central temple are named after
the festivals, which take place in them.
Places of attraction :-
Meenakshi Temple:
It was designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak built during the reign
of Tirumalai Nayak. But its history goes back 2000years to the time
when Madurai was a Pandyan capital. It has 12 towers the tallest of
which is the southern tower.Also within the temple complex housed in
the 1000-pillared hall is the Temple Art Museum .It contains friezes
stone and brass images as well as one of the best exhibits on Hindu
deities . Madurai’s claim to fame is the famous Meenakshi temple is
the heart of the old city. It simply takes your breath away. The
meticulous colourful carvings cover the gopurams (towers) in vivid
Dravidian image ofGods Goddess animals and mythical figures. The
Potramaraikulam is the golden lotus tank where the Tamil Literary
Society called Sangam once met. Open 7 am to 7 pm daily.
Tirumalai Nayak Mahal:
Tirumalai Nayak Mahal built in 1523 AD was originally 4 times as
large as it is today. Sound and light shows on the life of Tirumalai
Nayak are a must see. About 1.5 kms southeast of the Meenakshi
Temple this Indo-Sarascenic palace was built in 1636 by the ruler
whose name it bears. There is a daily sound-and-light show
consisting of a few coloured lights.
Mariamman Teppakulam Tank:
This tank 5 kms east of the old city covers an area almost equal to
that of the Meenakshi temple and is the site of the popular Teppam
(Float) Festival held in January /February.The tank was built by
Tirumalai in 1646 and is connected to the Vaigai River by
underground channels.
Museums:
Housed in the old palace of the rani mangammal, the excellent Gandhi
memorial museum is set in relaxing grounds and has a clear
historical account of india’s struggle for independence . The
madurai government museum is in the same grounds, as is a small
bookshop stocked with plenty of Gandhi reading matter. |
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