Tourist Attractions

Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple, also known as Minakshi-Sundareshwara Temple, is one of the oldest and most important temples in India. Located in the city of Madurai, the temple has a great mythological and historical significance. It is believed that Lord Shiva assumed the form of Sundareswarar (the handsome one) and married Parvati (Meenakshi) at the site where the temple is currently located. Renowned for its astonishing architecture, Meenakshi Temple was nominated as one of the wonders of the world, but couldn’t make it into the list of ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. However, the temple is definitely one of the ‘Wonders of India’. It is also one of the main attractions of South India with thousands of devotees thronging it every day. During the ‘Tirukalyanam Festival,’ which takes place over a period of 10 days, the temple attracts more than a million devotees. Despite many people visiting it every day, the temple is well-maintained and was named the ‘Best Swachh Iconic Place’ (cleanest iconic place) in India.

Pazhamudir Cholai

The SolaiMurugan Temple in Pazhamudircholai, Madurai, is one of the 6 divine abodes of Lord Muruga, as mentioned by Nakkeerar in his Tamil Poem Tirumurukaatruppadai. Although it is the last among the Arupadaiveedugal, it attracts plenty of devotees with the lush green flora and fauna that surrounds the temple. Alike other temples, this is also situated in a small hill above the Azhagar Temple, which is around 19 km northern outskirts of Madurai city. The pleasing wooded hill has other names like Idabagiri and Vrishabadri.

Pazhamudircholai Solaimalai Murugan temple is the only temple in Arupadai Veedugal with both his consorts, Devaiyanai and Valli.

Rameswaram

Spiritual belief in the hearts of worshippers is something that keeps them going through thick and thins of life. And this temple here in Tamilnadu, is not just any temple, it is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham sites. Rameshwaram along with Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka are the famous temples of India that are visited by pilgrims to attain salvation. Talking about this spiritual pilgrimage site of Tamil Nadu, it finds its place in the town of Rameshwaram and is one of the 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams which finds its special mention in the songs of the three famous Nayanars, Sundarar, Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar. With the coming of 12th century, Rameshwaram temple saw its days of evolution by the hands of Pandya Dynasty and is revered as a sacred site for Vaishnavites, Shaivites and Smarthas. The Indian epic Ramayana is associated with this temple where the Lord Rama worshipped the lingam of Lord Shiva to get rid of the sins he committed when he fought with Ravana, the king of Lanka.

The present Gandhi Memorial Museum of Madurai is a historical building. It used to be the palace of Rani Mangammal from Naick dynasty. Known as Tamukkam Palace, it was built around 1670 A.D. Spread over an area of 13 acres, this palace presents an example of architectural fineness, which allures every visitor.

However, later this palace came under rulers of other dynasties and also East India Company during the colonial era. It used to be the official residence for the British District Collector of Madurai. It was in 1955, when this palace was gifted to All India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi by the Tamil Nadu State Government. It was done with the purpose of creating a Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai. This museum was built by Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and is maintained by the same. It was inaugurated in the year of 1959 by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Also known as Samanar Malai as the Tamil word Malai means hills, it boasts of ancient caves with carvings dating back to 1st century A.D. Samanar hill has many prominent sculpture and ancient inscriptions giving an insight into the history and into the Jainism religion which flourished here during ancient times. The inscriptions on the hills are said to be more than 200 years old. These caves were the homes of many Jain monks during ancient era.

Now a popular sightseeing place in Madurai, Thirumalai Nayak Palace was constructed as a residence for the then King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636 AD. It is said that King had recruited an Italian architect for designing this palace. This palace which was apparently four times bigger in its original form than the present structure had seen many destructions over the passing decades. It is said that grandson of King Thirumalai Nayak had dismantled this palace to a larger extent, leading to distortion of its intricate design. His grandson had removed precious jewels and exquisite woodcarvings from this palace in order to build his own place in Tiruchirappalli, although he could never materialise his dream of building a grander palace.

Mariamman Teppakulam is a beautiful square tank spread over a huge area of almost 16 acres, located about 4 Kms East of Meenakshi Temple in Madurai City.  The tank is the scene of the colourful float festival held in January/February to celebrate the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak, who built this tank.  The deities of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are placed in a float, called “Teppam”, decorated with flowers and illuminated with hundred of lights.  This float is taken around the tank to the sound of traditional music.  On the Northern side of the tank a temple is dedicated to Mariamman , a famous village deity of Tamil Nadu.

Yanaimalai is considered a sacred place by the Tamil Jain. Jain monks lived here during the Pandyan Dynasty. Yanaimalai has been historically important with its historical monuments and other sources of cultural ethos since the Sangam age, which is about one thousand and eight hundred years old. This hill is fondly called by the people as Yanaimalai (elephant hill), from very early period, as it looks like an elephant. The hill is the historical source as it has early caves with epigraphical records and sculptures and inscriptions of the Early Pandya, Later Pandya, Chola and Vijayanagar – Nayak rulers.