Meenakshi
Sundareswarar Temple
The plurality of faiths centered
around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar
temple, the splendour of its
festival traditions, the invocation
of events from the 1st millennium
CE in its festival traditions
(as in the enactment of the
Tiruvilayadal Puranam), the
association with the Golden
age of Tamil literature - the
Sangam period, the abundance
of literature associated with
the temple, the wealth of sculpture
seen in the temple, the popularity
of the temple in terms of the
number of visitors etc. contribute
to this standing.
Azhagar
Kovil
Here ' Vishnu ' presides as
Meenakshi's brother ' Azhgar
'. During the Chitrai festival
in April/May, when the celestial
marriage of Meenakshi to Sundareswarar
is celebrated, Azhagar travels
to Madurai. A gold processional
icon called the Sundararajar
is carried by devotees in
procession from Azhagar Kovil
to Madurai for wedding ritual.
Palamudhirsolai
, one of the six abodes of
Lord Subramanya is on the
same hill, about 4 kms. above.
A natural spring called Nuburagangai
where pilgrims bath, is located
here.
Gandhi Museum
The Gandhi Memorial Museum
is one of the distinct places
to be visited in Madurai.
This Musuem is one of the
rare living Memorial of "The
Father of India".
Thirumalai
Nayak Palace
This Palace was built in 1636
by King Thirumalai Nayak with
the help of an Italian Architect.
The building we see today
was the main Palace where
the King lived. The original
Palace Complex was four times
bigger than the present structure.
This palace consisted mainly
of two parts, namely Swargavilasa
and Rangavilasa.
