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Travel destination in India, Madurai

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General Information about MADURAI

Madurai :
Area : 22 Sq. Kms ( 8.56 Sq. Miles)
Altitude: 101 meters (330 ft) above sea level
Languages : Tamil, English, Sourashtra
Best Time to Visit : Throughout the year
State : Tamil Nadu.
STD Code : 0452
About Madurai

Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre Christian era. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom after its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During the 16th and 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar is associated with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar - that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today.
The Sangam age or the Golden age of Tamil literature - produced masterpieces way back in the Pre christian era and in early 1st millennium. Madurai was the seat of the Tamil Sangam or Academy of learning. The entire city of Madurai, is built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple - the temple par excellence. Concentric rectangular streets surround the temple, symbolizing the structure of the cosmos.

HOW TO REACH

By Air : There are daily flights to Madurai from Chennai, Bangalore,Tiruchi & Coimbatore. Madurai Airport is 10 Kms away from Madurai City.

By Rail : Madurai is an important railway junction of the Southern Railway and is directly connected to Chennai and Tirunelveli. Madurai is on the Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul-Quilon line. The Vaigai Express, which is a super-fast day train between Chennai Egmore and Madurai takes 7 hours for the 495kms.

By Road : There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts of South India. Madurai City has 5 Major Bus Stand.

PLACES TO VISIT IN MADURAI

• Meenakshi Temple : This temple is the city's main attraction. This temple is nearly 2000 years old placed in the heart of the old town - a splendid example of Dravidian architecture. The present temple was designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak. There are four entrances to the temple with an area of six hectares. Each of its 12 towers has the height of 45 to 50 meters. The Potrama Raikulam or the Golden Lotus Tank is the place where the Tamil literacy society, called Sangam used to meet to decide the merits of the work presented to them. The temple museum has 985 richly carved pillars and each one surpasses the other in beauty.

• Tirumalai Nayak Mahal : This Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1523 and was originally four times large are today. Sound and light show on the life of the Tirumalai Nayak and the story of the Silapathikaram are conduced daily.

• Gandhi Museum : The 300-year-old palace now converted into Museum has a picture gallery, a library of personal memorable of the Mahatma Gandhi and an exhibit of South Indian handicrafts and village industries.

• Vaniyur Mariamman Teppakulam : This enormous temple tank is fed by water from the Vaigai river. The tank has a mandapam at the center enshrining Lord Vigneshwara. A colorful float festival is held in this tank every year.

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