Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
This temple is more than 1000 years old and is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) and Lord Sundareshwar (Shiva). The skyline of Madurai is dominated by 4 Gopurams (towers) of this temple.
Shri Meenakshi - Sundreswara Temple is one of the popular tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. It is an ancient seat of ancient religious learning. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims come to the Shri Meenakshi - Sundreswara Temple all over the year. The Shri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city originated together.
Meenakshi temple complex in india is one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient. According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place.
Timings : 05:00am to 12:00pm and 04:00pm to 09:30pm
Good time in Year to visit the place : All round the year
Distance from Madurai : City Centre
1000 Pillars Museum
History/Information of the Place : This museum located within the Meenakshi Temple houses 1000 (985 to be exact) carved pillars as well as musical pillars, which produce musical notes when tapped.
Timings : 08:00am to 08:00pm
Good time in Year to visit the place : All round the year
Distance from Madurai : City Centre
Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
Built in 1663 by King Thirumalai Nayak, the original palace was 4 times bigger. The museum inside displays treasures of the Nayak dynasity, paintings and other rare artifacts. The song ‘Kehna Hi Kya’ from the movie ‘Bombay’ has been picturised here.
This palace is an excellent example of Indo - Sarcenic architecture. It was built in 1523 AD and originally was four times larger than what it is today. The gardens, the defensive wall all have gone and what remains are the main entrance gate, the dancing hall and the main hall. Lord Napier renovated the palace in 1866-72 and later further restoration works were carried on. Today, the main attraction of the palace is light and sound show, which is based on the life of "Tirumalai Nayak" and "Silapathikaram".
Timings : 09:00am to 01:00pm & 02:00pm to 05:00pm
Light & Sound Show Timings : 06:45pm (English) & 07:45pm (Tamil)
Good time in Year to visit the place : All round the year
Distance from Madurai : City Centre
Samanar Hills
Samanar Hills are proof of Jainism being prevalent in South India in ancient times. Historical evidence point towards persecution of Jains by the Salvite King ruling Madurai and these Tamil Jains sought refuge in two hills, i.e. ‘Samanar Hills’ or ‘Jain Hills’. Nagamalai or ‘Snake Hill’ situated 10 kms. North of Madurai has Jain engravings and beds. Keelakuyilkudi has a small lotus pond and the hill has ancient Tamil scripts, beds, stone steps and Jain engravings.
Timings : N/A
Good time in Year to visit the place : All round the year
Distance from Madurai : City Centre
Azhagar Kovil
Located on a picturesque wooded hill, this famous Vaishnava temple is dedicated to Lord Alagar (avatar of Lord Vishnu). Uphill, the temple ‘Palamudir Cholai’ is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga (Karthik) and has a natural spring that runs throughout the year.
About 21 kms from the city of Madurai is situated the beautiful temple of Azhagar Koil. It is a temple that has the residing deity as Vishnu. The Lord here is known by the name Azhagar. He is the brother of Goddess Meenakshi and when the wedding of the Lord and Goddess takes place in the month of Chithrai, Azhagar travels from here to Madurai to witness the wedding of the Lord.
One of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya, Palamudhirsolai is situated above Azhagar kovil in the hills about 4kms away. At the top of the hill situated is the natural spring Nuburagangai where the pilgrims take bath.
Timings : N/A
Good time in Year to visit the place : All round the year
Distance from Madurai : 25Kms
Alanganallur
This place situated 17 kms from the City is prominent for Bull Taming (Jallikattu) during January (third day after Pongal festival) and is eagerly awaited and watched by tourists from all over the world.
Timings : N/A
Good time in Year to visit the place : January (third day after Pongal festival)
Distance from Madurai :17Kms
Gandhi Museum
The museum was intially the palace of Rani Mangammal. It gives a clear account of the history of independence movement of India. This Meuseum also tells some little known facts about Gandhiji but the real piece of Gandhi Memorabilia is the blood stained Dhoti, which he was wearing at the time of his assassination. The local government museum is also situated over here. The small bookshop offers plenty of reading material from Gandhiji's works.
Mariamman Teppakulam
The Mariamman Teppakulam temple is dedicated to Lord Vigneshwara and is located just 5 km from the famous Meenakshi temple. The mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara (Vinayaka). This tank was said to have been dug by Tirumala Nayaka. It is the biggest tank of Tamil Nadu and one of the most imposing sights of Madurai when it is full of water. The vinayaka idol was found when the earth was being dug out from here to build the Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal. So, the place attained sanctiy and was converted into a teppakulam (tank).
Thiruparankundram
Thirupparankundram, which is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, stands 10km south from Madurai. It serves as the best among the Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga, attracting rolling crowds all the year. Thirupparankundram, the place where Lord Muruga was married with Devayanai, is considered as a sacred place for marriages.
Pazhamudhir solai
Pazhamudhir solai is a beautiful temple created in the memory of Lord Subramaniya who is worshiped by several people in southern India. It has great sculptures of lord subramaniya encarved in wood and marble and is a wonderful temple with giant steps in the front of it.
People worship the temple by moving across the periphery of the temple a several number of times, with the hope that their wish would come true. It is the giant temple of Lord subhramaniya in southern India and one of the most beautiful too. Its located on the hills of Azhagar kovil and falls in Madurai in Tamilnadu.
Koodal Azhagar Temple
One of the most ancient temples in Madurai, Koodal Azhagar Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In this temple he is seen in various postures sitting, standing, reclining one over the other. There are intricate woodcarvings in here, including one of Lord Rama's coronation.
Vishnu temple located at a distance from the Meenakshi Temple, another major tourist attraction of Madurai is the Vishnu Temple. The presiding deity of Vishnu Temple is called Azhagar. It is believed that this is another form of Vishnu. He is believed to be Meenakshi's brother. During Chitrai festival a grand procession is carried from this temple to the Meenakshi Temple.
Adhisyam
Adhisyam is a water theme park, situated at a distance of 15km from Madurai. This place serves as a picnic spot and people visit it for leisure activities. It was established in 2000 and is now the largest water park in area. It provides several water sports for having fun in the water. Adhisyam is an ideal place for family entertainment. It is just 20 minutes away from Madurai and opens at 10 am in the morning. There are rides and sports to suit everybody.
Vaigai Dam
Vaigai Dam is built across the Vaigai River near Andiapatti, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, southern India. It provides water for irigation for the Madurai district and the Dindigul district as well as drinking water to Madurai and Andipatti. This is a good picnic spot. The dam is beautifully illuminated on Sundays. Regular buses are available from Madurai. The Dam is 4 miles from Aundipatti railway station on the Madurai Bodinayakanur railway line.