Madurai is the history of India "in the flesh". This city dates back 2,500 years, but it was world-famous thanks to the Sri Minakshi Temple, built in the 16th century. The name Madurai was transformed from Madhurapura, which means "sweet city". Today, the Hindus call it a "temple city", as there are only one or two churches in each street, and "a city that never sleeps" - because of the abundance of 24-hour cafes and shops.
At one time, the Tamil Academy of Poets (Sangam) was established here, thanks to the activities of which Madurai subsequently became the main center for studying Tamil language and literature. In addition, Madurai is a convenient transit point for travel to the south of the country.
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How to get to Madurai
In Madurai, there is a "home" airport, which accepts only domestic flights from the country (however, at the speed it promises to become an international one). Most of them are from Chennai. The airport is 15 km from the city, the best way to get there is to book a taxi.
Most tourists arrive in Madurai by train. The railway station is in the heart of the city, trains from Chennai (travel time 8-10 hours), Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi arrive there.
In addition, many buses from Kerala and Karnataka arrive in the city. All private bus companies, as a rule, stop almost in the very center of the city - at the bus station Periyar. While all night buses or buses arriving from other states stop at Mattuthavani bus station.
Before Chennai in the season there are also ferries along the river.
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Transport
Public transport is represented by buses, taxis and rickshaws (tuk-tuk).
Buses are quite convenient, inexpensive and safe way to get from one end of the city to another (good and the city itself is small). There is a "night rate" when the fare is doubled. Payment for travel only by coins. Orange buses with yellow seats are the most expensive (0, 2 USD).
Shopping: shops
Most shops are located around the temple of Meenakshi, some streets have their own "specification". For example, products can be bought on East Masi Street, decorations - South Avani Moola, electronics - Town hall road and so on. Hence it is worth bringing the famous cotton saris, copper jewelry, antiques. Pudumandapam is a market with a 500-year history where you can buy books, souvenirs, clothes, bronze ornaments and much more.
Large stores accept credit cards, ATMs can be found in almost every bank in the city center.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions in Madurai
The temples of Kadal Alagar (with seated, lying and standing Vishnu), Thiruparankundaram (located 8 km from the city center), the Gandhi museum, the great Kazimar mosque, the palace of Timuray Nayak are interesting.
The Meenakshi Temple
It is for the sake of the temple of Meenakshi that most tourists come to Madurai. According to legend, Meenakshi was a princess (one of Parvati's hypostases), who was born with fish eyes and three breasts. As the sages said, only her future husband could cure her. At the appointed hour before her appeared Shiva, the prediction came true, and a few days later the young couple got engaged. In memory of this event, a temple was built, which became the main shrine of the city.
The temple complex is a rhombus covering an area of several hectares .The central entrance through the eastern gate, where tourists are greeted by sculptures of Ganesha and Subramanya - the sons of Shiva and Parvati .The main hall of the temple - the hall of a thousand columns - is surrounded by four outer walls, over which towering 12 towers-gopuram, height 45-50 m .Each tower depicts over a thousand different scenes from the life of the gods, each of which is encrusted with diamonds .The central sanctuary is the temples of Sundareswara (Shiva) and his wife Meenakshi (Parvati) .The altar part is draped and hidden from view, tourists are not allowed here .The complex also includes chapels, palaces, sanctuaries and water bodies .
Behind the eastern gate of the temple there are a lot of shops that sell all sorts of things - from toys to bronze statues of Shiva.
Photos of Madurai (11)