Let’s plan your journey
Madurai, Tamil Nadu’s cultural capital, is one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. It was known as the ‘Lotus City’ because it was planned and built in the shape of a lotus and was ruled by Pandya kings for the longest time in its history.
The city got its name from the word Marutham, which refers to the type of landscape in the Sangam period. Other names for it include “Koodal,” “Naanmadakoodal,” “Thiru Alavai,” and “Matiray.”
Thiruparankundram is just one of many ancient temples in Madurai. It is an important old temple dedicated to Lord Muruga (Karthikeya) and is located on a hillock about 8 kilometers from the city. With trade ties to ancient Rome, the area has a rich cultural heritage.
This was the capital of the Pandyan dynasty. The end of the Sangam period brought Madurai under the rule of the Kalabhra dynasty, which was defeated by the Pandyas around 590 CE and was eventually overthrown by the Chola dynasty in the 9th century. The city was ruled by Vijayanagara until 1559 CE, when it became independent under the Nayaks. The city was under the rule of the East India Company in 1801, which sparked the region's independence movement.
The city has over ten major temples and over twenty smaller ones. Perfect for a pilgrimage. Temples from various dynasties, such as the Cholas, Pandyas, and Nayaks, can be found here. The most well-known is the Meenakshi Amman temple. They are not only spiritual centers, but also examples of magnificent architecture.
Built around the central location of Meenakshi Amman Temple, the city instills architectural aesthetics in all of its establishments. The temple is depicted in Tamil Classical records as the central formation of a lotus, with the concrete roads connecting the rest of the city denoted as its petal. Many of its buildings, pilgrims, temples, and community halls, which were built during the colonial era, have detailed structural designs.
The historic Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the Vaigai River's southern bank in Madurai. It is primarily dedicated to Parvati, also known as Meenakshi, and Shiva, her husband. The fact that both God and Goddess are worshiped together distinguishes this temple from the others. Built between 1623 and 1655, the magnificent architecture of the place is world-renowned.
Given the wide range of styles, cuisines, genres, and sizes available, Madurai is often referred to as Tamil Nadu's food capital. Local specialties include Paruthi paal, jigarthanda, panangkarkandu paal, and chettinadu varieties such as appam, kuzhi paniyaram, and so on, as well as beverages such as Paruthi, Jigarthanda, and the popular Filter coffee.
During this 2 week culinary adventure you will discover history, mysteries and a riot of flavours in regional specialities
There is no hotels to show
There is no hotels to show
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai, Madurai, is a scenic Garden Resort located atop Pasumalai Hill, offering breathtaking views of the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple.
