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One of the most magnificent examples of Dravidian architecture
andsculpture, the Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple
at Madurai is surely one of the high-points of any tour of the country.
Originally built by the Pandyas (who made Madurai their capital
as early as 550 AD), the temple as we see it today was given complete
shape by the Nayaks (who ruled from the 16th to the 18th century).
This twin temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi (Parvathi)
and to Lord Sundareswarar (Siva).
 The
layout plan of the temple is rectangular. There are 12 Gopurams
(Towers). Among the highlights in the temple complex are the Hall
of a Thousand Pillars and the Tank of Golden Lotuses. Actually
the number of pillars in the hall count to 985. Each pillar is sculptured
and is a monument of the Dravidan sculpture. Housed in this mandapam
is the Temple Art Museum, which is an exhibition of drawings, paintings
and sculptures depicting 1200 years of history.
The Tank of Golden Lotuses is an ancient tank where devotees take
bath. It was the meeting area of the Tamil Sangam-the academy of
Tamil poets. Any work of literature was first thrown into this pond
and itss worth was assessed based on whether it floated or sunk.Only
those that did not sink were considered worthy of attention.
 The
city of Madurai has been a seat of Tamil culture and traditions
since very ancient times. Great scholars like, Nakkeerar, Appar
and Sambandar have celebrated its glorious culture in
their songs. The temple complex is like a huge city—one of
the largest of its kind in India and undoubtedly one of the oldest.
The grandeur of the Meenakshi temple has remained undiminished for
the past two thousand years. This sprawling and awe-inspiring temple
complex is not only a marvel of architecture but also a symbol of
Indian culture and civilization in all its glory.
It is one of the greatest Shiva temples in India, and is known
for its sprawling landscape. It is the site of the 64 Tiruvilayadalgal
of Shiva (Tiruvilayadal puranam and Halasyamahatmiyam) and is
one of the Pancha Sabhais of Nataraja. The other dance halls are
Chidambaram, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam.
Approximately 230 kms from Coimbatore
Connected by air
Well connected by rail and road
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