Top 10 tourist places in madurai

Madurai is counted amongst the oldest city of India, and it is also the second-largest city of state Tamil Nadu, situated on the bank of river Vaigai. The name of the city is originated from the word 'Maduram,' which means nectar. According to a legend, few drops of nectar fell from the vessel of Hindu God Shiva when he came here to marry Devi Meenakshi. Hence it was named Madirapuri, which later changed into Madurai. It is also known as the '' City of Temple''.This ancient city is 2600 years old, and it was then an important commercial center of South India and the capital of Pandya. Nowadays, Madurai is a progressive and modern city of Tamil Nadu with many monuments, temples, and cultural heritages in its lap.

MEENAKSHI TEMPLE 

Meenakshi Sundereshwara Temple: Madurai is renowned all over India for Meenakshi temple; it is the landmark of Madurai, which was constructed by early Pandya King Kulasekara. It is called one of the best temples of God Shiva in the whole state, which is nationwide famous for its greatest cultural and architectural value. According to the legend, this is the temple where Lord Shiva performed his famous dance form 'Natarajam,' as He got cherished with the temple's construction. There are several shrines and grand pillared halls all around the temple complex. There is a total of 12 towers that add several moons to the beauty of the temple complex. These towers, having a solid granite base, are beautifully decorated with colorful stucco figures of gods, goddesses, monsters, and animals. Every day around six thousand visitors come to see this fascinating temple.

THIRUMALAI NAYAKAR MAHAL

Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal: Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal is a palace complex, which was constructed by Thirumalai Nayakar in 1636 in Indo Saracean style. The palace complex is divided into two parts: royal residence, theater, shrines, apartments, armory, quarters, ponds, gardens, etc.Thirumalai Nayakar Palace was erected in 1636 AD in the city of Madurai, by King Thirumalai Nayak. The palace depicts the perfect blend of Dravidian and Rajput styles. After Independence, this palace was declared as a national monument and to date continues to be one of the spectacular monuments of Southern India. The magnificent palace is located in the vicinity of the very famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. Depicting the Saracenic style of architecture, it was constructed during the rule of the Nayak Dynasty and is widely considered the most illustrious monument built by the Madurai Nayak Dynasty. It is now a national monument and is under the maintenance of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. 

ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL 

St Mary's Cathedral Church: St Mary's Church is one of India's oldest Roman Catholic Churches. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai, located 200 m from Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal. St Maryês Cathedral is a gothic style catholic church situated in East Veli Street in Madurai. The striking architecture is a mix of European, Continental, and Roman designs. The statue of the Virgin Mary installed inside is dressed in a saree. The church receives a regular influx of visitors all year long.

THEPPA KULAM 

Theppakulam: Theppakulam is related to somewhat Vandiyur Mariyamman temple, which was built around the period of 1500 AD. It has now been made as a picnic spot. At the center of the place, an artificial island of stone is made that attracts visitors. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a tiny pond located near the premises of Vandiyur Mariamman Temple in the mandir. •Teppakulamê, meaning temple pond, is connected to the river Vaigai through underground tunnels, and its water is used for temple rituals. The pond also has a Mandapam in the center with a Ganesha Temple and a tiny garden.

GANDHI MUSEUM 

Gandhi museum was earlier the palace of Rani (queen) Mangamma, which was converted into a museum after the renovation. It exhibits the information about Mahatma Gandhi, various pictures of his lifetime, and most importantly, the blood blemished piece of the garment of Gandhi Ji when he was shot by Nathuram Godse. The Gandhi Memorial Museum serves as a remembrance and tribute to the efforts of our very own father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Established in 1959 in his cherished memory, eleven years after his demise, it is one of the few Gandhi Museums in the country. Located in the heart of Madurai, the museum houses a wealth of remarkable mementos associated with Indian histories, such as the bloodstained cloth Gandhi was wearing when he was assassinated in 1948. It is one of the five great Gandhi Museums in the country which depict the life of the Father of the nation and India's freedom struggle from 1757 until

Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the premises on 15th April 1959, and the illustrations and graphic representations convey an understanding of the struggle for freedom during the British era. The galleries of the museum display the chronicles of the pre-independent nation during an era when unfortunate atrocities were committed by the British. Special collections include historical stamps of British ruled India and letters written to and by Mahatma Gandhi. The letters sent to the poet, activist Subramania Bharati and infamous dictator Adolf Hitler are kept here! 1947. 1947. The most exciting part of the museum is the sections containing 124 rare photographs of Gandhiji's personal life. It has photographs depicting various stages from his childhood days until being taken to the crematorium. A bloodstained cloth used by him on the day of his assassination is also kept at this museum. The museum is also home to around 100 relics and replicas of artifacts about Gandhiji.

VAIGAI DAM 

Vaigai Dam, a magnificent human-made structure, is constructed over River Vaigai near Andipatti, Theni District in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Andipatti lies about 70 kilometers from Madurai, and travelers on their way to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary often visit this massive and wondrous dam. Over the years, the site has become a favorite picnic spot. It gets beautifully illuminated in the evenings, especially on weekends, and one can spend hours admiring the splendid view. The soft and warm sunrises by the reservoir are worth experiencing too. On one side of the dam is a beautiful garden known as Little Brindavan maintained by the management for the visitors. Little Brindavan has various exotic flowers and plants and is a preferred getaway for nature lovers living nearby. The play area made especially for children is a relief for parents as they watch their little ones have fun in the unpolluted air. Picturesque hills border the river on the other side, and the lush greenery surrounding the 111 feet tall dam will take your breath away. The massive dam was built in 1959 and is often referred to as the region's lifeline as the areas have flourished by leaps and bounds from its waters. Vaigai Dam is the central water source for drinking and irrigation purposes in Madurai and hence of great strategic and political importance.

ALAGAR KOVIL

Alagar Koil is an exquisite temple situated in the northeast of Madurai. The temple is the resting place of Lord Vishnu. It is the sacred place for several followers of Lord Vishnu in the region. It is situated in the Alagar hills and is also known as Azhagarkovil. The statue of the lord is made entirely of stone and is a splendid masterpiece created from kallalgar. A variety of statues in different postures of the Lord are all kept in the temple under the same roof and are the best form of distinct temples in southern India. The people of the region consider Lord Vishnu to be an extremely knowledgable, humble yet powerful king and the ruler of the earth. The devotees offer holy prayers from the bottom of their hearts. The temple has spectacular halls and other facilities to perform rituals with sacred mantras in the holy environment.

MEGHAMALAI

Often known as the “High Wavy Mountains,” Meghamalai is a petit yet beautiful place located in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. At an elevation of 1500 meters, this place is a perfect getaway to beat the heat and enjoy some peaceful time relaxing amidst nature. Nestled between the evergreen forest, this place is filled with the fresh aroma of cardamom, cinnamon, and pepper. The lush green tea plantations will allow you to sip fresh piping tea and enjoy a lazy stroll amidst nature, replete with flora and fauna.

SEMINAR HILLS

Located in Keelakuyilkudi village near Madurai, Samanar Hills, or Samanar Malai is a beautiful hill rock complex originally home to Tamil Jain monks. The hill caves are a popular place of tourism and have elaborate carvings and drawings of the monks on the interior walls. The spot also has a beautiful lotus temple located on the premises.

TIRUPPARANKUNDRAM TEMPLE 

Tirupparankundram Murugan temple is one of the pilgrimage places in southern India. The temple is an excellent masterpiece of art and is devoted to mother earth for the benedicts it has bequeathed on the holy earth. The region has a hilly terrain and is also known as the southern Himalayas of India. It is a divine and blissful destination where the sun and moon can be seen together at several instances of the day. It is looked upon as a holy place for marriages, and most of the marriages in the suburbs occur in this temple itself. The marriage of Lord Subhrahmanya was celebrated in this temple, and since then, several people have been bound in the marital bonds in front of the god in this temple.

All these places are beautifully built by our ancient emperors to make the upcoming generation know our Tamil tradition, culture, and values. Madurai will be the perfect place for those visitors who search for divinity because Madurai is known as the Temple city.