File:Meenakshi_Amman_West_Tower.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Madurai
Madurai is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai district, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established on 1 November 1866. As of the 2011 census, it is the third largest metropolis in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore in terms of population and 27th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of Vaigai River, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as "Tho
AI overview
Madurai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, known as the cultural capital of the region and one of India's oldest continuously inhabited settlements with over 2,500 years of documented history. As the third-largest city in Tamil Nadu and the 27th-largest urban area in India, it serves as the administrative center for Madurai district and remains an important cultural and historical hub.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Weather now
cached 8h ago28°overcast clouds
55% 3.1 m/s OpenWeatherMap
7-day forecast
via Open-Meteo
Place details
- Locality
- Madurai
- Region
- Tamil Nadu
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,465,625
- Timezone
Travel guide
Understand
Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India and was ruled by Pandya kings over most of its history. The city is famous for is rich heritage and promoting Tamil language through "Sangams". The city has been in existence since about 4th century BC and is mentioned in ancient texts of Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The Meenakshi Amman temple situated in the heart of the city is famous, and there are a number of temples in and around the city. The "Maha Kumbabhishekam" of the temple was performed in April 2009 after the renovation (re-painting) work on the gopurams (towers) of the temple. It is usually performed once every 14 years or more. There are numerous remarkable sculptures on the gopurams and inside the premises of the temple. Look out for the "yaali", a mythical creature similar to a dragon on the pillars in the 'pragaram' of the temple. Also, keep looking at the ceiling to catch a glimpse of the beautiful ancient paintings that adorn them.
Madurai is also an important transit point for travellers bound south and also a local commercial hub.
Get in
Main modes of transport for travelers are by air and by train.
Get around
Getting around the city will be mostly by bus. The buses required to get around will all mostly be available in Periyar bus stand and you can also get an auto rickshaw (you should know to negotiate and bargain the cost of the ride) or a cab or rent a car.
Buy
thumb|207x207px|Pudumandapam|alt= Madurai is a major commercial center in South India. The main activity is concentrated around the Meenakshi Temple. These are the places to visit for shopping, and actually many have specific markets for groceries (East Masi street), jewelry (South Avani Moola street), and electronics (Town hall Road). Madurai is famous for cotton Sungidi Sarees (Hand Loom), Brass works, Tanjore Paintings, Handicrafts and antiques (check out the Khadi bhavan near Periyar bus stand). Pudumandapam is a small market place (about 500 years old) of sorts, where you can find tailors, books, handicrafts and bronze items in quaint shops. Handloom cotton sarees are available in co-operative stores (often a union of several weavers and/or looms) like Co-optex. When you don't see a price tag on the item, don't give whatever the trader tells you.
ATMs of most nationalized banks are available in the city. There are private bank ATMs too. ATMs accept standard Visa, Mastercard, and Cirrus cards. There are many retail stores in the city and almost all of them accept cards (credit and debit).
~42 min read
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Early and medieval history
- British rule
- Contemporary and modern history
- Architecture
- Geography and climate
- Demographics
- Administration and politics
- Municipal finance
- Transport
- Education
- Secondary schools
- Economy
- Religious sites
- Culture and tourism
- Media and utility services
- Sports
- See also
- Footnotes
- References
- Sources
- External links
Madurai is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai district, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established on 1 November 1866. As of the 2011 census, it is the third largest metropolis in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore in terms of population and 27th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of Vaigai River, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as "Thoongaa Nagaram", meaning "the city that never sleeps".
Madurai is one of the oldest cities in India and South Asia. The third Tamil Sangam, a major congregation of Tamil scholars, is said to have been held in the city. The recorded history of the city goes back to the 3rd century BCE, being mentioned by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan Empire, and Kautilya, a minister of the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya. Signs of human settlements and Roman trade links dating back to 300 BCE are evident from excavations by Archeological Survey of India in Manalur. The city is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, by the Pandyan Kingdom, the Chola Empire, the Madurai Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, the Carnatic kingdom, and the British East India Company's British Raj. The city has a number of historical monuments, with the Koodal Azhagar temple, the Meenakshi Temple and the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal being the most prominent.
Gallery (40)
On the map
6 mapped locations