Madurai is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The town is surrounded by the Sirumalai Hills in the north and the Nagamalai Hills in the south. The city got its name from the word ‘Madhura’ which means sweetness. It is also known by many other names, such as the 'City of Four Junctions', 'Athens of the East', 'City of Festivals', 'Lotus City' and 'Sleepless City', as each of these names reflects some aspect of the city. Represents a part. Madurai has many tourist places and ancient temples, which see crowds of tourists throughout the year. In today's article, we are going to tell you about the major tourist places of Madurai...

Meenakshi Amman Temple
The historic Meenakshi Amman Temple, built between the years 1623 and 1655, is situated on the southern bank of the Madurai River in Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi temple is primarily dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort Shiva. The special thing about this temple is that here both God and Goddess are worshiped together. The Meenakshi Amman temple complex is built according to the Shilpa Shastra and has 14 gateways or 'Gopurams', 'Golden Vimana' and the sacred sanctum. It is a major tourist attraction in Madurai. Every year thousands of devotees come here.

Tirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace was built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636 AD in Madurai city. This palace shows the perfect blend of Dravidian and Rajput styles. After independence, this palace was declared a national monument and to date, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of southern India. This grand palace is situated in the vicinity of Meenakshi Amman Temple. Reflecting the Sarasic style of architecture, it was constructed during the reign of the Nayak dynasty and is considered to be the most magnificent monument built by the Madurai Nayak dynasty. A light and sound show is organized here every evening, which makes your visit even more memorable.

Meghmalai
Meghamalai Known as the 'high undulating mountains', Meghamalai is a picturesque but beautiful place located in the Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu. At an altitude of 1500 meters, this place is an ideal place to beat the heat and enjoy some quiet time amidst nature. Nestled amidst an evergreen forest, this place is filled with the refreshing aroma of cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. The lush green tea gardens will allow you to sip fresh piping tea and enjoy a lazy stroll amidst nature teeming with flora and fauna.

Kudal Azhagar Temple
For worshipers of Lord Vishnu, Kudal Azhagar Temple is one of the best places to visit in Madurai. Originally built by the Pandyas, the temple is located right in the middle of Madurai city. Kodal is another name for Madurai, while Azhagar means "beautiful one" in Tamil. The temple is surrounded by a granite wall, enclosing all the temples. Built in the Dravidian architectural style, the temple is beautifully carved and carved by adding different colors of paint.

Samnar Hills
The beautiful views of the Samanar Hills are one of the top tourist attractions in Madurai. The hill complex is located in Kilakuilkudi village, about 15 km from the main city of Madurai. The significance of this place lies deep in the presence of Tamil Jain monks who resided here about 2000 years ago. The carvings on the walls depict the way of life and the rules followed by the monks. There is also a beautiful lotus temple located at the base.

Thiruparankundham Murugan Temple
Thiruparankundham Murugan Temple, with its rich cultural significance, is certainly one of the popular destinations in Madurai. It is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan (Kartikeya). According to a legend, this is the same site where Murugan defeated the demon, Sarpadman, and married Devayani, the daughter of Lord Indra. The rock-cut architecture of this temple makes it special. It is believed that it was built by the Pandyas. People believe that it is auspicious to get married at Thirupurkundam Murugan Temple for a happy and successful married life.

Vaigai dam
Vaigai Dam is one of the best places to visit in Madurai. Vaigai Dam is a spectacular man-made structure constructed on the Vaigai River near Thenipatti, Theni district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Over the years the site has become a favorite picnic spot and one can spend hours here admiring the spectacular view. There is a beautiful garden on one side of the dam known as Little Vrindavan. Little Vrindavan has a variety of exotic flowers and plants making it a favorite place for nature lovers living nearby.

Koodal Python Temple
Koodal Python Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located in the center of Madurai city of Tamil Nadu. Built in the Dravidian style of architecture and reportedly built by the Pandyas, there is a famous temple of historical importance. Koodal is another name for the city of Madurai which refers to Vishnu in the form of Koodal python and Mathuravalli to his consort Lakshmi. This temple has been decorated very beautifully with different colors. With Sri Kundal Azhagar as the main deity, this temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams and is ranked 65th. This ancient temple is situated near the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. Six pujas are performed in this temple which covers an area of 2.5 acres. Thousands of devotees come here every day to pray and most importantly during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May – June).

Gandhi Museum
Gandhi Memorial Museum was built in memory of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Eleven years after he died in 1959, it became one of the few Gandhi museums in the country. Located in the heart of Madurai, the museum houses mementos from Indian history, such as the blood-stained clothes worn by Gandhi when he was assassinated in 1948. It is one of the five great Gandhi museums in the country, which depict the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the complex on 15 April 1959. The Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai comes under the Peace Museums Worldwide chosen by the United Nations Organization (UNO). The museum is also home to approximately 100 replicas of relics and artifacts about Gandhiji.

Mariamman Tappakulam
Built-in honor of Lord Vigneshwara, this divine temple is located about 5 km away from the Meenakshi Temple. There is a huge tank in the temple complex and it holds the record of being the largest tank in the area of Tamil Nadu. According to legends the temple idol was also retrieved from the bottom of the tank. Since then the tank gained its popularity and a temple was also built in its memory. Many different types of festivals are celebrated in the temple and all the rituals are performed with great pomp.

Pajamudheer Solai
Pazhamudheer Solai is a beautiful temple built in the memory of Lord Subramanya who is worshiped by many people in South India. It has magnificent sculptures of Lord Subramanya carved in wood and marble. This temple is very famous among the people here. People believe that by praying here all the wishes are fulfilled. It is situated on the hills of Azhar Koil and falls in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

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