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 'City of Four Junctions', 'Athens of the East', 'City of Festivals', 'Lotus City', and 'Sleepless City', as each of these names refer to some aspect of the city. represents a part. Madurai has many tourist places and ancient temples, which are visited by tourists throughout the year. In today's article, we are going to tell you about the major tourist places of Madurai...

Meenakshi Amman Temple
Built between 1623 and 1655, the historic Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the south bank of the Madurai River in Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi Temple is primarily dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her husband 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', the 'Swarna Vimana', and the holy sanctum. It is a major tourist attraction of Madurai. Thousands of devotees come here every year.

Tirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai Nayakar Palace was built in 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayakar in the city of Madurai. The palace depicts 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 the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Reflecting the Sarasik 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.

Meghamalai
Meghamalai Known as the 'High Wavy Mountains', Meghamalai is a beautiful yet beautiful place situated in the Western Ghats in the state of Tamil Nadu. At an altitude of 1500 meters, this place is the perfect place to beat the heat and enjoy some quiet time amidst nature. Set amidst the 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 the worshipers of Lord Vishnu, the Koodal Azhagar Temple is certainly one of the best places to visit in Madurai. Originally built by the Pandyas, the temple is located right in the heart 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 shrines. Built-in the Dravidian architectural style, the temple is beautifully carved and sculpted by adding colors of different hues.

Samnar Hills
The beautiful views of the Samanar Hills are one of the top tourist attractions in Madurai. The hill complex is located in the village of Kilakulakudi, about 15 km from the main city of Madurai. The significance of this place is deeply rooted in the presence of Tamil Jain monks who resided here around 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.

Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, with its rich cultural significance, is surely one of the popular places to visit in Madurai. It is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan (Kartikeya). According to a legend, this is the place 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 in Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple for a happy and successful married life.

Vaigai Dam
Vaigai Dam is one of the best places to visit in Madurai. The Vaigai Dam is a spectacular man-made structure constructed across 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 admiring the spectacular view. On one side of the dam, there is a beautiful garden known as Little Vrindavan. Little Vrindavan has a variety of exotic flowers and plants thus making it a favorite place for nature lovers living in the vicinity.

Koodal Python Temple
The Koodal Python Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located in the heart of the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. A famous temple of historical importance built in the Dravidian style of architecture and allegedly built by the Pandyas. Koodal is another name for the city of Madurai which refers to Vishnu in the form of Koodal the dragon and Mathuravalli to his consort Lakshmi. This temple is beautifully decorated 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 and most importantly offer prayers during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (May – June).

Gandhi Museum
The 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 histories, such as the blood-stained clothes Gandhi wore when he was assassinated in 1948. It is one of the five great Gandhi Museums in the country, depicting the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the complex on 15 April 1959. The Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai comes under the Peace Museum Worldwide selected by the United Nations Organization (UNO). The museum is also home to around 100 relics and replicas of artifacts about Gandhiji.

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

Pajamudheer Solai
Pazhamudhir Solai is a beautiful temple built in memory of Lord Subramanya who is worshiped by many people in South India. It houses magnificent sculptures of Lord Subramanya carved in wood and marble. There is a lot of recognition of this temple among the people here. People believe that praying here fulfills all wishes. It is situated on the hills of Azhar Koil and falls in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.