Madurai

Plan your tour to Madurai, expecting to be a witness to some of the most awe-inspiring architectural magnanimity that this 'Athens of the East' features. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai is the second largest city of Tamilnadu and among the oldest extant city of India, dating back to the Sangam period of Pre-Christian era. Today the city is famous for being producer of some of the finest textiles in India along with some of the best harvests of jasmine flowers.

Madurai - History Revisited
Originally built around the Meenakshi temple, Madurai derives its name from the divine nectar (Madhu) that was showered from the locks of Lord Shiva according to a popular legend. Endowed with a rich cultural heritage, which it has inherited from the great Tamil era, Madurai is more than 2500 years old. Madurai finds mention in Megasthenes' Indica. The Greek diplomat and envoy who visited India in the 3rd century BC and praised the architectural grandeur of this temple city. Madurai's glory reached its peak, during the reign of the Cholas and then during the Pandyas' regime in the 13th century. King Thirumali Nayak of the Nayak dynasty who ruled Madurai made some priceless contributions to the city's architectural heritage, this included the building up of the Raja Gopuram (The Main Tower) of the Meenakshi temple, Puthu Mandapam (The New Mansion) and the Thirumalai Nayak Palace.