What To See In Madurai
Madurai is a very popular tourist place in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a very ancient place and is an important commercial centre of the south India. Madurai is build around the Meenakshi temple or the Sundareswarar temple. The concentric rectangular streets around the temple are symbol of cosmos. The city of Madurai is laid in the shape of a lotus flower. The streets in the city have interesting names like they are named after the Tamil months.
Meenakshi temple in Madurai is an architectural marvel. It was built by Pandya King Kulasekara and rebuilt by Thirumalai Nayak. Large numbers of tourists visit this place, as it is a popular tourist place in the country. The most striking feature of this temple is the Ayiramkaal Mandapam or the hall of thousand pillars. Each pillar has beautiful life size sculptures and the pillars appear to be in a straight line when seen from any angle. There are some musical pillars in the outermost corridors of the temple. These pillars are carved out of stones and produce different musical note when tapped.
Thirumalai Nayak Palace has indo - Saracen style. It is a national monument at present and has two parts Swargavilas and Rangavilas. It was used as royal residence and has a theater, shrines, apartments, armory, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, pond and a garden. The ceilings have large paintings and the stuccowork on the domes and arches is remarkable. The gigantic pillars are an architectural marvel and the entire octagon arcade is constructed of bricks and mortar without any rafter or girder. The exhibition in the palace has a number of interesting things on display, like the furniture, utensils, etc used by the royal family.
Thirupparankundram temple is one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya and the shrine is cut of solid rock. The temple has panoramic surroundings and the temple is situated on a beautiful hill. The temple of Alagar Koli has some very beautiful carvings. Alagar Koli Vishnu temple in Madurai is dedicated to Lord Alagar.
Gandhi Museum is housed in an old Palace of Rani Mangammal. It has some rare pictures of freedom struggle and has a gallery of Gandhian movement. There are also some interesting things like the gallery of relics, khadi and village industries section and a section dedicated to South Indian Handicrafts.
Other important tourist places are the Mariamman Teppakulam, Kazimar Mosque, Goripalayam Dargah, St. Mary's church, Athisayam Water Park, Eco park, Hava valley, etc.
Shopping in Madurai
You can buy some good cotton and Batik saris and dresses, which is the specialty of Madurai. You can buy some handicraft items from the Government Poompuhar handicraft shops, cottage arts emporium and Madurai gallery.
You should try the famous Jil Jil Jigarthanda, Paruthi Pal and sugarcane juice in Madurai. Jigarthanda is a delicious drink made of algae, milk and sugar and Paruthi is prepared of cottonseeds, flour of raw rice, coconut and jaggery. The best try are the different dosas and pongal.