It has won the much coveted honor as one among the seven wonders of India. This monument stands at the heart and forms the lifeline of the 2500 year old, ancient city of Madurai. It has four towers each of which is more than 160 meters and consists together over 4000 sculpted statues in the towers alone. The entire monument itself is filled intricately with painting and sculptural works.

This monument was built after a Queen who ruled Madurai many eons ago, known as Meenakshi who was the daughter of the legendary king Malayadhwaja and believed to be an incarnation of the Goddess Parvathy herself. This land of Madurai is credited to the growth and spread of the Tamil Sangam literature. The Meenakshi Amman temple is filled with ancient writings on walls and inscriptions.

The temple was built in the 6th century by Kulasekara Pandya but the entire completion of the temple is credited to King Thirumalai Nayakar leaving behind his inscription on one of history’s most important monument. The temple stands opposite to a 2,500 year old mall, the Puthu Mandapam which is the oldest mall in the world. The water tank situated inside the temple is known to bloom lotus in golden color. The temple was renovated by various kings who in time ruled Madurai and hence, the place has the artistic touch of time.

A thousand pillared hall where a total of 985 pillars stand with few pillars giving out the sound of musical notes when tapped. The place is thronged by thousands of devotees and tourists who go there to experience the beauty of ancient Dravidian architecture and to admire the exquisite work of art on the ceilings and walls.

Nearby places to visit:

Alagar Kovil, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace and Puthu mandapam.

Best time to visit :

Owing to the climatic conditions, it is best to visit Madurai during the winters when the climate is beautifully pleasant.

How to reach ?

By Air : The Madurai International airport is at a distance of 10 kilometers from the monument.

By Train :The Madurai railway junction is at a distance of 2 kilometers from the Meenakshi Amman temple

By Road :The city of Madurai is well connected by road and travelling to the Meenakshi Amman temple is no difficulty.