Meenakshi Amman Temple - Tamilnadu - Monuments
Woven around the history of hundreds of years and scintillating with the exquisite handiwork of the Tamils, stands the marvellous Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai, the Temple City of Tamil Nadu. This historical monument has stood the testimony of time and has witnessed many kingdoms rise and fall. It has won the much coveted honor as one among the seven wonders of India.
Specialty
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 and inscriptions on the walls. This temple was built in the 6th century by the King 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 splendid monument.
The temple stands opposite to a 2,500 year old mall, the Puthu Mandapam which is also 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, this 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.
How To Reach
By Air - The Meenakshi Amman temple is at a distance of 11 kilometers from the Madurai International airport which connects you to the rest of the world.
By Rail - The Madurai railway station is the nearest place to avail a train and is situated at a distance of 1 kilometers from the monument.
By Road - The city of Madurai is well connected by road and the state government has provided many public transports to reach the city from anywhere in the country.