Madurai is a city and a municipal
corporation situated on the banks of River Vaigai in Madurai district in the
Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu and
has a population in excess of 1.1 million. It is well known for the Meenakshi
temple in the heart of the town which attracts tourists as well as pilgrims.
Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old, and has been an important commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city of the Pandya kings of South India. Madurai is the headquarters of Madurai district.
About Madurai
One of South India's well-known temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years ago. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. Its origin and name emerge from the myths of a lovely legend. In a forest near the lotus pond, Indra, King of Gods, worshipped Lord Siva as a Swayambu Lingam. At this hallowed spot the Pandiyan monarch, Kulasekhra, built a great temple and by clearing the forest, created a lotus-shaped city around the temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri. Madhurapuri grew and prospered to become the capital of the Pandiyan Kingdom. It is referred to in the Ramayana and in Kautila’s Arthasashtra. Foreign travelers of ancient times also had heard of it. Madurai lies on the banks of the river Vaigai, andis famous today for the Meenakshi temple and the sweet smelling jasmine flowers. The temple and the old city are on the southern bank, while modern Madurai with its textile mills; engineering colleges and large university sprawl around.
