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North India |
South India |
Eastern India |
Western India |
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| Destinations > South India |
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| Madurai |
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Madurai has been called the "Athens of the East". The Oldest and second largest city in Tamil Nadu, Madurai is situated on the banks of the river Vaigai. An ancient city, more than 2,500 years old, Madurai is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara in the 6th century BC.
A great cultural and religious centre, Madurai is often synomyous with the majestic Meenakshi Temple located in the heart of this city. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the credit for rebuilding the temple as is seen today goes to Tirumalai Nayak who brought back glory to this magnificent structure.
Located at the heart of the city, the Meenakshi-Sundareshwar temple has long been a major tourist attraction for both Indian and international visitors. The temple also marks a very important Hindu pilgrimage site.
Today, Madurai is a modern commercial and industrial city, with a vast University campus and is renowned for its weaving mills and dyeing industry. The chungadi cotton sarees are the speciality of this city with its colourful tie and dye motifs. Handicrafts, brassware, bronze items and the famous wooden toys of Madurai are some of the notable artefacts.
Madurai is 450 kms from Chennai.
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| > More About Madurai |
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| Tours around Madurai |
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South India Experience |
| 15 day tour; Best season: September-March; Highlights: Madras, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Madurai, Thekkady, Periyar, Cochin, Kathakali dance show, Alleppey, Backwaters, Kovalam, Trivandrum |
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South-India Trek & Safari |
| 20 day tour; Best season: October-December; Highlights: Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Pundi, Kuthirayar, Munnar, Thekkady, Periyar, Kumarakam, Cochin, Calicut, Muthanga, Wynad, Mysore, Bangalore |
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