Madurai, the cultural capital and second largest city of Tamil Nadu derives its name from the ‘Madhu’ (divine nectar) showered from the locks of Lord Shiva. The temple city of Madurai is situated on the banks of the River Vaigai. It is an important pilgrimage center too. The 985 beautiful pillared Meenakshi Amman Temple is the center attraction of Madurai. The city is also renowned for its textile mills, engineering industries and large university areas.

Places to see:

• Meenakshi temple: Located at the heart of the city, the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple has long been the focus of both Indian and international tourist attraction as well as one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is the hub of the religious and cultural life of the city. The Meenakshi temple is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams (large gateways) and mandapams (multi-pillared halls) covered from top to bottom in a profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures.
• Mariamman Teppakulam: The other prime attraction in Madurai is the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, which hosts the annual float festival in January and February. This tank has an idol of Vinayaka or Vigneshwara installed on a platform in the centre.
• Tirumalai Naik palace: Besides the temples, it is a must visit spot for the tourists. The palace of Tirumalai Nayak is about a km from the temple. This Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1523 and was originally four times as large as it is today. The palace displays the architectural style of the Nayaks. Besides idlis, vadas and the filter coffee, Munnar, Thekkadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Palani Hills also amuse the tourists.

• By Air: Madurai has its own airport, located 12 km from the city center. There are daily flights to Chennai and twice a day flights to Mumbai.
• By Rail: Regular trains connect Madurai to Coimbatore, Chennai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari and other towns of South India. The Madurai Railway Station is within the city center.
• By Road: Madurai is very well connected by a network of roads and road transport to all major towns of Tamil Nadu and surrounding areas.