Introduction
The town of Madurai is popularly known as the temple town of South India. This town is situated on the banks of the river Vaigai.
Historical Background of Madurai
Madurai has its own place in Indian history and in fact the history of Madurai goes back to about as far as 2, 500 years back. This area has numerous temples constructed centuries ago. These temples have various legends and stories connected to them. According to an ancient legend, centuries ago, a Pandya King had built a temple and had constructed a lotus shaped city around it, Lord Shiva is said to have blessed this city and the deity is said to have showered madhu or nectar on this city, that is how the city got its name.
Madurai has a rich cultural heritage, that include traditional and folk music. Traditional dance forms are still taught and practiced in the temples. Madurai is associated with ancient literary works in Tamil.
Tourist Attractions in Madurai
The most important site that all tourists visit is the centuries old Meenakshi temple. This temple is also known as the Sundareswarar shrine. The 1000-pillared hall at the Meenakshi temple is decorated with sculptures, inscriptions and columns. Among the other ancient temples worth visiting are, Kallazhagar temple, the Tirupparamkunram temple and the Koodal Azhagar temple.
Miscellany
Easily accessible and a great tourist destination, Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India is known for its temples. The city of Madurai has been planned in the style of a lotus blossom and is definitely a unique tour destination.
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