Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Vivacious, mythical, chaotic and soulful-that’s what best describe the city of Madurai which is steeped in Tamil culture. Greeted by bright colours and tingle of temple bells taking over your visual and aural senses as you step into the city. Madurai that include temples, churches and palaces. It is a unique place where the old and news co-exist. The ancient structures of the many temples and other architecture adorning the skyline of the city are enough to make the modern-day skyscrapers fade away.
Madurai is the place to lose yourself in the streets and take a journey to discover the divine. Madurai with its many colours, charms and idiosyncrasies is bound to make your tour memorable. Be it the famous Meenakshi Temple or the Koodal Azhagar Temple, Kalamegaperumal Temple or the St Mary’s Cathedral Church, the experiences of visiting the numerous religious shrines of the city will make you feel a lot more blessed. One of the most famous places to visit in Madurai happens to be the Sri Meenakshi Temple. Dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, the temple is an absolute wonder. Built in the Dravidian style of architecture, it leaves pilgrims and travellers in awe who pay homage here to fill themselves with a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.
THIRUMALAI NAYAKAR MAHAL
One of the chief historical sites and a major place to visit in Madurai is the Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal. The palace was constructed in the mid-17th century by Thirumalai Nayak of the famous Nayak Dynasty. The design and architecture is a blend of Dravidian and Rajasthani styles. The Interior of the palace surpasses many of its Indian contemporaries in scale. The interior is richly decorated whilst the exterior is treated in a more austere style.
The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. In its heyday, the palace was considered to be one of the wonders of the South.
The pillars supporting the arches are 13m tall and are again joined by foliated brickwork that carries a valance and an entablature rising up to a height of 20 m. The decoration is done.The pavilions topped with finials that were covered with gold are on either side of the courtyard.
The ceilings inside the pavillion are adorned with beautiful floral paintings in bright colours.
Conclusion:
Madurai makes you experience Hindu culture, definitely visit Meenakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayak Palace is special. One good thing is that very good non veg food is available here, must try!
Visited Date: 8th February 2021
