Madurai

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Madurai, the city of festivals and temples is a city in the state of Tamil Nadu, in the south of India, and is situated on the river Vaidai. The city, one of the oldest in South of the country, was and is a very important center of the Tamils.

For centuries it has been a pilgrimage site for this group and a center for culture and education. The Sri Meenakshi temple is THE landmark of the city but Madurai is also known for the fact that the decision by Mahatma Ghandi"was taken in 1921 to only wear a local rag (khadi) from that moment on.

Not surprisingly, there are numerous clothing shops and market halls in the city where you can buy self-spun clothes. The city stands on the tourist antenna - next to the frequently visited temple it is centrally located in the state, has a wide and good range of accommodation and is (very) easily accessible by public transport.

Sri Meenakshi temple:

This 16th century Dravidian temple complex is characterized by its four immense corner towers. The current temple was built in 1560 by order of Thirulalai Nayak but its history goes back to the beginning of our era when Madurai was still a Pandyan capital. I

nside is a maze with long passages and dark spaces with beautifully carved pillars. A large pond where you can come to yourself is at the heart of the complex.

In addition to the fact that the temple is very worthwhile to watch, "being together" with the thousands of pelgrims (believers) is a true experience. 

Other attractions:

• The Alagar Koyil (Vishnu temple outside the city) and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal (17th century palace built in the name of king Thirumalai Nayak).

Madurai has a rich cultural history dating back to the 5th century BC. From the beginning of the era until the 10th century it was the capital of the Pandya kingdom. The city was occupied by the Cholarijk, but at the end of the 13th century the Pandyas had declared themselves independent again. In 1311, Malik Kafur, a converted slave in the service of the sultan of Delhi, carried out a campaign to the far south of India.

At that time a struggle was going on in Madurai between various pretenders. At the invitation of one of the parties, Malik took Kafur Madurai and established a garrison. Despite the agreement, the city was pillaged upon capture, and the original Minakshi temple was destroyed. However, the domination by Delhi was short-lived. In 1335 the local governor declared himself independent of the sultan of Delhi. Madurai and the area around it formed an independent sultanate for half a century. In 1378 the short-lived Islamic domination came to an end, when the city was occupied by the Vijayanagararijk. 

Under Vijayanagara, Madurai was the seat of a local governor, who was called "nayak". The first governors were descendants of the earlier Pandyas, but in 1559 a Telugu was appointed, Vishvanatha Nayaka. He had a new city wall built and the Minakshi temple rebuilt. He would become the founder of a dynasty, because in 1565 Vijayanagara was defeated by the Dekan sultanates and the central authority fell away.

Although the nayaks continued to recognize the kings of Vijayanagara in name as ruler, they ceased to pay taxes at the beginning of the 17th century and became de facto independent. Madurai would become the cultural center for the "Tamils" from which the language was further developed. The city would be in the hands of the British "East Indian company" that would take away the city walls and fill the canal.

In addition to an airport Madurai has a functional train- and a central bus station. The latter is located about 5 km northeast of the center. The train station is therefore located in the west of the city center.

Madurai - Chennai: the city is on the main Chennai-Kanyakumari line and at least 9 trains run daily to Chennai. The most important (and perhaps the most convenient) are the Pearl City Express which leaves at 22:30 in the evening and takes 10 hours (sleeper 200 Rupees) or the Vaigat Express that takes about 8 hours and departs at 06:45.