Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

By George On

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is a famous temple on the banks of river Vaigai in Madurai city, Tamilnadu state, India.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman TempleMeenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai. Photo Source: Creative Commons

Madurai Meenakshi Temple’s main deity is Goddess Parvathy or Meenakshi, as it is called in this temple. Her consort, Lord Shiva’s Deity, is also there, and Lord Shiva is called Sundareswar. This differs from the other Shiva temples where Lord Shiva is the main deity, and Goddesses Parvathi is the secondary deity.

Meenakshi Amman Temple is also called Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswar Temple or Tiru Aalavaai.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Koil is among one of the largest temple complexes in the country. Madurai Meenakshi temple is one of the oldest temples in India and is well known for its sculptures, which number around 33000!

There are 14 Gopurams for the temple, each with a height of around 45 to 52 meters.  The highest Gopuram at Madurai is 51.9 meters high. The city and the temple have existed for around 2500 years. The present temple is built during the 16th century A.D.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple festival is called Chithirai Thiruvizha. It commemorates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. It is celebrated for ten days annually, during April / May. This temple festival at Meenakshi Sundareswar temple attracts lakhs of devotees.

How Do I Go to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Madurai is at the center of Tamilnadu and is well connected by road, rail, and air network to all parts of India.

NH 44 passes through Madurai. Madurai Junction is the railway station nearest to Madurai Meenakshi Amman Koil. National Highway 208 links Madurai with Kollam (Quilon), Kerala. NH40 links Madurai with Cochin alias Kochi or Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala.

Madurai airport is the nearest airport to Madurai Meenakshi Temple. Madurai railway station is the nearest railway station to Madurai Meenakshi Temple.

Hotels in Madurai Near Meenaksi Temple

Hotel Madurai Residency is one of the best business-class hotels in Madurai, which offers hotel booking over a phone call. Fortune Pandiyan Hotel is a star hotel in Madurai and is a member of the ITC group of hotels.

Hill Station Near Madurai Meenakshi Temple?

Kodai Hill Station (Kodaikanal) is the nearest hill station to Meenakshi Amman Temple, at around 117 kilometers.