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Shopping Delights	City Name

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		<title>Madurai</title>
		<link>http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide</link>
	
		<language>en-us</language>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:50 EDT</pubDate>
		<ttl>10</ttl>
		<image>
			<title>Travelguru</title>
			<link>http://www.travelguru.com/hotels/</link>
			<url>http://www.travelguru.com/images/logo.gif</url>
			<width>145</width>
			<height>65</height>
			<description>Hotels in India Find Cheap and Budget Hotels online on India largest Hotel Network.Instant Hotel Reservation at Best price</description>
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<item>
	<title>Editor's Note</title>
	<link></link>
	<description>
		<![CDATA[
			
		
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 <td class="body-text" align="justify"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/madurai-editor.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" class="body-img" alt="Madurai" align="right" />As sweet as it gets, Madurai is one of the oldest Indian cities and a great temple town. Deriving its name from the divine nectar that is believed to have dripped from Shiva's matted locks, Madurai is home to the celebrated Meenakshi Temple that was the site ofone of the grandest celestial wedding. This is a fast growing urban city - complete with its buildings, sparkling roads and unending swarm of tourists. But it cannot shake away the many myths and legends that together make Madurai. Its claim to fame is the Meenakshi Temple, the likes of which you're unlikely to find. And when you're standing before it, you know exactly why. Towering to about 160 ft, it seems to take you completely into its grandeur. In its colourful, intricate sculptures and stories of its origin, time seems to stand still. It then doesn't pose that incredible a question as to why Shiva enacted his 64 divine plays here, why Meenakshi chose to marry him here and why Madurai will remain etched on your mind forever…
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<item>
	<title>Fast Facts</title>
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		<![CDATA[
			
			<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
 <tr>
 <td valign="top" width="23%">Climate</td>
 <td width="77%"><table class="body-text" width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
 <tr>
 <td width="12%" valign="top"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/icons_03.gif" alt="Summer" width="48" height="44" /></td>
 <td width="74%" valign="top">Summer 
 March-June, Hot & Humid 
Temperatures - 25°C - 37°C</td>
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 <td colspan="2" height="12"class="body-text"></td>
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 <td align="left" valign="top"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/icons_10.gif" alt="Monsoon" width="48" height="44" /></td>
 <td valign="top">Monsoons 
 Early July-September, Heavy Rainfall Annual rainfall - 800 cms</td>
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 <td colspan="2" height="12"class="body-text"></td>
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	 <tr>
 <td align="left" valign="top"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/icons_06.gif" alt="Winter" width="48" height="44" /></td>
 <td valign="top">Winter 
 October-December, Cool & Pleasant 
Temperatures - 20°C-29°C</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Local Languages:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">Tamil, Sourashtra and English</td>
 </tr>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Best Time to Visit:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">All-year through, though it's best to avoid the summers when it turns scorching hot.</td>
 </tr>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Clothing:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">Light cotton garments, open sandals, light scarves and stoles</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">Moving Around: </td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">For moving around within the city, auto rickshaws are easily available. There are luxury, semi-luxury buses and tourist taxis also easily available for hire. Tourist taxis are also available throughout Tamil Nadu. You can also hire a car for driving on your own.</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="climate-head">Tourist Offices:</td>
 <td valign="top" class="body-text">
Hotel Tamil Nadu Complex 
180, West Veli Street, 
Near Central Bus Stand, 
Madurai 
Tel: 0452-2334757 
Tourist Info Counter 
Madurai Railway Station, 
Madurai 
Tel: 0452-2342888</td>
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	<title>What to See</title>
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 <td class="body-text" align="justify"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/madurai-what-to-see.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" class="body-img" alt="Madurai" align="right" />
		Meenakshi Temple: Undoubtedly this is the reason why tourists throng to this place. The Meenakshi Temple seems to have grown with the city itself. An architectural delight, this temple will simply take you in. Give yourself at least 3 hours to explore this marvelous temple. Spanning a height of almost 160 ft, 12 high gopurams are covered entirely with colourful sculptures of gods, goddesses, demons and beasts. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Sundareswarar and his consort Goddess Parvati in the form of Meenakshi.
 The entrance to this grand temple is the Ashta Shakti Mandapam, the entrance of which is flanked by massive sculptures, paintings and scenes from Thiruvilaiyadal (a divine play staged by Shiva). Further inside is the Meenakshi Naickan Mandapam, which has six rows of beautifully sculpted pillars and several flower shops. This mandapam has aisles separated by six rows of carved stone pillars. The westerm end of this mandapam has the huge Thiruvatchi with 1008 brass oil lamps. Next to the mandapam is the Golden Lotus Tank, where Indra is believed to have washed his sins and which has a carved golden lotus within. It is also believed that he worshipped Lord Shiva with the golden lotus from this tank. To the west of the tank is the Oonjal (swing) Mandapam, which is the site of the Oonjal Festival and which has paintings of the six abodes of Subrahmanya. Adjacent to this is the Kilikoondu Mandapam, so called because parrots used to be caged here. 
 Move on towards the Thousand Pillar Hall and the Museum. Keep an eye towards your left, where you can see the Thirukalyana Mandapam (the divine wedding hall), which is opened for public viewing only on special occasions. However, catch a glimpse of the roof, which is done elegantly in woodwork. Just before you enter the Thousand Pillar Hall, you would see the statue of this temple's architect mounted on a horse. Also, remember to ask your guide to strike the five Musical Pillars, carved out of a single stone that produce tunes when tapped! Within the hall is the chakram or the Wheel of Time, which denotes 60 Tamil years. Move on to the 7-storeyed Chithirai Gopuram and Mudali Pillai Mandapam, which has pictures from the puranas on the walls and beautiful sculptures of Vishnu as Mohini and Shiva as Bikshandar. 
 Once you've visited these wonderful structures, prepare yourself for an enthralling experience, as you enter the Meenakshi Shrine. The entrance has a 3-storeyed gopuram flanked by brass dwarpalakas (guards). The inner room, also known as Maha Mandapam has altars dedicated to other deities also. Within the shrine is the idol of Meenakshi, depicted as the fish-eyed goddess with a parrot and bouquet in her hand. Within the sanctum is the Palli Arai, the celestial room of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar and the Garbha Griha of the goddess.
 The Sunadreswarar Shrine is also protected by guards at the entrance and within it the walls are sculptured with different forms of Shiva. As you stand to offer prayers to Shiva, towards your right would be a shrine dedicated to Natraja. There is also a bookshelf here which contains the four Vedas.
 On your way out, pass through the Kambathadi Mandapam, which has sculptures of Shiva and Vishnu in their different manifestations. Also, there is a huge pillar with carvings of the holy marriage between Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. Puja timings at Goddess Meenakshi's shrine: 6.30 am, 10.30 am, 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm 
 Puja timings at Lord Sundereswarar's shrine: 6.40 am, 10.40 am, 4.40 pm and 7.40 pm
 All pujas last 40 mins. 
 Special Entry fee: Rs 15, issued outside the main sanctums for a closer view of the idols 
 Non-Hindus are not allowed into the two main sanctums 
 Museum timings: 7 am-12.30 pm, 4.00-8.00 pm 
 Entry fee - Rs 5 
 Alagar Koyil: Located 21 kms from Madurai, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, as the human form of Alagar, Meenakshi's brother. The temple stands atop a hill and has a distinctive architecture, complete with four gopurams and three prakarams. The temple is sotted with sculptures of the yazhis, with faces of lions and trunks and tusks of elephants. A marvelous feat - the ball inside every yazhis mouth can be rotated! Try it!
 The main idol of Vishnu as Alagar is beautifully done. Located within are also the shrine of his consort Sundarvalli Thayar and a shrine to Narasimha (Vishnu as part-lion part-man). The main sanctum is accessible by a flight of steps and it is believed that if a devotee joins his hands in prayer on the floor, his wish would come true! 
 Every year when Meenakshi's holy marriage is celebrated in April, the Alagar procession also takes place to enact the scene of Vishnu crossing the Vaigai River to attend her marriage. 
 Open from: 6.00 am-12.00 noon; 3.00 pm-8.00 pm (except Saturday) 
 Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the main sanctum 
 Thirumalai Nayak Mahal: Built by a former king of Madurai, Thirumalai Nayak, this palace shows a distinct fusion of Dravidian, Islamic and European style of architecture. Elaborately done, this palace consists of two parts, Swarga Vilasam and Ranga Vilasam. The courtyard and the dancing hall are the major attractions of this palace. Also, try and catch the Sound-and-Light Show, which depicts events from Thirumalai Nayak's life. 
 Open from: 9.00 am-5.00 pm 
 Entry fee - Rs 10
 Mariamman Teppakulam: This huge temple tank is located about 5 kms east of the Meenakshi Temple. The tank has a shrine in the centre dedicated to Mariamman, a manifestation of Shakti. Also, the mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara (manifestation of Ganesha), which was believed to have been found when the earth was being dug to build the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. This tank is particularly active during the Float Festival of the Meenakshi Temple and Alaghar Koyil, when the idols are placed in a raft bedecked with flowers and lamps.
 Gandhi Museum: Dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, this museum houses memorabilia of his times. One of the striking collections here is the bloodstained dhoti that he was wearing on the fateful day of his assassination. The Picture Gallery within presents a visual biography of Gandhi that includes photos, paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. 
 Tirupparankundram: Located about 8 kms southwest Madurai, this temple is believed to be cut out of the same rock on which it stands. This temple is the site of the holy marriage between Subrahmanya and Devasena, Indra's daughter. The temple is lined with panels that have Shiva's dance of bliss, together with celestial orchestra and audience scultptured. Also located outside is a tank with steps leading to it.
 Vaigai Dam: Located about 69 kms from Madurai, this dam is the site of many family picnics over the weekends. The damn is a pretty picture bounded by man made gardens of exotic flowers on one side and the hills on the others. On Sundays, the dam looks particularly enthralling, when it is illuminated with lights all over.
 
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<item>
	<title>Gourmet Feasts</title>
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 <td class="body-text" align="justify"><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/madurai-food.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" class="body-img" alt="Madurai" align="right" />Like all tourist hot-spots, Madurai offers a variety of eateries suiting all budgets. For a good range of South Indian dishes, try the Madurai Residency on West Marret Street. Their rava khichdi, vadas and chutneys are first-class! For tasty onion rava dosas, puris and dessert items, Meenakshi Bhavan on Town Hall Road is a good option. Murugan Idli Kadai at the Melamaasi Veedhi serves good idlis accompanied by four varieties of chutneys. For a quick and personal service, try the College House Annai Meenakshi, on TPK Road. You cannot resist their piping hot vadai even if you're full! For authentic South Indian filter coffee head out to KPS on TPK Road. Arya Bhavan on Melamaasi Veedhi is also very popular - it has two joints, which operate 'By Day' and 'By Night', the latter open all night.

Modern Restaurant, on Old Dindigul Road, is probably the precursor of the eating out culture in Madurai. Sriram Mess, near the Madurai Theosophical Society gives you home-style South Indian rice meal served on traditional banana leaf (yelai sappadu). There are some Gujarati Bhojanalayas too - try the one near the west gopuram of Meenakshi Temple. To catch a view of the Meenakshi Temple and the cityscape, Supreme Hotel is the ultimate choice. They also have a bar and a-la-carte menu. Hotel Arya Bhavan, by the Madurai Bus Stand in Thirumangalam has an air conditioned dining room where piping hot, tasty three-course meals are served in copper vessels, accompanied by prompt service. Try the South Indian thalis at Hotel Tamil Nadu on Azhagar Kovil Road that come with very tasty vathakolambu (a spicy tamarind sauce), rasam and enormous appalams. Divar Mahal Restaurant is one of the better multi-cuisine restaurants, which serve a variety of tandoori fares. Hotel Sangam on the other side of the river serves a delectable selection of seafood, Indian, and continental cuisine.
 Most restaurants are vegetarians and serve fresh hot inexpensive food. Rice is generally served only for lunch. A must-try is the Pazhamudircholai fruit juice shops that seem to be in abundance! Some of their exotic variations include tulsi and red banana. </td>
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<item>
	<title>Shopping Delights</title>
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 		<td align="justify" class="body-text" ><img src="http://www.travelguru.com/travelguide/images/madurai-shopping.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" class="body-img" alt="Madurai" align="right" />
			Admire the colourful chaos of the bazaars of Madurai that sell fine textiles, trinkets and souvenirs. The shops on West and North Chithirai streets and Town Hall Road are lined with shops selling souvenirs of bedecked elephants in wood and the famous sungudi (tie-n-dye) sarees. The Temple Boutique Shop on North Chithirai Street or Subiksham on West Chithirai Street is good for antiques, handicrafts, jewellery, sungudi saris, bronze and copper sculptures and woodwork panels. Puthu Mandapam located just inside the eastern entrance of Meenakshi Temple and Tamil Nadu State Handlooms Emporium is another good place to shop for saris and cloth material. The Government Poompuhar Handicrafts shop, The Cottage Arts Emporium and the Madurai Gallery is the place for hand-woven silks and cottons, lamps, wood and stone carvings. A special souvenir available at the several temples is the golu dolls, which are earthen idols of gods and goddesses. Also, get your hands on freshly made Madurai malli (jasmine flower garlands), available for as less as Rs 5. </td>
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<item>
	<title>Festive Celebrations</title>
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 <td class="body-text" align="justify"><img src="/travelguide/images/madurai-festival.jpg" hspace="15" width="220" height="140" class="body-img" alt="Madurai" align="right" />
 A culturally active city, Madurai holds festivals throughout the year in the Meenakshi Temple that renders it its colourful character. The most important festival takes place in April for 12-days, called Meenakshi Thirukalyanam and Chithirai Thiruvizha. The former celebrates the coronation of Meenakshi and the later is her marriage to Lord Shiva, which includes the famous Chariot Festival and the Float Festival. During the Chariot Festival, idols of Shiva and Meenakshi are taken around in a beautifully decorated chariot. The ornamented icons of the goddess The Float Festival is an especially beautiful sigh, when Meenakshi and her consorts are taken out in a colourful procession from the Meenakshi Temple to the Huge Mariamman Teppakulam. The idols are then floated in the tank on a raft bedecked with flowers and flickering lamps. The day of the divine wedding is believed to be so auspicious that over a few thousand weddings are solemnised in and around the temple.

The Vaikasi Visakam in May or June is a 10-day celebration, which includes a ceremonial procession of the 63 Nayanmars (saints devoted to lord Shiva). In fact on the 10th day, milk and mango offerings are made to the Lord and goddess. June or July marks the advent of the Oonjal (Swing) Festival, another 10-day celebration. During this, the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar (Shiva) are placed on the golden swing.
 The Aavani Moolam Festival in August is an 18-day celebration, which includes the coronation ceremony of Sundareshwarar and features the re-enactment of the Thiruvilaiyadal (divine play). The Kollata Vizha in October is a unique 7-day celebration, which sees a procession of the goddess on all days and that of the divine couple on the last day. Karthigai Deepam or the Festival of lights is held November and is particularly known because of the one lakh lamps that are lit in the temple.
 The Theppotsavam in January begins with a procession of the gods and goddesses and culminates in a Float Festival of all the major deities at the Mariamman Theppakulam (one of the largest temple tanks in South India, located 5 kms southeast of Meenakshi Temple). All deities within the temple are honoured in the 48-day Maasi Maha Festival in February with special pujas and processions.
 The Azhagar Kovil temple is host to the famous Chith Pournami Festival in April, during which the deity is taken out in a procession for a bath in the Vaigai River, by the banks of which he stays for five days. Navarathri is a nine day festival that is held in October in honor of Goddess Meenakshi in all her forms, which embody fury, compassion and wisdom. During this, the Goddess is offered nine varieties of rice meals and nine varieties of flowers.</td>
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<item>
	<title>Staying There</title>
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 There are loads of hotels available in Madurai, so staying is definitely not a problem! The most luxurious of them all is obviously the Taj Garden Retreat on TPK Road, which offers great views of the Meenakshi Temple, especially at night when the thousands of lamps light it up. Other upmarket options include <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00000133&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=Fortune+Pandiyan+Hotel%2C+Madurai&hotelClass=3&address1=Race+Course&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625002&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">The ITC Welcomgroup's Fortune Pandiyan</a>, ,<a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00002368&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=Hotel+Germanus&hotelClass=3&address1=No.+28%2C+By+Pass+Road&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625010&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">Hotel Germanus</a> <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00001126&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=GRT+REGENCY+Madurai&hotelClass=3&address1=38+Madakulam+Road%2C&address2=&city=Madurai&state=TAMIL+NADU&pinCode=625002&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">GRT Residency </a>and <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00002373&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=Hotel+Sangam&hotelClass=3&address1=Alagar+Koil+Road&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625002&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">Hotel Sangam</a>. These are located somewhat away from the city centre, but moving around in Madurai is fairly easy. 
 There are several budget options available within walking distance to the Meenakshi Temple. <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00002469&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=Hotel+Park+Plaza&hotelClass=0&address1=114-115%2C+West+Perumal+Maistry+Street&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625001&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">Hotel Park Plaza</a> is located near the Meenakshi Temple and is conveniently close to the railway station as well. Other options include <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00002377&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=The+Madurai+Residency&hotelClass=3&address1=15%2C+West+Marret+Street&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625001&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right">The Madurai Residency</a> and <a href="http://hotels.travelguru.com/moreinfo.do?strHotelId=00002397&link=HotelOverview&hotelName=Hotel+Supreme&hotelClass=3&address1=No.+110%2C+West+Perumal+Maistry+Street&address2=&city=Madurai&state=Tamil+Nadu&pinCode=625001&country=India&strAffiliateCode=00000080&strCurrency=INR&searchChoice=right"> Hotel Supreme.</a></td>
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 <td width="75%" valign="top" class="body-text">Madurai has its own airport located 10 kms away from Madurai City. There are a few domestic carriers that operate daily flights to and from Madurai. You can hire a private vehicle or taxi to get to the main city. </td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text">Trains connect Madurai to all metro towns except Kolkata. Pandyan and Vaigai expresses are extremely convenient trains from Chennai. Madurai also has good connections with Trichy, Coimbatore and Palakkad.</td>
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 <td valign="top" class="body-text">There are several air conditioned and non-air conditioned buses and sleeper coaches plying between Chennai and Madurai. Buses are also available for Bangalore, Chennai, Ernakulam, Guruvayur, Kottayam, Mysore, Trivandrum and Tirupati. </td>
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	The origin of the Meenakshi Temple is attributed to several legends. The most popular legend goes thus: The then Pandyan king of Madurai had performed a yajna seeking God's blessing for a child. Such was his devotion, that from the sacrificial fire appeared a 3-year old daughter with, alas, 3 breasts. This was the cause of great anxiety amidst the people present. However, it was prophesied that her third breast would disappear when she met her future husband. The child was thus named Thadathagai and turned out to be of extreme valour, and was brought up like a prince with training in all royal duties.
 
 
 One day, while pursuing her royal duties, she came across a young man of immense aura. And lo! Her third breast disappeared and it dawned on her that she had met her future husband. This young man was none other than Shiva in the form of Sundareswarar who went on to marry Goddess Meenakshi (meaning - one with the beautiful fish-like eye), and who today presides over with Sundareswarar over Madurai.</td>
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