The
Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding
deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is
Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai
city. The splendor of the Meenakshi temple has remained intact for the
past so many centuries. The Meenakshi temple complex at Madurai is not
only an architectural marvel but also the epitome of Indian culture and
civilization. Madurai is one of the ancient cities of India and truly personifies the cultural ethos of India. Madurai has been closely associated with the literary wealth of Tamil. It is interesting to note that four of the 6 major streams as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e. Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and the worship of Skanda) converge in this historic city especially during festivals and celebrations.
The Meenakshi temple complex is spread over an area of about 6 hectares. The temple has 12 gateways (Gopurams), which range in height from 45 to 50 m and the tallest Gopuram is the southern. The southern gateway is nine stories high and has images of gods and goddesses. A unique feature of the ancient Dravidian culture of South India is that people paint their gods in brilliant and bright colors. This is very much evident atop the gateways of the Meenakshi temple.
How to Reach the Meenakshi Temple Madurai
Air
Madurai is connected by air with Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10 Km away from the city.
Rail
Madurai has direct rail connections to cities like Bangalore, Kollam, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin.
Road
Madurai is well connected by road to all parts of South India. From Madurai town buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are easily available to reach the Meenakshi temple.
