Madurai in Tamil Nadu is one of South India's oldest cities. Situated in the heart of the old city is the Meenakshi temple which is infact a city within a city, where activity never ceases. The Temple's 12 gates (gopurams) are highly decorated with a profusion of carvings of gods, goddesses and celestial figures all in multicolored hues. It is the largest and oldest temple of its kind in India, extending over 65000 sq meters
The Meenakshi Temple or the Temple of the fish eyed goddess is in the running, together with the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, for Wonder of the world, in a list being compiled by the Zurich based New 7 wonder foundation created by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber.
Madurai was known to the Greeks as early as the 4th century BC. It finds mention in the dispatches of Megasthenes, Greek Ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
The first temple was built 2000 years ago but the present Temple was designed in the 16th century and expanded in the 17th century. The Temple complex has a huge entrance hall which is a mini bazaar. The custom is to honor the Goddess first and then proceed to honor Shiva (Sundereshwara). Within the complex lies the 1000 pillared Hall of the Aiyramkaal Mandapam, housing the Temple Art Museum which contains the finest exhibit of Hindu deities. Each of the 1000 Pillars is unique in that it has ornate and bold life like sculptures, Viewed from any angle the pillars always appear in a stranght line. In the outer corridors are the unique musical pillars carved of stone, with each pillar producing a different musical note.
The Madurai Market around the Temple is a joy for the senses. Walk though its labyrinthine alleys redolent with the fragrance of herbs, flowers and spices. Mountains of jasmine and marigolds are on sale, as are antique temple lamps, plates, interesting steel vessels and Madurai's famous handloom cottons. It is fun to bargain with the vendors more so as they speak only Tamil; so gestures work. See the sound and light show at the Tirumalai Nayak Palace. The main hall, entrance gate, Natyashala (dance hall) and the swargvilas (celestial pavilion) tell a story about the grandeur of the building and the era in which it was built.
Madurai celebrates the Teppam (float) festival (January/February) and Pongal, the harvest festival (mid January). Madurai's main festival however, when the Temple is the main center of attraction, is the Chithrai festival (April/May). This festival celebrates the marriage of the goddess Meenakshi to Sundereshwara (Shiva). Massive old wooden temple chariots carry the deities in a colourful wedding procession, much to the delight of pilgrims who flock to Madurai at this time. The whole scene seems out of another age and mesmerizes the onlooker and participant alike. Madurai still retains the flavour of a temple town with the all pervading sounds of temple bells and prayers. So visit Madurai and enjoy the blessings of the fish eyed goddess, Meenakshi and see her famous temple indeed a Wonder of the World. Madurai is conveniently connected by air, rail and road.