Madurai Travel:
Cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, Madurai is the oldest city; it was already mentioned by Roman geographers. If there is only one to visit in Madurai, it is one of the great, the prodigious, the extravagant temple of Minakshi-Sundareshvar, the most exuberant example of the evolution of late architecture "abundant" temples of Dravidian India. His style is Nayak (17th century): Although very old place of worship, most of the temple was built during the reign of Tirumala Nayak (1623-1659). But the oldest parts reflect the influence of Vijayanagar who ruled here until their defeat Talikota (1565) against the Muslim kingdoms.
Describe the temple and its various parts are not easy. Everywhere, these are just courses and mazes, halls hypostyle (mandapa) pillars decorated with gods, goddesses, celestial creatures and fantastic animals...
Madurai – Temple of Sri Meenakshi
It is actually a double temple dedicated to Shiva Sundareshvara "the Beautiful Lord" and Meenakshi, "one whose eyes are in the shape of a fish", local divinity reincorporated in the Hindu pantheon as Shakti Shiva. Recall that Shakti is the parèdre, against-female, or more precisely, energy of creation of a god.
Bypassing the central part of the temple, we arrive on the north side, on mandapa Kalyana, hall weddings. Then, returning to the East, it faces the entrance to the temple of Shiva Sundareshvar.
The giant pillars are extraordinary. We see four large statues of terrible forms of Shiva and Kali that visitors criblent small balls of ghee (butter). It is perhaps a gesture auspicious. Several representations of Ganesh can also be found in this mandapa.
Outside the northeast corner of the shrine of Shiva, noted an interesting altar dedicated to Navagraha. Pilgrims make their offering of light (ghee balls) and have nine times round the altar in the clockwise.
Parallel to the entrance of the East gopuram, a second entry, some twenty meters to the south, can pass through the Ashta Shakti mandapa with murals and statues of ancient gods.
How to Reach Madurai:
To reach Madurai you can hire a car, van or bus. Madurai Travel provides best rental car services to hire a car. Also You can reach Madurai by Air. Madurai has a domestic Airport which maintain daily flights from/to Madurai.
