About madurai
Madurai is a major city in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India.It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. Madurai is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu[3] and the 31st largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
History
Madurai has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century BCE. Megasthenes may have visited Madurai during the 3rd century BCE, with the city referred as "Methora" in his accounts. The view is contested by some scholars who believe "Methora" refers to the north Indian city of Mathura, as it was a large and established city in the Mauryan Empire. The city is also mentioned in Kautilya's (370–283 BCE) Arthashastra. Sangam literature like Maturaikkāñci records the importance of Madurai as a capital city of the Pandyan dynasty. Madurai is mentioned in the works of Roman historians Pliny the Younger (61 – c. 112 CE), Ptolemy (c. 90 – c. CE 168), those of the Greek geographer Strabo(64/63 BCE – c. 24 CE), and also in Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Geography
Madurai is located at 9.93°N 78.12°E. It has an average elevation of 101 metres. The city of Madurai lies on the flat and fertile plain of the river Vaigai, which runs in the northwest-southeast direction through the city, dividing it into two almost equal halves.[43] The Sirumalai and Nagamalai hills lie to the north and west of Madurai.[44] The land in and around Madurai is utilised largely for agricultural activity, which is fostered by the Periyar Dam. Madurai lies southeast of the western ghats, and the surrounding region occupies the plains of South India and contains several mountain spurs
Architecture
Madurai is built around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which acted as the geographic and ritual center of the ancient city of Madurai.
The city is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular streets around the temple.
Vishwanatha Nayak (1159–64 CE), the first Madurai Nayak king, redesigned the city in accordance with the principles laid out by Shilpa Shastras (Sanskrit: śilpa śāstra, also anglicised as silpa sastra meaning rules of architecture) related to urban planning.
Culture
Madurai is popularly called Thoonga Nagaram meaning the city that never sleeps, on account of the active night life. The city attracts a large number of tourists from within the country and abroad
tourism
Madurai is now attracting medical tourism also. The palace complex of Thirumalai Nayak Palace was constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style by Thirumalai Nayakar in 1636 CE. It is a national monument maintained by the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. The daily sound and light show organised by the department explains the virtues of King Thirumalai and the features of the palace. The palace of Rani Mangamma has been renovated to house one of the five Gandhi Sanghralayas (Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai) in the country. It includes apart of the blood-stained garment worn by Mahatma Gandhi when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. A visit by Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. to the museum inspired him to lead peaceful protests against discrimination. The Eco park, situated in Tallakulam, features fountains and lighting in trees using optical fibres. Rajaji children's park, maintained by the Madurai Municipal Corporation, is situated between the Gandhi museum and the Tamukkam grounds.
CityTransport
Road:
The National Highways National Highway 7 (India)(old numbering), NH 45B, NH 208 and NH 49 pass through Madurai.
The state highways passing through the city are SH-33, SH-72, SH-72A, SH-73 and SH-73A which connect various parts of Madurai district
Madurai is one of the seven circles of the Tamil Nadu State Highway network.
Rail:
Madurai Junction is an important railway junction in southern Tamil Nadu and constitutes a separate division of the Southern Railway.
It is the second largest revenue division in Southern railway next to the Chennai division
Air:
Madurai Airport is located 12 kilometres from the city.
It is one of the important airport in Tamil Nadu
Holy Places
Meenakshi Amman Temple[113] is a historic Hindu temple located on the south side of river Vaigai in Madurai, and is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. It is dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva as Sundareswarar.The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city.Koodal Azhagar Temple is a Vishnu temple located in the city. It has idols of Navagraham (nine planet deities), which are otherwise found only in Shiva temples.
Kazimar Big Mosque is the oldest Muslim place of worship in the city. It was constructed under the supervision of Kazi Syed Tajuddin, who is said to be a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
He came from Oman and received the piece of land as a gift from the Pandya ruler, Kulasekara Pandiyan, during the 13th century.
Thiruparankundram is a hill 8 km away from Madurai, where the Hindu god Murugan is said to have married Deivanai. The temple is the first among the six holy abodes of Murugan, the Aarupadai Veedu, literally "Six Battle Houses", and one of the most visited tourist spots in Madurai, next only to the Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Hotel
Famous hotel and their contact details. Astoria Hotel, Near Railway Terminus, Madurai, 625004 Phone:0452 663 3000
Poppys Hotel, Madurai
122, SKS Nagar, Ring Road, First Toll Gate, Uthankud
Heritage hotel,
11,Melakkal Main Road, , Kochadai
historical events
Jallikattu:
Jallikattu the Old Tamil phrase eruthazhuvuthalor manju viraṭṭuis a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrationsAnnually, Jallikattu is held from January to July, played first in world-famous Palamedu, near Madurai on January 15 followed by "Alanganallur-jallikattu" in Alanganallur, near Madurai on 16 January.
There is a specific breed of cattle bred for this purpose known as Jellicut and from the place of a big breeder PulikulamJallikattu, which is bull-baiting or bull cuddling/holding, is a Tamil tradition called 'Yeru thazhuvuthal' in Sangam literature(meaning, to embrace bulls), popular amongst warriors during the Tamil classical period.
Bull fighting was has been common among the ancient tribes who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of Tamil Nadu
Economy
Madurai was traditionally an agrarian society, with rice paddies as the main crop. Cotton crop cultivation in the regions with black soil in Madurai district was introduced during the Nayaka rule during the 16th century to increase the revenue from agriculture.[124] The paddy fields cultivated in the Vaigai delta across Madurai North, Melur, Nilakottai and Uthamapalayam are known as "double-crop paddy belts". Farmers in the district supplement their income with subsidiary occupations like dairy farming, poultry-farming, pottery, brick making, mat-weaving and carpentry. Madurai is famed for its jasmine plantations, called "Madurai Malli", primarily carried out at the foothills of Kodaikanal hills and traded at the Madurai morning flower market. An average of 2,000 farmers sell flowers daily at the flower market.
festivals
Pongal Festival:
Pongal festival is popularly known as the Harvest Festival. The three-day festival is celebrated to thank the Sun, the nature and the cattle for giving the farmers a good harvest.
Chithirai Festival:
Chithirai Festival is celebrated on the Full Moon Day of the Tamil month of Chithirai i.e. in the month of April/May. The festival marks the wedding of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarer.
Festival of the Cradle:
During this festival, Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundarewarer are taken in a procession to a mirror chamber. Here, they are placed on a swing for nine days which rocks slowly.
Avanimoolam Festival:
The festival takes place in August/September. It is basically organized to celebrate the coronation of Lord Sundareswarer. Priests narrate mythological stories of Siva through a play called 'Lila'. It includes the recitation of 64 miracles of Siva, which saved the city from adversity. The venue of the celebrations is the Sundareswarer Temple.
Float Festival:
Float Festival is one of the main festivals celebrated in Madurai. It takes place on the full moon night of the Tamil month, Thai, which falls between mid January and mid February. The concept of the festival dates back to the 17th century, when it was celebrated for the first time by King Thirumalai Nayak.
Dance Festival:
This cultural festival is organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department. Dancers from all over the nation participate in this fifteen-day festival. Various dance forms are presented by the participants.
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