About Madurai | Facts | History | Best Places To Visit
In this article, we provide detailed information about the geography, history, population, and top tourist attractions of Madurai. Madurai, one of the oldest cities in India, is a vibrant cultural hub in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Known as the “Temple City,” it is home to the magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple, a stunning example of Dravidian architecture. Madurai is especially known for its vibrant festivals like the Chithirai Festival, making it a traveler’s must-visit destination in India for exploring its culture and traditions.
| About: | Madurai, formerly known by its colonial name Madura is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established in 1 November 1866. As of the 2011 census, it is the third largest metropolis in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore in terms of population and 27th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as “Thoonga Nagaram”, meaning “the city that never sleeps”. |
| History: | It is narrated in legend that Madurai was originally a forest known as Kadambavanam. One day, a farmer named Dhananjaya who was passing through the forest, saw Indra (The king of the gods), worshipping a swayambhu (self created Lingam ) under kadamba tree. Dhananjaya, the farmer immediately reported this to King Kulasekara Pandya. Kulasekara Pandya cleared the forest and built a temple around the Lingam. A city was soon planned with the temple as its centre. On the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared and drops of nectar from his hair fell on the town. So, the place was named Madurai – mathuram meaning “sweetness” in Tamil. Madurai has a rich historical background in the sense that Lord Shiva himself performed sixty-four wonders called “Thiruvilaiyadals”. As early as the 3rd century BC, Megasthanes visited Madurai. Later many people from Rome and Greece visited Madurai and established trade with the Pandya kings. Madurai flourished till 10th century AD when it was captured by Cholas the arch rivals of the Pandyas. |
| Geography: | The city has an area of 147.97 square kilometers or 57.13 square miles. Madurai is found at 9.93°N 78.12°E and has an average elevation of around 134 meters. It is situated on the flat, fertile plain of the river Vaigai, which flows in the northwest-southeast direction through the city, dividing it into two almost equal halves. The Sirumalai and Nagamalai hills lie to the north and west of Madurai. Agriculture occupies most of the land inside and around Madurai, and this is made fruitful by the use of Periyar Dam. The city is south-east of the western ghats, the rest of the surrounding region being covered with plains of South India, and several mountain spurs. The central part of Madurai has predominantly clay loam soil type while red loam and black cotton types are the most widely found in the city’s outskirts. The individual major crop is paddy, followed by pulses, millet, oil seed, cotton, and sugarcane. |
| Country : | India |
| State: | Tamil Nadu |
| District: | Madurai |
| Language: | Tamil, English |
| Population: | 1,017,865 (2011) |
| Literacy rate: | 90.91 % |
| Major Attractions to Visit: | Meenakshi Amman Temple Koodal Azhagar Temple Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple Alagar Kovil (Azhagar Temple) Pazhamudircholai Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal Gandhi Memorial Museum Kazimar Big Mosque Vaigai River Samanar Hills Athisayam Water Park Puthu Mandapam Chithirai Festival Avanimoolam Festival Rameswaram Kodaikanal |