Sri Meenakshi Temple
Good for: architecture, sculpture, Hindu temple architecture, Photography, temple
- Address
- Old Town
- Price
- camera Rs30
- Hours
- 6am-12.30pm & 4-9pm
Lonely Planet review for Sri Meenakshi Temple
The Sri Meenakshi Temple is the abode of the triple-breasted, fish-eyed Goddess Meenakshi Amman (‘fish-eyed’ is an adjective for perfect eyes in classical Tamil poetry), is considered by many to be the height of South Indian temple architecture, as vital to the aesthetic heritage of this region as the Taj Mahal is to North India. It’s not so much a temple as a 6-hectare complex enclosed by 12 gopurams, the highest of which towers 52m over Madurai, and all of which are carved with a staggering array of gods, goddesses, demons and heroes.
Traveller reviews for Sri Meenakshi Temple (4)
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I haven't seen anything as magnificent as meenakshi temple
gobadeabhay recommends this,
Walking around temple will take you back into history. Temple architecture will take your breath away. Temple complex is so big you can easily get lost inside. Idol, Sculptures and Gopurams are beautifully carved. This is greatest example of chola architecture after Brihadeeswarar Temple
Good for: architecture, sculpture, Hindu temple architecture
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A spiritual experience, even for us atheists...
lyralicious recommends this,
My overwhelming memory of our trip to Madurai is one of intense religiosity and joy. The fact that we had inadvertently turned up during the festival of Pongal may have had something to do with it…
As we crossed the border from the predominantly Christian state of Kerala into neighbouring Hindu Tamil Nadu we were greeted by the sound of bells, wafting incense, marigold necklaces, painted faces, decorated cows, chanting voices and rice flour patterned pavements. Temples and shrines line the roads, whether tucked between ramshackle buildings in villages and towns, or dusty corners in the countryside. They stand on the top of hills calling the faithful to puja, giant gopurams dominate the skyline in Madurai and even in an ageing and mildewed shopping-mall-come-factory stand forlorn and neglected surrounded by shops.
After the longest journey in the history of journeys from Cochin to Madurai we awoke from a deep and refreshing sleep. The hotel – chosen with great care and attention from what Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor had on offer – turned out to be comfortable, clean and convenient. In the loudest and most bustling city J and I had so far encountered in India it was a relief to have a cool and calm bolt-hole.
The main reason for visiting Madurai – the second largest city in Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India – is to see the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a sixteenth century homage to Dravidian architecture in all its rambunctious colour and form. The other reason turned out to be because it has a most inquisitive and friendly set of inhabitants, many of whom Jamie took delight in photographing.
We visited the temple twice. On our first day we spent six hours walking through the city with the intention of saving Madurai’s most famous sight for the next morning, but we couldn’t resist a quick peek at dusk. Covering 45 acres (180000 m2) the whole complex measures 254 by 237 meters. The 14 gopurams (towers) – the tallest of which is about 170 ft high – dominate the skyline. Made of granite, wood and stucco, every inch of each structure is covered in brightly painted multicoloured representations of gods and heavenly bodies. There are 1511 figures on the four large towers. It is the heart and soul of the city.
Jamie headed off on a photographic quest so I sat on the steps of the Golden Lotus Tank, admiring the hibiscus and bougainvillea growing there, while the sun slowly descended behind one of the giant gopurams. Despite people milling around it was a peaceful moment, in a tranquil place. If I had even a smidgen of religious belief in me I may have taken the time to talk to my god, as it was I watched raptors (probably kites) circling high overhead, hundreds of pigeons coming home to roost in the intricate carvings for the night and flocks of acrobatic martins whooshing out of their well-hidden nests to snatch at insects on the wing. I counted twenty-three nests clinging to the intricate ceiling, each containing hungry and loudly demanding young. Further within the complex Jamie and I discovered bats hanging in rows, untroubled by the cacophony going on around them, silently awaiting their turn to come out for the evening’s pickings. Some of us have bats in the belfry so why shouldn’t India have bats in its temples?
Commerce in India is everywhere. In Hinduism the goddess Lakshmi is revered as the goddess of wealth, good fortune, beauty and auspiciousness. She is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains at the festival of Diwali throughout India and the world. Believers will explain that wealth is not only found in money, land, property, animals and grain, but can be achieved through tradition, value of life, family and progress as well as virtues like patience, persistence and purity.. After removing your shoes you enter a 17th century market place and run the gauntlet of vendors who press upon you all manner of gold and sparkly temple souvenirs. Cut and paste the link for the rest of the story and photos: http://www.followtheboat.com/2011/03/22/meenakshi/
Good for: Photography, culture, history, religion, temple, tamil nadu, madurai
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