to the 13 places you need to add to the list.
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South India is full of historic temples. But Madurai is one of the holiest and oldest cities in India. It is also considered the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu. Moreover, it is also one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country, as evidenced by the temples in Madurai. Because of its planning and architectural shape like a lotus flower, it is also known as “Lotus City”. For the longest time, Madurai was the capital of the kingdom of Pandya. Madurai’s strong cultural and religious heritage is visible in its temples and mentioned in ancient works such as the Arthashastra. Browse this article for a list of the top temples in Madurai.
Famous temples near Madurai:
Madurai, formerly known as Madura City, is located in south-central Tamil Nadu. Although there are several temples in Madurai, we bring you 12 temples that you can include in your itinerary when you plan to visit the holy city.
1. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple:
Upon entering Madurai City, the first thing that catches your eye are the 14 gateway towers (gopurams) of this sprawling temple. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the main Shakthi Peeth temples. It is the only temple in India with four Rajagopurams.
The present building was built in the 16th and 17th centuries, but the original temple is said to have been built in the 6th century BC. Madurai Meinakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to the creator Lord Shiva and the mighty Goddess Parvati. The two beautiful golden shrines of Meenakshi are the central shrine, with an additional 33,000 sculptures.
This temple is famous for being one of the most famous tourist attractions on the banks of the Vaigai River. Dravidian architecture showcases the craftsmanship of a bygone era with its exquisite carvings and intricate artwork.
- address: Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001
- time: Madurai Meenakshi Temple Hours or rather Madurai Meenakshi Temple darshan Hours range from 5am to 12.30pm and 4pm to 10pm
- Dress Code: The dress code for Madurai Meenakshi strictly prohibits shorts, lunges, hats and animal skin clothing inside the temple premises. Decent clothing is encouraged. Men must wear pants and shirts. Women should avoid sleeveless kurtis.
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: 1 km from Madurai Junction Railway Station. Madurai Airport is located 10 kilometers from the city and is connected to all major regions of India. Taxis and buses in Madurai city are easy to find.
- Temple website: https://www.maduraimeenakshi.org/
- Best time to visit: Chitra Festival, Avanimoola Festival, Masi Mandala Festival, Float Festival and Navarathri Cultural Festival
- Other attractions: Aayiram Kaal Mandapam and Koodal Azhagar Temple are very close.
2. Edaganathar Temple:
Another incarnation of Lord Shiva is Edaganathar. Edaganathar Temple, his residence, was built on the banks of the Vaigai River. In this 5-acre temple, the temple includes two gopurams facing two shrines, one dedicated to Lord Edaganathar and the other to the Lord’s consort. The temple is believed to have been built during the Pandian Empire, and the stone carvings define the origin of Lord Edaganathar.
- address: Thiruwedagan Village, Madurai District.
- Opening hours: 6.30am to 12:00am, 4:30pm to 8:00pm.
- Dress Code: There is a strict dress code in traditional Indian clothing.
- how can I get there: The temple is near Sholavandahan, about 20 to 25 kilometers from Madurai city. Madurai is connected to all major cities in the country. Locally, you can rent a taxi or taxi to reach the temple.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Other attractions: Small temple in the nearby area.
3. Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple:
The Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple is located near Melur in Madurai District and is called Thirumoohoor or Tirumogoor Temple. The temple celebrates DivyaPrabandha, the Tamil canon of Azhwar saints of the early Middle Ages, and was built in a Dravidian style of architecture. Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Neelamegha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi is worshipped as TirukannapuraNayagi, one of the 108 Divysdeshams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and three of the four bodies of water.
- address: X624+9V8, Tirumohur, Tamil Nadu 625107.
- Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 7am-12pm, 4pm-8pm, Saturday: 5:30am-1pm, 4pm-8:30pm.
- Dress Code: There is a strict dress code in traditional Indian clothing.
- how can I get there: The temple is connected to Madurai, which is connected to several cities in the country. You can rent a taxi to travel locally.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Other attractions: Azagar Cowell.
4. Tirumeni Natal Temple:
Thirumeninatha Temple is located in Tiruchuli, Virudhunagar district, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shiva is represented by lingam, worshipped as Thirumeninatha, and his consort is depicted as Thunaimalaiyammai Amman. This temple is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Tamil saint poets worshiped the Lord God in the 7th century Tamil Saiva classic Tevaram (known as nayanmars).
- address: Manamaduri, Mangolam, Tamil Nadu 630606.
- Opening hours: 6 am to 8:30 pm.
- Dress Code: There is a strict dress code in traditional Indian clothing.
- how can I get there: Madurai is well connected to all major cities in the country and you can reach the temple by taxi locally.
- Other attractions: Small temple nearby.
[Read: Top Temples in Ooty]
5. Callealcoville:
Located in the Sivaganga district, Kalaiyar Kovil is a famous historic Madurai temple. The three functions of creating, preserving and fulfilling life inspired the temple’s three shrines. In addition, the Mandapam outside the shrine has three separate shrines for the gods and goddesses of the famous Shiva temple.
- address: SivagangaiSamasthanam Devasthanam, Sivaganga – 630 561, Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu.
- Opening hours: 6 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 9 pm.
- Dress Code: There is a strict dress code in traditional Indian clothing.
- how can I get there: Madurai is closely connected to all cities in India by air, road and rail. You can rent a taxi to explore the city locally.
- Other attractions: Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Sri Shanmughanatha Temple, Thirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple, Chetinadu Tours, Sheik Abdullah AvuliyaTharga.
6. Koodal Azhagar Temple, Madurai:
Koodal Azhagar Temple is one of the 108 Divyadesam Vishnu temples at No. 65 dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple covers 2.5 acres and Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Mathuravali Lord Vishnu. The statues of Lord Vishnu approaching each other in three different poses make this temple a famous temple near Madurai.
- address: Near Periyar Bus Station, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001
- time: 05.30am-12.00pm and 04.00pm-09.00pm
- Dress Code: Decent, decent clothing works best.
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: The temple is close to the Central Bus Station and Madurai Railway Station. The airport is 10 kilometers from the city. Public transport and auto rickshaws are easily accessible throughout Madurai.
- Temple website: http://koodalalagartemple.tnhrce.in/
- Best time to visit: A 10-day float festival (Maasi month on Star Makham).
- Other attractions: Meenakshi Temple. Prema Villas is suitable for local shopping.
7. Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram:
Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram, is one of the six dwellings of the Murugan built-in rock structure built by the Pandays in the 6th century. Apart from the Muruga of the main shrine, this temple is also dedicated to other deities of Shiva, Vinayaga, Durga and Vishnu. The worship tradition of this temple is Shaivite. The temple is maintained by the Tamil Nadu government’s Hindu Religion and Endowment Committee.
- address: Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu 625005
- time: 5.30am to 1pm, 4pm to 9pm
- Dress Code: encourage traditional dress
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: 9 km from the airport and 8 km from the station.You can reach the temple by taxi or taxi
- Temple website: http://www.thiruparankundrammurugantemple.tnhrce.in/
- Best time to visit: Brahmotsavam festival time
- Other attractions: Annadhanam can organize for crowds at an affordable price. Thirumalai Nayak Palace is nearby.
8. Temple of Karazagar:
The Kallazhagar Temple is awe-inspiring with its splendid architecture and stunningly beautiful structures. Also known as the Alagar Kovil Temple, it was the home of Lord Vishnu, and the seven-story Rajagopuram bordered by a granite wall completely surrounded the temple. The main deity of this temple is Uraga-mellanayaan Perumaal, which is similar to Srirangam Ranganathaswamy and looks like a reclining pose on a bed of snakes. This temple is one of 108 Vishnu temples, also classified as Divysdesam.
- address: Alagar Kovil Main Rd, Alagar Kovil, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.
- time: 6am to 12:30pm and 3pm to 8pm
- Dress Code: Dress appropriately
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: 31 km from the airport. Madurai Railway Junction is the nearest railway.
- Temple website: http://www.alagarkoil.tnhrce.in/
- Best time to visit: Chitra Festival (on Pournami or Full Moon Day) every April and May.
- Other attractions: Holy Bath for “Ishta Siddhi” at Nupura Ganga. Gandhi Memorial Museum can be explored.
[Read: Important Temples in Rameshwaram]
9. Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan Temple, Pazhamudircholai
Arulmigu Solaimalai Murugan Temple is one of the famous Madurai Murugan temples, located on top of a densely forested hill about 25 kilometers north of Madurai. The entire Prahala belongs to the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. In contrast, one of the six basic dwellings at the entrance to Lord Muruga’s temple is located under Madurai. The temple is maintained by the Hindu Religion and Charitable Giving Department of the Tamil Nadu government.
- address: Solai Malai(Pazhamuthir Cholai), Alagar Hills RF, Azhagarkoil, Madurai District., Tamil Nadu 624401
- time: 5.30am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm.
- Dress Code: Modest and Comfortable Dressing
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: By road, you can reach Azhagar kovil (23 km from Madurai Central Bus Station). The temple is 3 kilometers away, and a bus service organized by the authorities can be used to travel to and from the temple on a regular basis.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: annual abisek festival
- Other attractions: Athisayam is a theme park in Madurai to explore.
10. ISKCON, Sri Sri Radha Mathurapati Temple:
The International Society of Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON Temple is located in Madurai. Today, ISKON as a name resonates with people regardless of their religious affiliation. This Hare Krishna movement has become so famous that ISKON is very popular not only in India but also abroad. Today it has about five hundred centers and temples. This peaceful man in Madurai is also sincerely dedicated to celebrating the love for Hari Krishna. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna and has a beautiful deity Radamadav. The temple conducts various ceremonies, prayers and kirtans. On Sundays, the temple offers prasadam to all present. This temple is very popular during festivals such as Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Radha Ashtami, Gaur Purnima or Holi and Ekadashi.
- address: No.12/37, Mani Nagaram Main Road, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001
- time: 7:30am – 12:30pm and 5:00pm – 8:15pm
- Dress Code: Simple, decent clothing will work
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: Meenakshi Amman Temple is 2 km away. Easily accessible by all modes of transportation.
- Temple website: http://www.iskcon.org/
- Best time to visit: Janmashtami…