India's Southern India
Madurai
One of India’s oldest religious centers, this captivating city on Southern India proves a vibrant collage of Hinduism. At its center lies the astonishing Sri Meenakshi Temple, an impressive sight described more than 400 years before Christ by the Greek ambassadors who trod its halls. Amazingly, in more than two and a half millennia, this outstanding icon remains much in the same state as when it awed its first visitors.
The city enveloping this celebrated temple is a treasure unto its own, where traditional Tamil culture rings brilliantly on the picturesque banks of the Vaigai River. As it was known early in its history for the famous gatherings of writers and poets, Madurai remains an integral center for culture and learning. Explore the Koodal Algar Temple with its three intimidating superimposed sanctuaries, or the Mariammam Teppakkulam Tank where images of Shiva and Minakshi float along the river via illuminated boats during the delightful Teppam Festival, or simply spend your time wandering the brilliant facets of the Sri Meenakshi, where baroque Dravidian architecture rings supreme and 12 soaring gopuras built from granite bases require a fair amount of notice.
