In the heart of Madurai, South India, stands the Meenakshi Temple, a stunning marvel of Dravidian architecture. This ancient temple, dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva, draws thousands of pilgrims and tourists alike.
Legend tells of its origin in the 6th century CE, when King Kulasekara Pandya built it to honor his daughter, Meenakshi, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. At 21, Meenakshi ruled her kingdom wisely before marrying Lord Shiva in a grand celestial ceremony.
The temple sprawls across 15 acres, boasting 12 towering gopurams (gateway towers) adorned with intricate carvings. These impressive structures, added during the 16th century Nayak Dynasty renovations, showcase the rich cultural heritage of India.
Inside, visitors marvel at the famous "Ayiramkaal Mandapam" or Hall of Thousand Pillars. Despite its name, it houses 985 uniquely designed pillars. A golden Lotus tank adds to the temple's allure. Devotees believe
sprinkling water from this tank on special days, like new moons or eclipses, and worshipping here can bring blessings and success.
Meenakshi Temple Highlights
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Name of the Temple |
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai |
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Address of the temple |
Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu- 625001 |
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Unique feature |
Pond of Golden Lotus |
|
Website |
https://maduraimeenakshi.hrce.tn.gov.in//hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=31962 |
|
VIP Darshan |
Yes, allowed |
|
Photography |
Not allowed inside the premises |
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Phone number |
4522344360 |
Timings of the Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
The timings of the Meenakshi Temple are 5:00 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Darshan timings:
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Morning Darshan |
5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
|
Closed |
12:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m |
|
Evening Darshan |
4:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
Pooja Timings
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Thiruvanandal pooja (mahasodasi) |
5:30 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. |
|
Vilaa pooja (paalai) |
6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. |
|
Kalasandhi pooja (Gowri) |
10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. |
|
Maalai pooja (panjathasi) |
4:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. |
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Ardhajama Pooja (madhangi) |
7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. |
|
Palliyarai Pooja (sodasi) |
9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
Pooja Services Ticket Price
|
No. |
Service |
Price (Rs.) |
|
1 |
Arulmigu Amman Swamy abhisheka |
1300.00 |
|
2 |
Abirami Anthadi |
10.00 |
|
3 |
Siddhar Pushpa Koodaram |
500.00 |
|
4 |
Ubaya Thangaratham |
1501.00 |
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5 |
Ubaya Thirukalyanam |
1501.00 |
|
6 |
Archanai |
5.00 |
|
7 |
Annai Tamil Archanai |
5.00 |
|
8 |
Kalyanam |
100.00 |
|
9 |
Kalyanam Thambulam |
50.00 |
|
10 |
Maavilakku |
2.00 |
|
11 |
Marriage Application Form |
10.00 |
|
12 |
Cloak Room |
2.00 |
|
13 |
Mobile Safety Locker Fees |
5.00 |
|
16 |
Thiru Vilakku Poojai |
200.00 |
Special Darshan Ticket Price
The Darshan of the deity in VIP Darshan, you'll get to see only one deity, and in general Darshan, you can worship both deities.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
VIP Darshan - any one shrine |
Rs. 50 (per person) |
|
General Darshan - Both Shrines |
Rs. 100 (per person) |
Meenakshi Temple Madurai Online Booking Link
Things to Explore at the Temple
- Lake of Golden Lotus
- Hall of 1000 pillars
- Chithirai Festival - Celebrated in April for about 12 days.
- Musical Pillars - Every tap on the pillar releases a tone.
- Stone-carved Ganesha Statue
- Golden Flag - 32 Ganas representing the human spinal Cord.
- 12 Gopurams (Gateway)
How to reach Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
|
Particulars |
Details |
Distance to Temple |
|
By Airport |
Madurai Airport (IXM) |
approx. 12 km |
|
By Railway |
Madurai Junction |
approx. 2 km |
|
By Bus |
Periyar Bus Stand |
approx. 2 km |
|
By Road |
Self-drive |
approx. 2,200 km |
Places to visit near Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
Samanar Hills
Samanar Hills is a historical place in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It's in Keelakuilkudi village. Long ago, about 2000 years back, Tamil Jain Monks lived here. You can see old caves with beautiful carvings that show Jain art. From the hills, you can see great views, especially during sunrise and sunset. It's perfect for nature walks and taking photos. You can also go trekking and explore the caves. In the hills and nearby forest, you might see animals like flying squirrels, sloth bears, and wild boars. You can also spot birds like bulbuls and hornbills.
Kutladampatti Falls
Kutladampatti Falls is in a protected forest in Madurai. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department takes care of it. The waterfall is about 27 meters high and creates a refreshing atmosphere. To get there, you need to trek through thick forests. On the way, you can bathe in the stream and see wildlife like deer and large squirrels. You'll also see trees like sandalwood, oak, and jack. The best time to visit is from September to February when there's lots of water. Remember to follow the forest staff's instructions and don't go during heavy rains for your safety.
Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a big temple tank used for religious festivals. It was built by Thirumalai Nayak. The tank is huge - about 16 acres! It's about 4 km east of the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. The best time to visit is in January or February during the Thai festival. You can see a float festival where statues of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar are brought on floats. The temple is lit up with thousands of lights that reflect in the water. You can walk on 12 steps of the granite tank and visit the central area where there's a statue of Lord Ganesha.
The Gandhi Memorial Museum is also called a Peace Museum by the United Nations. It tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi's life. You can see things Gandhi used and even the clothes he wore when he died. The museum shows Gandhi's work for India's freedom. There are different sections like "India Fights for Freedom" and "Visual Biography of Gandhi." You can also visit the library, watch shows in the open-air theatre, and see Gandhi's hut. Remember to be quiet in the museum.
Restaurants near Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
- Bhagwati Mohan's Bhojanalaya: This restaurant serves North Indian vegetarian food. It's a simple place upstairs, good for families. They're famous for paneer pakoras and thalis with 24 different items.
- Mom's Kitchen: This restaurant has a nice feel and serves many types of food, especially Tamil and South Indian dishes. The food is tasty and not too expensive.
- Ari Meenakshi Tiffen Centre: This is a quick food place that serves South Indian meals and snacks like idli, vada, dosa, and pongal. Their masala dosa, onion dosa, and ghee roast dosa are very popular. The service is fast, and the prices are fair.
- Shree Vandanam Fine Veg Restaurant: This restaurant is clean and comfortable, good for families. They serve vegetarian food from South India, North India, and even some Chinese and Continental dishes. Try their masala dosa, idli and sambar, paneer butter masala, veg biryani, and gobi manchurian.
- Vega Rooftop Restaurant: This restaurant is on a rooftop, so you can see the city while you eat. It's a nice place for casual meals. They serve many types of food including North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, and fast food. People like their paneer tikka, biryani, dosas, noodles, and gulab jamun. You can see the Meenakshi Temple from here, especially at sunset.
Things to Remember When Visiting Meenakshi Temple
- Wear traditional clothes.
- Take off your shoes before entering the temple.
- The temple has four entrances, one in each direction (north, south, east, west).
- Mobile phones and Bags are not allowed inside the temple. You can keep them in the lockers near the temple for a cost of Rs. 5 - 10.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Ques) What is the significance of Thousand Pillar Hall?
Ans) The Thousand Pillar Hall is a marvel of Dravidian architecture where each pillar has intricate carvings and depicts mythological scenes. The hall also houses a museum that has artifacts, sculptures, etc, that showcase Tamil culture and the temple.
Ques) What is special about the Meenakshi Amman Temple idol?
Ans) The Meenakshi Temple idol is made up of unique combinations. It is made up of lime and a certain herb, which gives it a greenish hue and makes it more attractive to the eyes.
Ques) Madurai is also called “Athens of the East." Why?
Ans) Madurai, is called " Athens of the East” because of the rich and cultural heritage of Madurai. And, especially because of the Meenakshi Temple because of its grand architecture.
Ques) What are the timings of Meenakshi Temple?
Ans) The temple is open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The temple remains closed in the afternoon from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Ques) What is the best time to visit Meenakshi Temple?
Ans) The best time to visit the Meenakshi temple is during the winter months from November to February. The popular time is during the Temple festival from April to May.