About Sri Meenakshi Amman temple

One of the thirty proud nominees for the 7 of the world's wonders is the sacred temple of the Hindu goddess Parvati's pious form of Meenakshi Amma. It is listed among the sites of pilgrimage across the nation which is most popular among the devotees and visited by a great number of worshippers all year round. With its popularity, sacredness and beauty, the temple site is one among the top places to visit in Madurai.

Meenakshi temple history

The Madurai Meenakshi temple is believed to be initiated by the Madurai ruler before the Sixteenth century Kulasekara Pandya. However, the grand stature that it has been given today with the aesthetically amazing idols built on it is credited under the name of the Nayak ruler of Madurai Raja Tirumalai.

Meenakshi temple timings

This grand Madurai temple opens in the morning at 5 am and receives devotees till 12.30 in the afternoon. In the evening, it again opens at 4 pm and remains open till 9.30 pm. 

Major attractions

Meenakshi temple architecture

A marvelous combination of fourteen huge towers built across forty-five acres of massive land is this site of the temple. The one massive tower that welcomes you in the front with innumerable idols built on was built to a height of over a hundred and seventy feet in the 1550s. One of these towers was built in the early 13th century. The Potramalai Kulam (sacred pond) is one of the prime attractions here. The several sculptures which adorn each and every pillar of the temple range to over thirty-three thousand in number.

The enormous popularity

Fridays attract over twenty-five thousand devotees every week as it is the day for special pooja. About fifteen thousand worshippers make it to the temple every other day. Over a whopping million devotees come to seek the blessings of the Goddess during the Tirukalyanam festival in the name of the Goddess. It is a ten-day affair which is held around May every year and this temple must in your Madurai tour package without fail.

The hall of pillars

One among the most attractive features of the age-old site is its marvelous pillar hall laden with nine hundred and eighty-five pillars carved in the most skilfull form. The magnificent attraction dates back to the eighth century. What is even more fascinating is the musical set of pillars which produces a distinct sound when slightly hit.

Madurai Meenakshi temple special darshan

For visitors wanting to have a special darshan of the deity, a sum of Rs 100 has to be given. This will take the devotees straight into the sanctum sanctorum. The ticket also gets visitors special prasad. 

Being among the most ancient worshipping sites of the nation is this magnificent temple which is not just huge in size and breathtaking in its formation but also very old in its age which dates back to over twenty-five hundred years.

How to Reach

Distance in kilometers from Madurai Junction - 2 Kilometers.