Page 614 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

612  SOUTH INDIA

s Madurai waters. This is the venue of the
annual Theppam (Float) festival,
One of South India’s great temple towns, Madurai is celebrating the marriage of
synonymous with the celebrated Minakshi Temple (see Shiva and Minakshi, when their
pp614–15). This ancient city on the banks of the Vaigai images are taken in illuminated
river has, over the centuries, been a rich repository of Tamil boats to the small pavilion in
the centre of the tank.
culture. Some 2,000 years ago, it hosted the famous Sangams
(gatherings of writers and poets), which were to provide Tamil  Koodal Alagar Temple
literature with some of its most enduring works. From the 1 km (0.6 miles) SW of Minakshi
7th to 13th centuries, as the capital of the Pandyas, it saw art Temple. Open daily. Closed to
non-Hindus.
and trade with Rome and China flourish. It later became part One of the 108 most sacred
of the Vijayanagar Empire, and it was the Nayaka capital in the Vaishnavite shrines, this glorious
16th and 17th centuries. Today, religion and culture remain a temple has three superimposed
vibrant part of the city’s daily life. sanctuaries, of diminishing size,
housing Lord Vishnu. From
bottom to top, the images show
Vishnu in the seated, standing
and reclining position. The outer
wall has beautiful sculptures
and stone screens.
R Anglican Cathedral
Off W Masi St. Open daily.
A fine example of Neo-Gothic
architecture, this church was
designed by Robert Fellowes
Chisholm (see p573), and
consecrated in 1881.
 Tombs of the
Madurai Sultans
N of the Vaigai river. Open daily.
The sultans of Madurai ruled the
city after the invasion in 1310 by
Malik Kafur, a general of Alauddin
Khilji (see p52). They lie buried to
the north of the city. The complex
includes Alauddin’s Mosque, with
Grand pillared hall in the Thirumalai Nayakar Palace its flat-roofed prayer hall and
tapering octagonal towers, and Central Bus Stand
 Minakshi Sundareshvara and a few adjoining buildings the tomb of a local Sufi saint, 6 km (4 miles) Tombs of the
Temple survive, their awesome scale Bara Mastan Sada, built in the TAMIL SANGAM ROAD Madurai Sultans,
ALAGARKOIL
See pp614–15. evoking the grandeur of a 16th century. KALPALAM ROAD VICTOR BRIDGE
vanished era. The courtyard
P Thirumalai Nayakar measures a massive 3,900 sq m T A M I L S A N G A M R O A D ( N H 4 9 )
Palace (41,979 sq ft), and is surrounded N O R T H V E L I R O A D V A K I L N E W S T R E E T River Vaigai
1.5 km (1 mile) SE of Minakshi Tem ple. by massive circular pillars. To its N O R T H M A S I S T R E E T
Open daily. & Son et Lumière: west lies the Throne Chamber,
(English): 6.45pm, daily. & a vast room with a raised, W E S T M A S I S T R E E T
The power and wealth of the octagonal dome. This room W E S T A V A N I M O O L A S T Minakshi MUNICHALAI ROAD
Nayakas is evident from the leads to the Dance Hall, which Railway W E S T V E L I S T R E E T W E ST M AR KE T ST RE ET WES T P ER UM AL MA I S T R Y R O A D Sundareshvara E A S T M A S I S T R E E T E A S T M A R R E T S T R E E T
Station
Temple
remains of this once-grand now houses a display of NORTH AVANI MOOLA ST EAST AVANI MOOLA ST
palace, built by Thirumalai archaeological objects. T O W N H A L L R O A D E A S T V E L I S T R E E T Theppakulam
Nayaka in 1636. The building, THIRUPARANKUNRAM S O U T H C H I T R A I S T R E E T
with its interesting Islamic P Theppakulam NE TA J I ROAD S O U T H A V A N I M O O L A S T R E E T
influences, was partially restored E of Minakshi Temple. Open daily. s
in the 19th century by Lord Madurai’s great tank is another Anglican S O U T H M A S I S T R E E T
Napier, governor of Madras marvel attributed to Thirumalai SETC Bus Stand Cathedral Thirumalai P A L A C E R O A D
W E S T V A D A M P O K K I S T R E E T
between 1866 and 1872. Today, Nayaka. The square tank has Nayakar Palace OLD KOYAVAR PALAYAM ROAD
only the spacious rectangular steps, flanked by animal- Koodal Alagar
Temple
Airport
courtyard called the Swarga and bird-shaped balustrades, Entrance to the Anglican Cathedral 12 km (7 miles)
Vilasam (“Heavenly Pavilion”) leading down to the rippling at Madurai
For hotels and restaurants in the region see pp702–703 and pp717–18
612-613_EW_India.indd 612 26/04/17 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm