Continued from Rameshwaram :
We left to Madhurai after having lunch.
We had collected some information about Madhurai.
Information and plan:
It will take maximum 4 hours to reach Madhurai from Rameshwaram. Meenakshi temple is the main attraction of Madurai. We had information about pooja timings also.
Pooja timings for Meenakshi temple :
Thiruvanandal pooja- Morning: 05 :00- 06:00
Vizha pooja- Morning: 06 :30- 07 : 15
Kalasandhi pooja- Morning: 06:30 - 07:15
Thrikalasandhi pooja- Morning: 10:30-11:15
Uchikkala Pooja (Noon Pooja)- Morning: 10:30 - 11:15
Maalai pooja- Evening: 04:30 - 05:15
Ardhajama Pooja (Night Pooja)- Night: 07:30- 08:15
Palliarai pooja- Night: 09:30 - 10:00
We were not sure about visiting other temples. But we had information about other places also. These are the places you can visit in Madurai. Our plan was to leave Madurai after having dinner.
We left to Madhurai after having lunch.
We had collected some information about Madhurai.
Information and plan:
It will take maximum 4 hours to reach Madhurai from Rameshwaram. Meenakshi temple is the main attraction of Madurai. We had information about pooja timings also.
Pooja timings for Meenakshi temple :
Thiruvanandal pooja- Morning: 05 :00- 06:00
Vizha pooja- Morning: 06 :30- 07 : 15
Kalasandhi pooja- Morning: 06:30 - 07:15
Thrikalasandhi pooja- Morning: 10:30-11:15
Uchikkala Pooja (Noon Pooja)- Morning: 10:30 - 11:15
Maalai pooja- Evening: 04:30 - 05:15
Ardhajama Pooja (Night Pooja)- Night: 07:30- 08:15
Palliarai pooja- Night: 09:30 - 10:00
We were not sure about visiting other temples. But we had information about other places also. These are the places you can visit in Madurai. Our plan was to leave Madurai after having dinner.
- Koodal alagar temple
- Thiruparanakundram
- Alagar temple
- Pazhamudhir solai
- Thirumalai Nayak palace
- Gandhi musuem
Welcome to Athens of east :
Madhurai is also known as Athens of east, because of the antiquity and historical importance. We reached temple by 3:30 PM. Evening temple will open at 4:00 o clock.
Temple will open at 5 in the morning and closes 12 PM in the evening. Again it opens at 4 PM in the evening and night it closes by 10 PM.
In between we took some pictures inside the ancient monumental old temple entrance where shops have come now.
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| Waiting outside temple |
Temple will open at 5 in the morning and closes 12 PM in the evening. Again it opens at 4 PM in the evening and night it closes by 10 PM.
In between we took some pictures inside the ancient monumental old temple entrance where shops have come now.
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| War sculpture |
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| Goddess Kali |
We were wearing shorts and we were told to wear lungi. We wore lungi and kept all our camera in the camera counter, shoe in shoe counter and went inside. Later we got to know Non Hindus were not allowed inside the temple. Temple covers large area and is the largest temple I have seen till date. You can refer wiki for the historical significance of this 2500 year old temple. Its been nominated as one of the wonders of the state.
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| Shops inside monuments |
Temple is built in Dravidian architecture and it is marvelously built. But sad part is that it has become commercialized and a lot of shops have come at the cost of monuments. Unlike Karnataka, Tamilnadu government which gives a lot of importance to roads and infrastructure, has ignored the archaeology department,
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| Temple from far view |
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| Meenakshi temple, near view |
I hope for coming generation, this beautiful architecture is preserved. According to me, God is every where but these creations are very rare to find. We entered the big queue which was meant for special darshan, had darshan and came out. we had dinner in nearby hotel and left to Bangalore. It was such a memorable trip in my life. I would definitely recommend Madurai for those interested in sculptures and ancient architectures.
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