Tamil Nadu is one of the Indian state, situated at the southern end of Indian peninsula. Tamil Nadu is a land of Temples with great stone structures. Its culture, coustoms and even costume are different from other part of the country. Language is Tamil. Nice people and good locations are available here for your enjoyable tour. Please visit Tamil Nadu and find yourself about this great country and people.

Madurai, once the seat of Tamil Literature and learning and still one of the places where the Tamil language is spoken in its purest form, is a primordial city. The city of Madurai was planned out in the shape of a lotus with the famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in the middle. It is positioned on the banks of river Vaigai. History of this city is that Lord Indra mounted a lingam in a place of worship in a forest of Kadamba trees so that he could worship Lord Shiva there. A trader passing by saw this shrine and informed his king, who had the forest cleared and built his lotus-shaped city around it. On the day the Pandyan emperor Kulasekara was to have named his new city, Lord Shiva came into sight to bless the people and nectar flowed from his matted locks. So it was called Madhurapuri and later Madurai. The last of the three Tamil academies (sangams) prospered here nearly two thousand years ago. The Pandyas, great patrons of Tamil learning, art and architecture, were accomplished something by the Nayaks who conserved the work of earlier kingdoms and enhanced their traditions.

Cuisine.

Madurai is a non-sleeping city and known for its typical vegetarian south Indian cuisine particularly Idlis and Dosas. The best places to eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian are found around the city, 24X7. The best food to go for is good Idlis, Dosas, Puttu and Meals. Non-veg. specialties are: Parathas and mutton curry, egg Paratha and Kothu Parathas, Briyani and Meals. These are all south Indian Specialties.

Madurai is a non-sleeping city and known for its typical vegetarian south Indian cuisine particularly Idlis and Dosas. The best places to eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian are found around the city, 24X7. The best food to go for is good Idlis, Dosas, Puttu and Meals. Non-veg. specialties are: Parathas and mutton curry, egg Paratha and Kothu Parathas, Briyani and Meals. These are all south Indian Specialties.

Sightseeing:

Meenakshi Temple:

The twin temples of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarer, one dedicated to Sri Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva), and the other to the Lord himself, is the main temptation at Madurai. This is one of the biggest temple complexes in India. The five gopurams (towers) that surround the temple are known for its structural work and the 48.8 meter high southern gopurams is tallest. Legend has it that when the last Tamil Sangam (Academy) met here, literary works were thrown into the temple's Golden Lotus Tank: those that floated were deemed to be outstanding literature. (In those days papers were not used for writings. They used palm leaves for those purposes. A literature - a bunch of palm leaves - always submerged in the water and a outstanding literature could floated with god's blessings) It is believed that the Kadamba tree under which Lord Indira mounted a Lingam of Lord Shiva for his worship is the only one that remains of the forest that once covered this area. Wonderful sculptures are to be found throughout the complex.

Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal.

This Mahal is a Palace about one kilometer south east of the Meenakshi Temple. The whole building is raised in the Indo-Saracenic style by Thirumalai Nayakar which is indeed an imposing structure. The main enticement here is the musical pillars and the underground pathway. There is a small museum in one of the rooms. The main audience hall opens onto a huge outdoor courtyard. A sound and light show is held here every day describing the Tamil classic of Silappathikaram. English 6.30 pm, Tamil 8 pm.

The Temple Art Museum.

This museum is located in the famous ‘Ayirangal Mandapam' (Hall with thousand pillars) and contains a good collection of objects of interest relating to temple art and architecture.

It is located in a 300 year old Palace it contains a picture gallery, a gallery of relics, personal memorabilia of the Mahatma Gandhi, a library, Khadi and Village Industries section and a South Indian Handicraft section.

Mariamman Tank

A Tank known as Vandiyur Teppakulam is at the eastern end of the city and is almost equal in area to that of the Meenakshi Temple. The temple tank has a Mandapam in the centre enshrining Lord Vishnu.

The Street around the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai are the best places to shop. The areas are Chithrai, Avani Moola, Masi streets. You can purchase items like bangles and other trinkets, Handicraft items, metal wears etc.

Jallikattu: The Bull fight, the running of the bulls-is very similar to that in Pampolana, Spain. Held in the hamlet of Alanganallur in Madurai District on the 16th of January every year, it is part of the Pongal celebrations.

Rekhla Race: Or the bullock cart Race. On the 17th of January on the Madurai - Melur road crowds gather to see the exciting race of the bullock cart.

Float Festival: Jan/Feb; this festival is celebrated at the Vandiyur Mariamman Theppakulam (Tank).

Chithrai Festival: April/May, is the celebration of the marriage of Goddess Meenashi to Lord Sundareswarar.

Madurai Ashok, Alagar Koil Road, Madurai

Pandyan Hotel, Race Course Road, Madurai

Taj Garden Retreat, Pasumalai Hill, Madurai

Hotel Supreme, 110 West Perumal Mestry Street, Madurai

Hotel Tamil Nadu, Alagar Koil Street, Madurai

Hotel Tamil Nadu, West Veli Street, Madurai

YMCA, Vallabhai Patel Road, Madurai

There are many other hotels around here for your comfortable stay.

Indian Airlines connects Madurai to Madras, Bangaloru, Bombay. Airport is about 15km from the city centre. Taxis and auto rickshaws offer transfer facilities.

Southern Railways: Madurai is connected to all major cetres in the country by express trains.

By Road: Madurai is also well connected to other parts of South India by road with regular bus services playing to Madras 447km, Trichy 150km, Bangaloru 427km and Pandicherry 326km etc. The main bus stations are Mattuthavani, TTC Bus Stand, Periyar Bus Stand, Anna and Arapalayam Bus Stands.

Rameshwaram is an island consecrated by the epic Ramayana. A disciple who visits Varanasi is also anticipated to visit this place in order to gain the full fruit of his entreaties. Myth has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailas to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot here after beating Ravana. As Hanuman had not returned when the propitious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time. Therefore, this place is hallowed to both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Rameshwaram is also one of major marine food centers in the south India, with much of its fish and prawn catch being exported. An Indo-Norwegian fisheries project is functioning at Mandapam for the development of the fishing industries while Mandapam also has a Pearl Culture Project run by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation from where pearls can be purchased. It is 173km from Madurai.

The closest Airport is Madurai. Two trains connect Rameshwaram to Madurai daily. Quite a few other trains, the Sethu Express, Rameshwaram Express from Chennai lead to Rameshwaram. Rameswaram is connected by reliable bus services to Madurai 173km, Kanyakumari 315km, Trichy 273km and Chennai 527km.

The present Ramanatha Swamy Temple is close to the sea on the eastern side of the island, famous for its magnificent corridors and massive sculptured Pillars lining them. One of the 12 Jyothir Lingam Shrines, it is also well-known for its magnificent corridors.

Gandhamadana Parvatam: This stepped Mandapam, about a mile and a half west of Rameshwaram temple, offers an excellent view of the country side. There is a footprint of Lord Rama in this Shrine.

Perumal Temple: This temple in Ramanathapuram is about 55 km from Rameshwaram. This is a temple which is commonly visited by the Vaishnavites.

Hotels:

Hotel Tamil Nadu, Rameshwaram

Swami Ramanatha Tourist Home, Rameshwaram

Alankar Tourist Home, Rameshwaram

Hotel Maharaja's. 7 Middle Street, Rameshwaram

Hotel Venkatish, Rameshwaram

Hotel Tamil Nadu, Mandapam.

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