Things to Do in Madurai
As the evening draws, the extraordinary ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’ at Sri Meenakshi Temple rises. Each night, the image of Shiva is carried from his shrine to join his consort Parvati, in another part of the temple. This ceremony can be chaotic and noisy, but this is not to be missed if you are traveling to Madurai. Each morning, the image of Shiva is returned to his own place of rest. We will start at the east entrance of the temple, and we will witness the traditional Aarti ceremony that is performed every evening at dusk. The experience wonderfully highlights local culture and religion, in an effort by the participants to find peace. Note: *Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Temple’s main sanctum area, but they can witness the ceremony from outside. *The beginning time of the ceremony is not precise. It depends on the number of people, temple festivals and the movements of Hindu's astrological constellations.
Dress Code:
* Full pants and shirt with sleeves is required. People wearing Half pants/ sleeveless shirts are not allowed inside the temple.
* Cigarettes, lighters, match boxes, tobacco, chewing gum, cosmetic items are not allowed to take into the temple. Water bottle, purse and small hand bag are allowed to take into the temple.
* Photography/videography is prohibited inside the temple premises.
Exclusions:
* Entrance fee for the Temple
* Tipping for the guide
Any Questions/Assistance:
Please fill this form and send to us and I will reply within Four Hours!
https://surveyheart.com/form/641d3da03444cb080e450b7d
Thank you!
The city has been described as the 'lotus shaped' city in one of the Tamil literatures. Since immemorial times, Madurai has been a well planned city in terms of construction of roads and buildings. Meenakshi Amman temple is the centre point for the formation of all the roads. The Meenakshi Amman temple is one of the largest in India. Something is always happening here – ceremonies, musicians playing, weddings, prostrating pilgrims, festivals – making it a compelling place to spend time and enjoy temple life. The temple is the geographic and ritual centre of the ancient city of Madurai and divided into a number of concentric quadrangular enclosures contained by high masonry walls. It is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. This temple has four towers each intricately decorated with thousands of colored figures.There are eight more towers and a hall with a thousand decorated pillars.
What to remember :
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship
- No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed.
- Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
- Guests may not be allowed to enter if you fail to comply with these dress requirement.
- All kind of electronic items are not permitted to carry into the temple.
- Tour Starting time is customizable. We could start the tour between 7 am to 9.30 am , if the guests not able to come at 7.15 am .
Exclusions:
- Entrance fee at the Temple
- Tipping for the Guide
Promotional Video ( Courtesy : Tamilnadu Tourism )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgK7NnHizgY&t=16s
Any Questions/Assistance:
Please fill this form and send to us and I will reply within Four Hours!
https://surveyheart.com/form/641d3da03444cb080e450b7d
Thank you!
Experience authentic Madurai on this amazing walking tour of the old town with the Local and this tour will give you a great introduction of the city, its history, its vibrant culture, and its people with lots of wonderful stories about the city, fun facts and must do things in the city.
We will cover some of the city highlights such as Local Flower Market and Banana Market along with hidden places and forgotten nooks of the old city.
Booking/Assistance:
Please fill this form and send to us and I will reply within Four Hours!
https://surveyheart.com/form/641d3da03444cb080e450b7d
Duration : Four Hours
Exclusion :
* Transportation
* Entry Fee for temple
* Personal Expenses
* Tipping for tour guide
Note :
These tours has minimum number (Minimum Two) of guests required for it to run. While unlikely , it is possible that will not reach the minimum and the guest will be notified that it has been cancelled.
Thank you!
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple:
The Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple was constructed under the reign of King Kulasekara Pandya between 1190 and 1216 AD.
He was responsible for the main sections of the three-tiered gopura at the entrance of the Sundareswarar Sanctuary, as well as the central area of the Goddess Meenakshi Sanctuary, which are among the earliest existing components of the temple.
Additionally, he established shrines (Koil) dedicated to Natarajar and Surya adjacent to the main temple, along with Ayyanar to the east, Vinayagar to the south, Kariamalperumal to the west, and Kali to the north.
He also built a Mahamandapam. Kulasekara Pandya was not only a ruler but also a poet, and he wrote a poem titled Ambikai Malai in honor of Meenakshi. Corridor with pillars leading to the Sundareswara sanctuary and the Sundara Pandyan Mandapam.
This temple is an important pilgrimage site within the Shaivism tradition, Meenakshi Devi, and Shiva. It is noteworthy that Vishnu is present in various narratives, sculptures, and rituals, as he is considered Meenakshi's brother.
The daily religious observance that occurs early in the morning is traditionally known as Thirupalli Ezhuchi, which translates to "awakening a prayer" or "morning prayer" for the opening ceremony.
The evening ritual is known as the closing ceremony or chamber ceremony, and it takes place at night. The temple is usually open from 5:00 to 12:30 and from 16:00 to 20:30.
Embark on a Sri Meenakshi Temple where many treasures, insights, and stories are waiting. Let a local host show you around and experience this cultural attraction from a local perspective.
Reasons to book this tour :
✓ See Thousand Pillars Museum from a local perspective
✓ Get insights straight from a local source
✓ Explore Sri Meenakshi Temple it with a local.
As a center of Madurai, there's a cultural gem ready to be discovered. Get ready and hit the road with your favorite local and prepare to be amazed.
On this Private Sri Meenakshi Temple tour in Madurai,With so much to see and learn, there's no better way than to have a knowledgeable local by your side. Check out its best-known spots as well as those little details that only a local expert knows about, like Thousand Pillars Museum and Sri Meenakshi Temple.
Embark on an enriching journey where you'll get to know everything about this must-visit attraction with its ins and outs, its incredible history, insights, and fun facts. The more you explore, the more you'll discover why this place is so important to the locals and its cultural relevance.
