Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple
Meenakshi is the Presiding Deity of this 2500 years old Temple, popularly called as Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, a town by itself, is located in the heart of the Madurai town. Lord Siva is named as Sundareswarar in this temple Meenakshi means [meen Fish, akshi= eyes] Goddess with Fish Shaped Eyes.
Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
It was built by Thirumalai Nayakar and it is 1 1⁄2 km from the temple. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Islamic achitecture. Stucco work on the domes and arches are very attractive.
Gandhi Memorial Museum
Established in 1959, is a memorial museum for Mahatma Gandhi located in the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India. Known as Gandhi Museum, it is now one of the five Gandhi Sanghralayas (Gandhi Museums) in the country. It includes a part of the blood-stained garment worn by Gandhi when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
The Government Museum: Madurai Museum established in the year 1980 is located in the National Gandhi Museum Complex. Interesting collections of Bronzes, Sculptures, Musical Instruments, Paintings, Geological, Botanical and Zoological specimens are on display. Training programs on Tanjore painting, Batik art, Taxidermy are conducted.
Arulmigu Kallalagar Temple, Azhagar Kovil
Alagar Koyil is a village in Madurai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The history and living of the village is centered around Kallalagar Temple. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE
Kallalagar Temple covers an area of about 2 acres (0.81 hectares) and has a five-tiered gopuram (gateway tower). The temple is enclosed in a rectangular enclosure with huge granite walls. The central shrine houses the image of the presiding deity, Sundarabahu Perumal in standing posture. The images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are also housed in the sanctum. There are two life size images of Narasimha, the avatar of Vishnu.
Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Thiruparankundram
Arulmigu Murugan Temple, Thiruparankundram is a Tamil temple dedicated to the god Murugan (also known as Kartikeya and Murugan) at Thiruparankundram, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is built in rock-cut architecture and believed to have been built by the Pandyas during the 6th century.
It is where Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married Devasena also known as Deivayanai, (in Tamil) the daughter of the king of heavens, Indra. Also, Murugan is said to have worshipped his father Shiva here as Parangirinathar.
Keezhadi (also as Keeladi)
Excavation site is a Sangam age settlement that is being excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology. This site is located 12 km southeast of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, near the town of Keezhadi in Sivagangai district. It comes under the Thiruppuvanam Taluk of Sivagangai district. This is a large-scale excavation carried out in Tamil Nadu after the Adichanallur archaeological site.
The settlement lies on the bank of the Vaigai River and it reflects the ancient culture of Tamil people Epigraphist V. Vedachalam, who served as a domain expert for the excavation, dated the excavated remains between 6th century BCE and 3rd century CE.
Kodaikanal
Legend starts with Lieutenant Ward, an Englishman, who climbed up from the Kunnavan village of Vellagavi to Kodaikanal in 1821 for a survey of Mountain Ranges of Palani. In 1834, J.C Wroughten, the then Sub-Collector of Madras and C. R. Cotton, Member Board of Revenue - Madras Presidency went up the hills from Devadanapatti and built a small bungalow at the head of Adukkam pass near Shenbaganur. The visit of Dr.Wite in 1836 and his observation about the Hill Station attracted Botanists to Kodaikanal.
The Lake: The 24-hectare lake skirted by a 5 Km long black tar road, is the focal point in Kodal. This lake was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Hendry Levinge [1818-1885] the then collector of Madurai, retired and settled in Kodaikanal. He constructed the bund to form a lake and stocked the lake with fish. He brought the first boat from Tuticorin. In, 1890 a Boat Club was formed and Boating was opened to public and tourists in 1932 only.
Rameswaram
Rameswaram is a municipality in the Ramanathapuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 40 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. It is in the Gulf of Mannar, at the tip of the Indian peninsula. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island. is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge. Rameswaram is the terminus of the railway line from Chennai and Madurai.
Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus and is part of the Char Dham pilgrimage According to Hindu ancient texts, Lord Ram had built a bridge from here across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana. The Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, is at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Rama and Shiva. The temple and the town are considered a holy pilgrimage site for Shaivas and Vaishnavas.
Pamban
Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge which connects the Mandapam town in mainland India with Pamban Island and Rameswaram. India's first & the longest sea bridge till 2010, was opened in 1914.
This 100 years old bridge contains 143 pillars, each of which is 220 feet in length and 100 tonnes in weight. The bridge is conventional for the most part but has a double-leaf bascule section( like gates), which can be raised to let ships and barges pass through. The bridge took 14 years for completion has a span of 2.40 Kms.
Courtallam
Courtallam is a panchayat town situated at a mean elevation of 160 m (520 ft) in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu, India. The Coutrallam Falls on the Chittar River is a major tourist attraction.
Kanyakumari
It is also known as Cape Comorin, Kumari and Kumari Munai. This is a 'rocky mainland' on the Indian Ocean in the State of Tamil Nadu and located at the Southern Most tip of the Indian Subcontinent. Many call it KOODAL meaning it is situated at the Confluence of three oceans Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Kanyakumari is popular because it is the only places on earth, where you can see the Sun Rise and Sun Set from the ocean. It is the only place in India where one can enjoy the unique spectacle of Sunset and Moonrise simultaneously on full moon days.
Kumariamman Temple: This temple is 3000 years old and it is dedicated to Virgin Goddess Kanyakumari. She stands on an eternal vigil protecting the shores of our country. Goddess is facing the east. Devi stands as a charming Kanya [young] girl with rosary in her right hand in penance posture. The idol is believed to have been installed by Sage Parasuraman. Nose ring of the Goddess with brilliant rubies are so glittery and it resembled a bright beacon. It is also said, that one ship sailing through, mistook it for a lighthouse and had to bang against the rocks and wreck.
Vivekananda Rock: This is a memorial, in memory of charismatic Philosopher Swami Vivekananda. This was built in the year 1970, imbibing various architectural styles prevalent in India. Very next to this rock is the Sripada Parai [divine foot mark rock] blessed by the imprint of Goddess's feet on the rock. Poompuhar Shipping Corporation operates frequent ferry services from the shore to the rock memorial at regular intervals every day.
The Thiruvalluvar Statue: Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 133 feet [denotes 133 chapters of Tirukkural] tall stone sculpture of the Popular Tamil Poet-Saint Thiruvalluvar, who authored the Thirukkural Couplets. The 95 feet Statue that represent the chapters of "wealth" and "Pleasure" is erected on a 38 foot pedestal which represents the 38 chapters of "virtue" in the Thirukural.
