Madurai ( and ), is the oldest inhabited city in the Indian peninsula. It is a city in the Indian state of
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
and is the second biggest
Municipal CorporationA municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
of Tamil Nadu(source: Encyclopedia). It is situated on the banks of the
River VaigaiThe Vaigai is a river in Madurai,Tamil Nadu state of southern India. The actual name is Vaiyai in Tamil and the name has been referred as vaigai. It originates in the Periyar Plateau of the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley, which lies between the Palni Hills to...
in
Madurai districtMadurai district is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the world famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple and is situated on the banks of river Vaigai...
. The city is widely known as the
Temple city, and is often also referred to as Koodal Maanagar, Cultural Capital of Tamil Nadu, Malligai Maanagar (City of Jasmine), Thoonga Nagaram (Sleepless City), and
Athens of the East. With a population of 1,374,838 according to the 2001 Census, it is the 2
-nd largest city in Tamil Nadu after Chennai.
Madurai was the capital city of ancient Southern civilization. Madurai's cultural heritage goes back 2,500 years, and the city has been an important commercial center and has conducted trade as far as Rome and Greece since as early as 550 B.C.E..
History
Madurai is one of the oldest continually inhabited city in the Indian peninsula, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre-Christian era. It was the seat of power of the Pandyan empire. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar is associated with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar - that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today.
As early as the 3rd century BC, Megasthanes visited Madurai. Later many people from Rome and Greece visited Madurai and established trade with the Pandya kings.
In legend, the original town of Madurai, traditionally called
ThenMadurai or
Madurai of South was destroyed by a
tsunamiA is a series of water waves that is caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, such as an ocean. The original Japanese term literally translates as "harbor wave." Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan; approximately 195 events have been recorded...
in ancient
Kumari KandamKumari Kandam is the name of an alleged sunken landmass referred to in medieval Tamil literature. It is said to have been located in the Indian Ocean, to the south of present-day Kanyakumari district at the southern tip of India....
. The new city was home to the last Tamil Sangam in the early part of last Century. The great national poet Subramanya Bharathi worked as a
Tamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius and Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world...
pandit / teacher in Sethupathy High School during the early 20th century. There is a village town in the neighbouring district of
DindigulDindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu after the cities, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. It is the administrative headquarters...
called Vada Madurai, and another in the neighbouring district of Sivagangai called
ManamaduraiManamadurai is a panchayat town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Manamadurai is located at . It has an average elevation of 70 metres .-Demographics:...
.
Madurai flourished till 10th century AD when it was captured by Cholas, the arch rivals of the Pandyas. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium as it later came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom and Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar.
Geography and Climate
Madurai city has an area of 52 km², within an urban area now extending over as much as 130 km², and it is located at . It has an average elevation of 101 meters above mean sea level. The climate is dry and hot, with North East Monsoon rains during October-December. Temperatures during summer reach a maximum of 40 and a minimum of 26.3 degrees celsius,though temperatures over 43 degrees celsius are not uncommon. Winter temperatures range between 29.6 and 18 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is about 85 cm.
Language
TamilTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius and Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world...
is spoken predominantly in and around Madurai. The dialect of "
Madurai TamilMadurai Tamil is the dialect which is spoken in the city of Madurai, as well as over a vast geographical area of South Tamil Nadu, the area once ruled by the Pandiya Kings...
" differs from others such as "Kongu Tamil", "
Nellai TamilNellai Tamil is one of the dialects of Tamil which is spoken in the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi as well as over the vast area of south Tamil Nadu which was once ruled by the Pandiya Kings. It is distinct from Madurai Tamil, Kongu Tamil and Chennai Tamil which are other Tamil dialects....
", "Ramnad Tamil" and "
Chennai TamilMadras Tamil or Madras bashai , is a type of mixed language spoken in the city of Chennai, India . It is a loose polyglot blend of Tamil and English, with loanwords from Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Urdu...
". Along with Tamil, other languages spoken are
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
,
UrduUrdu is a Central Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-Iranian branch, belonging to the Indo-European family of languages. It is one of the two official languages of Pakistan. It is also one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of five Indian states...
, Malayalam, Telugu,
SaurashtraSaurashtra is a region of western India, located on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is a peninsula also called Kathiawar after the Kathi Darbar rulers who ruled part of the region once...
. However the words of some of these languages have Tamil words mixed in with them.sa
Demographics
As of the 2001 India
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
, the city of Madurai had a population of 928,869 within the municipal corporation limit and the urban area 1,194,665. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%.
Madurai has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 74%. In Madurai, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. There are 968 females per 1,000 males.
Architecture
Madurai is built around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Concentric rectangular streets surround the temple, symbolizing the structure of the cosmos. The entire city is laid out in the shape of the
lotusLotus identifies various plant taxa:* Nelumbo, a genus of aquatic plants with showy flowers, and the source of lotus seeds used in Chinese medicine and desserts.** Nelumbo nucifera, an archetypal species in the genus...
. Some of these rectangular streets are named after Tamil months. The six major rectangular streets around Meenakshi temple are Aadi, Chithirai, Aavani Moola, Maasi, Maarat and Veli streets.
Civic administration
The entire Madurai district comes under the dirct control of the Madurai District collector and the corporation limits within it is administered by the Madurai
Municipal CorporationA municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
. This was the second corporation formed in 1971 next to chennai .The corporation has received several National awards in the year 2008 for implementing development works . The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day running of the municipal school board, the city bus service, the municipal hospital, and the city library. The city serves as the headquarters of
Madurai districtMadurai district is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the world famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple and is situated on the banks of river Vaigai...
and as the seat of the Madurai bench of
Madras High CourtThe Madras High Court, one of the landmarks of the metropolis of Chennai, India, and believed to be the second largest judicial complex in the world, is located near the beach, one of the important central business districts of Chennai.-History:...
. The High Court Bench started functioning with effect from 24-07-2004 with the jurisdiction of the Districts of Kanniyakumari,
TirunelveliTirunelveli is a large and ancient city in southern Tamil Nadu, which became a City Corporation in 1994 by the merging of the municipalities of Tirunelveli city, Palayamkottai, Melapalayam and a few other Panchayat areas. It is the district headquarters of Tirunelveli district. Tirunelveli is the...
,
ThoothukudiThoothukudi also known as Tuticorin, is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tuticorin is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.The Tuticorin is also known as "Pearl City"....
, Madurai,
DindigulDindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu after the cities, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. It is the administrative headquarters...
,
RamanathapuramRamanathapuram , also known as Ramnad, is a city and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanthapuram District....
,
VirudhunagarVirudhunagar is a city and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.In the beginning of 20th century A.D., Virudhupatti was one among the six important places of Ramanathapuram District. Due to the rapid growth in the field of Trade and Education, it was renamed as...
,
SivagangaSivaganga, also known as Sivagangai, is a city and a municipality in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Sivaganga district.-Geography:...
,
PudukkottaiPudukkottai is a town and a municipality in Pudukkottai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Pudukkottai District. Population of Pudukkottai district is 14,59,601.-History:...
,
ThanjavurThanjavur Thanjavur Thanjavur ( (tañcāvūr), also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, is a municipality and the headquarters of the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a population of a 221,185 (2001 census)....
, Tiruchirappalli and
KarurKarur is a town and a municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of Amaravati. It is the administrative headquarters of Karur District....
. The city has pass port office and districts Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari & Dindugul come under its jurisdiction . Also the city has employment office where educated people from
madurai districtMadurai district is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the world famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple and is situated on the banks of river Vaigai...
register their educational qualifications for employment opportunities from Tamil Nadu government. This office also serves as a place for registration of post graduates and professional degree holders from all southern and some of the western districts in
Tamil naduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Religious Heads in Madurai
Being the oldest inhabited city, madurai is famous for its diverse culture and religious harmony. The three religious heads famously called as
Mummadha Thalaivargal (Leaders of The Three religion) strive to keep madurai in peace.
The Aadheenam
This is one of the oldest
muttA maţha is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu tradition. A maţha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Maţhas:...
in India constituted during the period of
Thirugnana SambantharTirugnana Campantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Chola Tamil Nadu during the reign of Ninrasir Nedumaran . He is one of the most prominent of the sixty-three Nayanars, Tamil Saiva Bhakti saints who lived between the sixth and the tenth centuries CE...
.There are lot of immovable properties donated for this mutt, right from the day of its origin. The tradition of madurai Aadinam goes back to
1300 years and
Thirugnana SambantharTirugnana Campantar was a young Saiva poet-saint of Chola Tamil Nadu during the reign of Ninrasir Nedumaran . He is one of the most prominent of the sixty-three Nayanars, Tamil Saiva Bhakti saints who lived between the sixth and the tenth centuries CE...
being the 1st Maga Sannidhaanam The Madurai Aadheenam. The mutt is headed by the Guru Maga Sannidaanam, The Aadinam of madurai. Though being a saiva, the Aadheenam is considered as the religious head of all Saiva and vaishanava Hindus of madurai.
The Guru maga sannidanam, Arunachalam Swamy is the present Aadinam and he is 292nd Aadinam in their genealogy. The present Aadeenam is very well versed in the Knowledge of Vedas, Quraan and Bible. The aadinam takes parts in all major festivals of madurai connected with
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
religion and also in religious harmony meetings. Kumbhabishekams, Meenkshi-Shokkar marriage, Azhagar's entry into vaigai and other Hindu festivals in the city are headed by the Aadinam. The sitting Aadinam, during his life time appoints his junior, who succeeds him after his death.
The Kaziyar
Kazi, the jury and religious head of Muslims, in Madurai is appointed by Govt. of Tamilnadu. The tradition of Kazis in madurai goes back to
750 years. Syed Tajuddin was the 1st Kazi to the then Govt of Sultans. Till today, His descendants are appointed as Kazis to the Govt. of tamilnadu in madurai. Hazrat Moulana Moulvi.Meer Ahamad Ibrahim Rahmatullahi Alaihi (The first of Madurai
MaqbaraThe Arabic word Maqbara is derived form the word Qabr that means grave. Though this means all graves of Muslims, it refers especially to the holy graves of sacred human beings or Waliyullahs who spend their entire life for the sake of Islam and to be a true Muslim and train others to follow Islam...
Hazrats), Moulana Syed Abdul Qadir Ibrahim, Moulvi.Syed Amjad Ahmad Ibrahim and Moulvi.Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Saahib Hazrat are remarkable Kazis to the Govt. during their tenure . Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim, the 19th Kaziyar of
Madurai, who was fondly called by the people as Town Kaziyar, Kazisaab, Town Kazisaab etc., is remembered for his simplicity and hardwork towards literal and economical empowerment of Muslims in the city. The present Kajiyar of Madurai
Moulvi.A.Syed Kaja Mueenuddeen is 20th in the genealogy of Kaziyars in madurai, who is well known for his hard work towards religious harmony in madurai together with, The Aadinam, Kundrakkudi Adigalaar and the Arch Bishop. Apart from working for religious harmony, the present kaziyar also strives for Political empowerment of Muslims of the locality. Kaziyar heads the prayers in Arasaradi, Edgah grounds on
Eid ul-FitrEid ul-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period...
and Eid al-Adha. Also,the Kaziyar heads the 23 days congregation of Aashura with sunni faith, during the Islamic month of
MuharramMuharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
. Almost all Muslim marriages in madurai are solemnized by the Kaziyar and disputes arising if any thereafter are solved by him. Most of the zikr majlis and urus festivals in reliable darghas are headed by Kaziyar or any other Moulvi from the kaziyars family.
The Arch Bishop
The tradition of the Archdiocese of Madura goes back
70 years and the Archbishop of Madurai is considered the head of Roman Catholic Christians in Madurai. The archdiocese of Madura was erected in the year 1938, and was renamed as the Archdiocese of Madurai in the year 1950. The Suffragan Dioceses of
DindigulDindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu after the cities, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. It is the administrative headquarters...
,
KottarKottar is a locality and a thriving bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil, near the southernmost tip of Peninsular India, grew. It was an ancient trade center of both Pandyas and Cheras at...
,
PalayamkottaiPalayamkottai "Oxford of South India" - is a town in the Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a part of Tirunelveli City Corporation. It is on the eastern bank of the Thamirabarani river, while its twin city Tirunelveli is on the western bank.-Etymology:The archaic...
, Sivagangai,
Tiruchirapalli
and Tuticorin come under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Madurai . Bishop John Peter Leonard was the 1st archbishop of Madurai with whom the genealogy of the Archdiocese of Madurai starts. Bishop Marianus Arokiasamy, the 4th Archbishop of Madurai, is well remembered for his works towards the religious harmony along with The Aadheenam and The Kaziyar to keep Madurai in peace when south Tamil Nadu was burning due to communal riots in late 1990s. Bishop Peter Fernanado is the 5th Archbishop of Madurai. Bishop Christopher Asir, who is the Archbishop of Madurai-Ramnad Diocese of CSI, is the head of C.S.I. Christians in Madurai.
Rail
The railway station is one of the busiest in the country and has computerized reservation counters. Madurai division repeatedly has received the award for being the best-maintained station in the
Southern RailwayThe Southern Railway is the earliest of the 16 zones of the Indian Railways created in independent India. It was created on April 14, 1951 by merging three state railways namely Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway, and the Mysore State Railway. The South Indian Railway...
. The railway station code for Madurai junction is
MDU. It is connected to Indian cities and towns including
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the fifth most populous city in India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai city had a population of 4.34 million in the 2001...
,
NagercoilNagercoil is the 12th largest city in the Southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the municipal headquarter of the Kanyakumari district.The city which is Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula is the southernmost city in the Indian mainland.It is the administrative headquarters of...
,
KanyakumariKanyakumari is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is also know by its former name Cape Comorin...
,
TiruchendurThiruchendur is a panchayat town in Toothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for the Murugan temple by the seashore.-Demographics:...
,villupuram,
CoimbatoreCoimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Coimbatore District and a major textile and engineering hub of India, especially Southern India. It is part of the ancient Kongu Nadu region of Tamil...
,
TenkasiTenkasi தென்காசி is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls....
,
RameswaramRameswaram is a town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometres from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered to be one of the holiest...
,
ThoothukudiThoothukudi also known as Tuticorin, is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tuticorin is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.The Tuticorin is also known as "Pearl City"....
,
BangaloreBangalore , also known as Bengaḷūru , is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration.Though historical references to the city predate 900...
(by Mysore exp & mumbai CST exp),
MysoreMysore is the second-largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahishūru, which means the abode of Mahisha...
, Trivandrum,
MumbaiMumbai, formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper is the most-populous in the world, with approximately 14 million inhabitants. Along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it forms the world's 4th largest urban agglomeration, with around...
(by Mumbai CST exp),
PunePune , formerly known as Punawadi or Punya-Nagari or Poona, is the eighth largest city in India, and the second largest in the state of Maharashtra, after Mumbai...
(by Lokmanya tilak exp),
AhmedabadAhmedabad is a city in India, which is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, with a population of approximately 52 lakhs . Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital...
,
TirupathiTirupathi may refer to:* Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Temple of Lord Venkateshwara* Tirumala - Tirupati, The Temple Town* Tirupati - a pilgrimage city located in the vicinity of the Tirupati Temple...
,
HyderabadThe Secunderabad Railway station is the major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Hyderabad Urban Area. The station, located in the city of Secunderabad falls under South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways...
(by RMM OKHA EXPRES),
DelhiDelhi, known locally as Dilli , and also by the official name National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India...
(by Thirukkural and Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti Express), and
Kolkata, formerly , is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the River Hooghly. When referred to as Calcutta, it usually includes the suburbs, and thus its population exceeds 15 million, making it India's third-largest metropolitan area and...
(by Cape Howrah exp).
Road
Madurai has several major bus stands: Madurai Integrated Bus Terminus (MIBT) at Maattuthavani (North), Palanganatham (South),
ArappalayamArappalayam is an area in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu State, India. It is on the south bank of the River Vaigai. Arappalyam comes under the Madurai West constituency. The PIN Code for Arasaradi-Arappalaym is 625016....
(West), Periyar (Central) and Anna Bus stand (East). From MIBT, many buses to locations all over the south India operate round the clock. From Arapalayam bus stand, buses to places of western
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
like Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode,
SalemSalem is a city and a corporation in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located in the north central part of the southernmost state of India....
operate and Periyar bus stand is where only city buses and private buses to major cities operate. Anna bus stand and Palanganatham are not in operation currently.
Apart fom city buses, three-wheeled, black and yellow auto-rickshaws, referred to as autos, are available for travel with in the city. MIBT has pre-paid auto counter where commuters can pay fixed auto-fare depends on destination and hire.
Madurai is connected by the following major National Highways:
NH 7 : (North-south Corridor Expressway)
BangaloreBangalore , also known as Bengaḷūru , is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration.Though historical references to the city predate 900...
–
SalemSalem is a city and a corporation in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located in the north central part of the southernmost state of India....
–
DindigulDindigul is a town and municipality in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India.It is the 13th largest town in Tamil Nadu after the cities, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur and Nagercoil. It is the administrative headquarters...
– Madurai –
TirunelveliTirunelveli is a large and ancient city in southern Tamil Nadu, which became a City Corporation in 1994 by the merging of the municipalities of Tirunelveli city, Palayamkottai, Melapalayam and a few other Panchayat areas. It is the district headquarters of Tirunelveli district. Tirunelveli is the...
–
KanyakumariKanyakumari is a town in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu state, India. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is also know by its former name Cape Comorin...
NH 45B : Trichy – Madurai –
ThoothukudiThoothukudi also known as Tuticorin, is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Tuticorin is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.The Tuticorin is also known as "Pearl City"....
NH 49 : Madurai –
RameswaramRameswaram is a town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometres from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered to be one of the holiest...
NH 49 Extn : Madurai –
TheniTheni is a Business Center in Western Tamil Nadu of southern India. It is the headquarters of Theni District. It is known for the large scale trading of Cardamom, cotton, chilli and textiles. It hosts the second largest weekly market in Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest in South India by turn over...
–
BodiBodi may refer to:*Bodinayakkanur, India*Bodi, Benin* The Bodi people of Ethiopia...
– Cochin
Bridges have been constructed across the Vaigai river to connect Madurai at various points. Flyovers have been constructed within the city to overcome traffic congestion. Four lane express highways to
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the fifth most populous city in India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai city had a population of 4.34 million in the 2001...
and
BangaloreBangalore , also known as Bengaḷūru , is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration.Though historical references to the city predate 900...
make Madurai well-connected by road.
Air
Madurai AirportMadurai Airport is a public airport serving Madurai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The airport is located about from the Madurai railway station. It is served by four airlines, and has connectivity to Bangalore, Ahmadabad,Goa, Chennai, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Cochin and Pune...
is approximately 9 kilometers from the Madurai railway station, and it offers
11 daily flights to major Indian cities like
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the fifth most populous city in India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai city had a population of 4.34 million in the 2001...
,
MumbaiMumbai, formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper is the most-populous in the world, with approximately 14 million inhabitants. Along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it forms the world's 4th largest urban agglomeration, with around...
and
BangaloreBangalore , also known as Bengaḷūru , is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration.Though historical references to the city predate 900...
. It also offers flights to Hyderabad,
PunePune , formerly known as Punawadi or Punya-Nagari or Poona, is the eighth largest city in India, and the second largest in the state of Maharashtra, after Mumbai...
,
GoaGoa is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.Panaji is...
and
AhmedabadAhmedabad is a city in India, which is the largest city in the state of Gujarat, with a population of approximately 52 lakhs . Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati, the city is the administrative centre of Ahmedabad district and was the capital of Gujarat from 1960 to 1970; the capital...
through Chennai. Airlines that serve the
Madurai Airport are
Jet AirwaysJet Airways is an airline based in Mumbai, India. It is India's second largest airline after Air India and the market leader in domestic sector. It operates over 400 daily flights to 65 destinations worldwide....
,
Air DeccanKingfisher Red, known formerly as Simplifly Deccan and prior to that as Air Deccan, is a low-cost airline run by Kingfisher Airlines. It is headquartered in Bangalore, India....
,
Paramount AirwaysParamount Airways is an airline based in Chennai, India. It operates scheduled services, mainly targeting business travellers. Its hub is Chennai International Airport...
,
Star AviationStar Aviation is an upcoming Indian regional airline based in Chennai. The airline is run by Star Aviation Pvt. Ltd., an airline unit startup of Dubai-based ETA Star Group...
(upcoming) and Indian Airlines. International flights from Madurai to
ColomboColombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins and a city...
,
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, lying north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At , Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast...
and Gulf countries are proposed in the future. The nearest international airport is in
Tiruchirapalli International AirportTiruchirapalli Airport or Trichy Airport is a major airport mostly serving Tiruchirapalli and adjacent districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The airport, located on the NH 210 Tiruchirapalli-Rameswaram highway, is south of the city centre...
, which is 130 km from Madurai. The airport code for Madurai is IXM.
| Airline-From Madurai |
Service to |
| Indian airlines |
Chennai, Mumbai |
| Paramount Airways |
Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Goa, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi |
| Jet Airways / Jet Konnect |
Chennai |
| Air Deccan (Kingfisher) |
Chennai, Bangalore |
| Star Aviation (upcoming) |
Chennai |
Education
Madurai has a literacy rate and human development index above the state average.
Madurai Kamaraj UniversityMadurai Kamaraj University is a public university in India.-Overview:Madurai Kamaraj University, located in Madurai city established in 1966, has 18 Schools comprising 72 Departments. The Directorate of Distance Education of the University has a student strength of about 1.30 lakhs...
is situated in Madurai. It pioneered the concept of Distance education throughout
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
. The University was accorded the status of "University with Potential for Excellence" . The city has a Medical College,
Madurai Medical CollegeMadurai Medical College is a medical school attached to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. The hospital provides tertiary care to more than twenty million people in the southern part of Tamil Nadu. The hospital was established in 1842 and became a teaching hospital in...
(established in the year 1954), an Agricultural College and Research Institute, a Law College, and many Engineering and Arts & Science Colleges. The
Aravind Eye Research Institute which has started Ph.D programme in the areas of
GeneticsGenetics, , a discipline of biology, is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms. The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding...
,
immunologyImmunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with, among other things, the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease; malfunctions of the immune system in...
,
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, hairs, and areas surrounding the eye, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids. The term ophthalmologist is an eye specialist for medical and surgical problems...
, biomedical sciences, Humanities and social sciences as well as bio-technology in affiliation with universities like Madurai Kamaraj university,Dr. MGR Medical University and
Indian Institute of Technology MadrasThe Indian Institute of Technology Madras is an elite engineering and technology school located in Chennai in southern India. It is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India and is regarded as one of the finest engineering institutions in India...
. It has research collaborators from
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
and USA.
Thiagarajar College of EngineeringThiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, is an ISO 9001:2000 certified institution affiliated to Anna University, Chennai. It is one among the several educational and philanthropic institutions founded by Philanthropist and Industrialist Late. Shri. Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar. Established...
, Madurai (established in the year 1957) is one of the premier institutions in
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
. Madurai has many reputed Schools, Polytechnics and Industrial training institutes (ITIs) as well. Madura College is 120 years old and was started as a Zilla school in 1856.
The American College in MaduraiThe American College, often referred to as American College, is one of the oldest colleges present in India. It is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu state, south of India. It was founded in 1881 by American Christian missionaries.The college is situated in Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu...
is one of the oldest colleges in India. It was founded in 1881 by American Christian missionaries..Thiagarajar college of Arts and Science(founded in 1949) is also an another older institution.
Thiagarajar School of ManagementThiagarajar School of Management is a premier institute for management studies in Tamilnadu, India. TSM was founded in 1962 by the doyen of the South Indian textile industry, Shri...
(well-known as TSM in South India, founded in 1962) is a premier institute for Management Studies.Other notable colleges include K.L.N. Engineering College, Raja Engineering college, Sethu Engineering College,
Vickram College of EngineeringVickram College of Engineering, or VICKRAMCE, is a professional college located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The college offers holistic education giving equal thrust to professional and personal development. VICKRAMCE is approved by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, is...
,SACS M.A.V.M.M Engineering College, Velammal College of Engineering and Technology and P.T.R College of Engineering and Technology. M.S.S.Wakf Board college, K.K.Nagar and S.V.N College Nagamalai are among the reputed institutions in Madurai since 1965. There are significant number of Hotel Management & Catering institutes in the city.The Madura College (Autonomous) is one of the ancient colleges in Madurai.
Thiagarajar College of EngineeringThiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, is an ISO 9001:2000 certified institution affiliated to Anna University, Chennai. It is one among the several educational and philanthropic institutions founded by Philanthropist and Industrialist Late. Shri. Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar. Established...
,
Vickram College of EngineeringVickram College of Engineering, or VICKRAMCE, is a professional college located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The college offers holistic education giving equal thrust to professional and personal development. VICKRAMCE is approved by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi, is...
and KLN College of Engineering are in the forefront in developing research facilities and have forged coordination with multinational corporations like National Instruments, Intel,Oracle
IBM and leading industry organisations within the country like HCL .In recent years, the city is a witness to campus interviews by leading industry organisations and successful placement programmes organised by the University.Industry estimates put that about 15 to 20 per cent of manpower working in IT industries in metros are from Madurai and surrounding districts . Other reputed educational institutions are Ma Foi and VETA.
A new but upcoming centre of innovative education is in Pulloothu. It is Tata-Dhan Academy
http://www.dhan.org/tda having a two year unique program in Development Management. It is widely accalimed as a pioneer institute in this field and is supported by Dhan foundation and Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Healthcare
In addition to Government Rajaji Hospital, many private hospitals such as Aravind Eye Hospital, Apollo Specialty Hospital, Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Center, Vadamalayan Hospital and Quality Care Hospital, make the city a destination for health care combined with heritage tourism at an affordable cost .
Madurai is a home to
Aravind Eye Care System founded in 1976 by Dr.
Govindappa VenkataswamyGovindappa Venkataswamy is an Indian ophthalmologist and 1973 recipient of Padma Sri award.-Life:Born in 1918 in Vadamalapuram in Tamil Nadu, India, Dr.G.Venkataswamy, Founder, Aravind Eye Hospital had his education at American College, Madurai, Stanley Medical College, Madras and qualified for...
.Today it is one of the finest eye hospitals in the world . Today,in addition to the hospital in Madurai, there are four other Aravind Eye Hospitals in
TheniTheni is a Business Center in Western Tamil Nadu of southern India. It is the headquarters of Theni District. It is known for the large scale trading of Cardamom, cotton, chilli and textiles. It hosts the second largest weekly market in Tamil Nadu and the fourth largest in South India by turn over...
,
TirunelveliTirunelveli is a large and ancient city in southern Tamil Nadu, which became a City Corporation in 1994 by the merging of the municipalities of Tirunelveli city, Palayamkottai, Melapalayam and a few other Panchayat areas. It is the district headquarters of Tirunelveli district. Tirunelveli is the...
,
CoimbatoreCoimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Coimbatore District and a major textile and engineering hub of India, especially Southern India. It is part of the ancient Kongu Nadu region of Tamil...
, and
Puducherry; , , , , , English formerly Pondicherry, is a Union Territory of India. It is a former French colony, consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or regions, and named after the largest region, Puducherry. It is also known as The French Riviera of the East...
with a total of 3,590 beds. Aravind Eye Hospitals has gained national and international reputation for its service orientation, modern ophthalmic techniques and its community-based outreach activities which deliver quality eye care to the rural masses . 2,313,398 outpatient visits were handled and 270,444 surgeries were performed at the Aravind Eye Hospitals in 2006. Two-third of the outpatient visits and three-fourth of the surgeries were serviced to the poor, free of cost.
Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Madurai was founded in 1997. The hospital has an overall success rate of 98% and sees an average of 15,000 patients a year. A 24-hour panel of super-specialists are present at the hospital.The hospital has first Intensive Care Unit for Nephrology and first Renal Artery Angioplasty in South India. It is the No. 1 Centre in India and 5th in the world to perform Laparoscopic Renal Transplantation (Donor Nephrectomy) . The Apollo group Hospitals spread across various Indian cities and today Apollo Hospitals is not just one of the country's premier health care providers and had also played a pioneering role in helping India become as center-of-excellence in global health care.
Economy
Madurai district houses reputed organizations in the private sector which are engaged in the production of variety of goods such as tyres, industrial rubber products, machinery, textiles, conveyor belts, chemicals etc. Madurai is a home to TVS group .
Automobile
In manufacturing and automobile sector, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited(TAFE)(one among the top five tractor manufacturers in the world),
Fenner (India) Ltd(Industrial and Automotive V-Belts, Oilseals and Power Transmission Accessories),Hi-Tech Arai Ltd (oil seals and automobile components) , George oakes ltd, ZF Electronics TVS (India) Private Limited( Switch manufacturing, joint venture between TVS Group, India and Zf Electronics Corporation, USA), Sundaram Fasteners Ltd(manufacturer of high tensile fasteners),
Firestone TVS Private Ltd(manufacturer of air spring),
MADRAS SUSPENSIONS LIMITED, TVS Sewing Needles Limted, TV Sundram Iyengar & Sons Limited(distributor of Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicles, Jeeps and Cars) and Susee group(sales, service, parts, finance of automobiles across Tamil Nadu) are notable companies. All automobile majors, including General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Honda, are regular buyers of automobile components produced in the city .The
state governmentTamil Nadu had a bicameral legislature until 1986, when it was replaced with a unicameral legislature, like most other states in India.The 'Governor' is the Constitutional head of the state while the 'Chief minister' is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The...
is planning to develop industrial estate in Madurai which is to come up on 2,000 acres and would focus on the manufacturing industry, especially on automobile component manufacturers .
Rubber
TVS Srichakra(tyre manufacturing), Sundaram Industries Limited(Rubber Division,Coach division) and LANXESS India Private Limited are some of the rubber based industries. Bharath Rubber India Limited (BRIL) is one of the leading producers of v-belts and fan belts and sells all over India in the brand name VEEHOLD.
Because of city's proximity to rubber producing centers, it has had rubber as a traditional industry. Besides gloves, sports goods, mats and other utility products, Madurai contributes to the production of automobile components made of rubber in a big way.Rubber goods worth about Rs.1,000 crore are produced here annually. The rubber industry, industrialists feel, has a rich potential to transform Madurai economy. The anticipated growth in this industry, triggered by a boom in automobile sector, will have a cascading effect on other wings of the local economy.Despite being an industry with potential to cause pollution, the manufacturers are taking “special care” to adopt environment-friendly processes. The city is planned to have a rubber cluster soon. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association (MADITSSIA) and Rubber Park (Madurai) Limited . Some of the on-going industrial projects are BHEL ancillary units and Caparo Engineering India Pvt Ltd .
IT and ITES
Over the recent years the
ITInformation technology , as defined by the Information Technology Association of America , is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic...
industry has made a mark in the economy of Madurai.
Software Technology Parks of IndiaSoftware Technology Parks of India is a government agency in India, established in 1991 under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, that manages the Software Technology Park scheme. It is an export oriented scheme for the development and export of computer software, including...
, an agency of the Government of India, has authorized several companies in Madurai to receive benefits under its national information technology development program. City houses MNCs like Honeywell Technologies India.
Due to work culture, low attrition rates and the presence of educational institutions, the city attracts IT majors like
HCLHCL or HCl can stand for:* Hairy cell leukemia, an uncommon and slowly progressing B cell leukemia* Hardware Compatibility List* Hardware Control Language, a programming language used to simulate computer logic...
, Satyam, Oracle and Sutherland Global Services . Tamil Nadu government has proposed two IT-
Special Economic ZoneA Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country's typical economic laws...
(SEZ)s in Madurai and they have been fully occupied by various IT companies .The work on provision of infrastructure is in progress in Information Technology parks .Considering the high growth rate of Quality
Human resourcehuman resource may stand for:* human resources, another name for labor* Human Resources, a Nick the Doctor Who audio drama* The Human Resource, a drum and bass compilation album presented by Dieselboy...
in and around madurai India's No.2 IT major
InfosysInfosys Technologies Limited is a multinational information technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is one of India's largest IT companies with 103,905 professionals as of Jun 30, 2009...
is eyeing Madurai for its expansion and to open its development centre..
The list of various software companies operating from and contributing to the revenue of Madurai can be viewed here
Software companies in MaduraiOver the recent years the IT industry has made a big mark in the economy of Madurai. Software Technology Parks of India, an agency of the Government of India, has authorized several companies in Madurai to receive benefits under its national information technology development program. City houses...
.
Textile
Some of the existing textile/chemical industries are Thiagarajar Mills (P)Limited (one of the largest manufacturer and exporter of 100% Indian Cotton Yarn),
Kasim Textile Mills (P) Ltd., (one of the largest manufacturer and exporter of 100% Cotton Grey Cloth), Sundaram Textiles Limited,Madura Coats Pvt. Ltd,Paramount Mills (P) Ltd, First Garment Manufacturing Company (India)Pvt Ltd, Vaigai Group(chemicals, edible oils, textiles, construction), Alaya Dhoties, Sarathy Dhoties and SLM International.
Granite
There are also few Granite industries like PRP Exports (one of India's largest granite processors and exporters)Madurai Arkay Rock,P.R.Granites, Duniterocks private limited(Granite gangsaw slabs) and Arkay Glenrock.
Electronics
TVS Interconnect Systems Ltd]is a manufacturer of low end components like electronic connectors, RF (Radio frequency) connectors, cable assemblies, Fiber optic products & other accessories for telecommunication, consumer electronics and automobile industries.
Retail
Retail industry is booming in the city. This is evident from existing super markets like Reliance Super, Spencer's Daily, A.K. Ahmad Co., and on-going malls construction like Milan-em mall , Big Bazaar and Madurai City Center.Inline with the ancient architecture of the city, the business set up in the city is grouped and number of shops selling the same products can alone be seen in Madurai. East Masi Street is fully stuffed with thousands of groceries shops, West Masi Street with Electrical and Plumbing goods, Garments and Textiles in South Masi Street, Goods Transports and Friut Godowns in North Masi Street, Electronic goods in Town Hall Road, Automobile spare parts in North Veli street and Mobile show rooms in Krishna Rayar tank street, Pharmas in Nayakkar new steet, Jewelleries in Gold bazaar street, Printing and Hotels in west perumal maistry street, Books and Note Books in New mandapam. There are separate wide streets having the retail shops for decorative articles, Bangles, Gift Articles, Gold and Ornaments, Chemicals and Pharmas etc.Madurai is the only city in India, with this kind of set up where hundreds of same shops being clustered in one road.
There are cinema halls or multiplexes for all classes of people. Apart from Tamil movies, some of Hindi and English movies also run in the city. Aparna Towers in Bye Pass Road and Kaziyar Complex in S.S.Colony form the major landmarks for the retail business outlets in madurai city. There are other shopping places like
Naidu Hall(Naihaa),
Pothys, Mega Mart, British bakery, Cafe Coffee day, etc.
There are jewelery markets for gold, diamonds, and platinum merchants in the Jewellery Bazar and large scale sellers like Thanga mayil, Alukkas, Joy Alukkas, and Bhima Jewellery.
State assembly
Madurai is divided into three state assembly constituencies.
Madurai EastMadurai East is a state assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu. Elections and winning candidates from this constituency are listed below.- Madras State :- Tamil Nadu :- References :***...
,
Madurai CentralMadurai Central is a state assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu. Elections and winning candidates from this constituency are listed below.- Madras State :- Tamil Nadu :- References :***...
and
Madurai WestMadurai West is a state assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu. Elections and winning candidates from this constituency are listed below.- Madras State :- Tamil Nadu :- References :***...
. After 2009 delimitation, Madurai North (State Assembly Constituency)|Madurai North and Madurai South (State Assembly Constituency)|Madurai South were created. There is a significant amount of support for left parties such as CPI and CPM, especially in Madurai East. Usually the left parties have recently allied with DMK or ADMK, that has led to CPM MLAs in Madurai. But since 1977, ADMK and DMK have dominated this area, with the exception of
Tamil Maanila CongressThe Tamil Maanila Congress was a political party in Tamil Nadu. It was started by G K Moopanar by breaking away from the Indian National Congress protesting the decision of the party high command to form an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. After the death of Moopanar, his...
, in 1996 and 2001, when they allied with DMK and ADMK respectively. And also Congress when they have allied with ADMK in 1984 and 1991. Madurai West is one of the constituents won by actor turned politician M.G. Ramachandran. He won it during his reelection in
1980 Tamil Nadu Assembly electionThe MGR administration, was dissolved by the then President of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, due to state emergency, and fresh elections were called. DMK allied with the Congress , who tried to remove the ADMK government that supported the Janata Party. Even though DMK and Indira Congress, swept...
.
Madurai West vote
by alliance in assembly elections
| Year |
AIADMK+ |
DMK+ |
2006The Tamil Nadu state assembly election of 2006, conducted alongside a batch of state assembly elections in 2006, took place on May 8, 2006 in 234 constituencies in the state legislature of Tamil Nadu, India. The elections were conducted to elect the government in the state of Tamil Nadu for the...
|
43.7% 57,208 |
41.0% 53,741 |
2001The ADMK-led front won the elections and its leader, J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister, even though she could not legally run as MLA in this election. She was unanimously nominated as Chief Minister by her party and was ready to serve her second term...
|
48.1% 48,465 |
47.4% 47,757 |
1996The DMK-led front won the elections and its leader, M. Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister. He won his fourth term. Due to corruption charges and mishandling of the incumbent chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, DMK won by a landslide, and Jayalalithaa herself lost her seat in the constituency...
|
17.7% 17,465 |
62.4% 61,723 |
1991In 1991, the ADK-led front won the Tamil Nadu state assembly elections; and its leader, J. Jayalalithaa, was sworn in as Chief Minister. This election marked her first term in office...
|
63.4% 59,586 |
34.7% 32,664 |
1989*The DMK-led front won the elections and its leader, M. Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister. He won his third term. Due to the death of MGR, Janaki Ramachandran, wife of MGR, took over as Chief Minster, before her government, even after winning the vote of confidence from her party, was...
|
20.3% 20,871 |
44.3% 45,579 |
1984The ADK won the election and its leader, incumbent MGR was sworn in as Chief Minister, for the third time. This would be the last time, where a chief minister in Tamil Nadu has won his re-election. MGR won the election, even though he was ill throughout the election, and won the election by his...
|
47.9% 45,131 |
51.2% 48,247 |
1980The MGR administration, was dissolved by the then President of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, due to state emergency, and fresh elections were called. DMK allied with the Congress , who tried to remove the ADMK government that supported the Janata Party. Even though DMK and Indira Congress, swept...
|
59.6% 57,019 |
37.6% 35,953 |
1977President's Rule was imposed on grounds of corruption, that was hoisted by M.G. Ramachandran, against the sitting chief minister M. Karunanidhi. This resulted in fresh elections being called in Tamil Nadu. The newly started party by MGR called the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won the election...
|
43.1% 32,342 |
21.6% 16,211 |
Madurai Central
by alliance in assembly elections
| Year |
AIADMK+ |
DMK+ |
2006The Tamil Nadu state assembly election of 2006, conducted alongside a batch of state assembly elections in 2006, took place on May 8, 2006 in 234 constituencies in the state legislature of Tamil Nadu, India. The elections were conducted to elect the government in the state of Tamil Nadu for the...
|
38.2% 35,992 |
45.8% 43,185 |
2001The ADMK-led front won the elections and its leader, J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister, even though she could not legally run as MLA in this election. She was unanimously nominated as Chief Minister by her party and was ready to serve her second term...
|
46.5% 34,393 |
46.3% 34,246 |
1996The DMK-led front won the elections and its leader, M. Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister. He won his fourth term. Due to corruption charges and mishandling of the incumbent chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, DMK won by a landslide, and Jayalalithaa herself lost her seat in the constituency...
|
14.6% 11,841 |
46.7% 38,010 |
1991In 1991, the ADK-led front won the Tamil Nadu state assembly elections; and its leader, J. Jayalalithaa, was sworn in as Chief Minister. This election marked her first term in office...
|
62.3% 47,325 |
35.2% 26,717 |
1989*The DMK-led front won the elections and its leader, M. Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister. He won his third term. Due to the death of MGR, Janaki Ramachandran, wife of MGR, took over as Chief Minster, before her government, even after winning the vote of confidence from her party, was...
|
13.3% 11,243 |
46.0% 33,484 |
1984The ADK won the election and its leader, incumbent MGR was sworn in as Chief Minister, for the third time. This would be the last time, where a chief minister in Tamil Nadu has won his re-election. MGR won the election, even though he was ill throughout the election, and won the election by his...
|
50.8% 41,272 |
48.0% 39,012 |
1980The MGR administration, was dissolved by the then President of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, due to state emergency, and fresh elections were called. DMK allied with the Congress , who tried to remove the ADMK government that supported the Janata Party. Even though DMK and Indira Congress, swept...
|
58.1% 45,700 |
40.2% 31,566 |
1977President's Rule was imposed on grounds of corruption, that was hoisted by M.G. Ramachandran, against the sitting chief minister M. Karunanidhi. This resulted in fresh elections being called in Tamil Nadu. The newly started party by MGR called the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won the election...
|
39.9% 29,399 |
19.9% 14,676 |
- Note: In 1989, ADMK was split into two factions, Janaki faction
Janaki Ramachandran , popularly known as V.N. Janaki , was an Indian Tamil actress and politician. She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist...
and Jayalalithaa faction. Only Janaki faction contested in Madurai West and Central.
Media
City hosts several radio stations like
Radio MirchiRadio Mirchi is a nationwide network of private FM radio stations in India. It is owned by the Entertainment Network India Ltd , which is one of the subsidiaries of The Times Group....
,Hello FM, Suryan FM and it has two major English dailies
The HinduThe Hindu is a leading English-language Indian daily newspaper. With a circulation of 1.45 million, The Hindu is the second-largest circulated daily English newspaper in the India after Times of India, and slightly ahead of the Economic Times...
and
The New Indian ExpressThe New Indian Express is a newspaper with its head office based in Chennai in south India. It was started in 1932 as the Indian Express, under the ownership of Chennai-based Veradharajulu Naidu. In 1991, following the death of the then owner Ramnath Goenka, the Goenka's family split the group into...
. Tamil language morning dailies include
Dina Malar Dina Malar or "Daily Malar" is daily Tamil newspaper in Tirunelveli, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore, India. It was founded by T. V. Ramasubbaiyer. Dinamalar was started by a Brahmin family. T. V...
,
Dina ThanthiDina Thanthi or "Daily Thanti" is daily Tamil newspaper in Tirunelveli,Bangalore, Mumbai,Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindugal, Trichy, Salem, Nagarcoil, Cuddalore, Vellore, Erode, Puducherry and Thanjavur. It is owned by Mr. Sivanthi Athithan. It was founded by S. P...
,
Dina Mani Dina Mani or "Daily Mani" is daily Tamil newspaper in Chennai and Coimbatore, India. It is owned by Indian Express Group.It is one of the traditional Newspapers in India....
and
Dinakaran Dinakaran is daily Tamil newspaper published from the Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy , Delhi and few small towns in Tamil Nadu, India.- Founding :...
. The evening dailies published in Madurai are
Tamil MurasuTamil Murasu is a Singapore based Tamil language newspaper. Launched in 1935 by Thamizhavel G. Sarangapani, Tamil Murasu is Singapore's only Tamil language newspaper...
Malai Murasu and
Malai Malar Malai Malar is daily evening Tamil newspaper in Chennai and Coimbatore, India. It is owned by Daily Thanti group. It was founded by Aditanar in 1977 at Coimbatore....
.
Also one of the famous network in tamilnadu, the Sun TV Network, with
SUN TVSun TV can refer to:* Sun TV : a Tamil cable television channel in Chennai, India, owned by Sun TV Network.* SUN TV: an independent television station in Toronto, Canada with the callsign CKXT, formerly known as Toronto 1, owned by Quebecor the owners of Sun Media Corporation and TVA.* Sun...
, K TV,
Sun NewsThe Sun News is a daily newspaper published in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the United States. It serves the Grand Strand region of South Carolina with a daily circulation of 50,000 and a Sunday circulation of 60,000. It is owned by The McClatchy Company.It was founded as a weekly in 1945 by...
etc., has its regional office at uththangudi, madurai. Many other channels like, Vijay TV, Raj TV,
Jaya TVJaya TV is one of the major Tamil language satellite television channels based in Chennai, India. Jaya TV is one of the early tamil channels to entertain the tamil audiences spread across Globe....
,
SS MusicSS Music or the Southern Spice Music channel is a music channel based in Chennai, India. It is a multilingual English medium channel and mainly airs Western Pop and music from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, though sometimes Bollywood songs are played.The channel believes that music...
etc., have their offices in Madurai for their speedy coverage of news and other programmes.
Entertainment
The city houses the following weekend spots:
- Athisayam
Athisayam is a an amusement theme park located in Paravai on Madurai - Dindigul National Highway 7, 12 KM from Madurai. The park is located in sprawling 40 acres and features about 40 games and 20 water rides. The park is popular for its water rides, recreating the experience of Courtalam...
water theme park:
The water park situated on the outskirts of Madurai (20 km from the city) attracts people of all age groups and from different places in and around Madurai. Several high-tech entertainment games offer interesting experiences to visitors. The park is scientifically designed and perfect during the summer heat.
The park situated near city corporation building where the lighting and fountain arrangements are impressive and the illuminated optic fiber trees add luster to the beauty.The most attractive thing in the park is the water show with music.
It is located on the Natham road in the outskirts of Madurai. This place is filled with natural beauty with the hills in the backdrop. It houses a restaurant and also a go-kart track.
It is situated in between the Gandhi museum, and the Tamukkam grounds. It has lots of children play with some hotels like Poonga Arya bhavan and some other eateries shops. Also there are some collection of birds and some Light and music play. This park is run by madurai corporation within its limits.
It is an athletic stadium which has a synthetic track. Several National Meets are held here and also International Kabadi Championship was held here.
It is the only cricket stadium in the city.
Hospitality
In the recent years, the city has seen growth in the hospitality industry. A luxury five star hotel "Heritance Madurai" is one of the top luxury hotels in India. Some of the other top rated hotels are
Royal Court,
Hotel GRT Regency, The Gateway Hotel (Taj Garden Retreat), Hotel Germanus, North gate, Madurai Residency, Hotel Sangam and Hotel Fortune Pandiyan. South Indian, Punjabi, Mughalai consitituting bulk of Indian variety and also Chinese, Continental food are available in hotels / restaurants of the city. Madurai is known for its idlies which is available with variety of chutneys in almost all the restaurants. Murugan idly shop at west masi street and railway station is famous for its Idly all over tamilnadu.
Tourism and Landmarks
Madurai is one of the most important
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
pilgrimage sites of India. The city attracts a large number of pilgrims and tourists from within the country and abroad. About 4,100,000 tourists visited Madurai in 2007, out of which foreigners numbered 224,000.
Meenakshi-Sundareswar Temple
Madurai's
Meenakshi-SundareswararMeenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati . The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai...
temple, which stands today as one of the India's greatest cultural and architectural landmarks, was originally built by the early Pandya King Kulasekara. It is also one of the greatest
Shiva Temples of TamilnaduLord Shiva, the destroyer, has innumerable temples dedicated to him throughout the length and breadth of India. Probably nowhere more than the South Indian of State of Tamilnadu are the Shiva temples more profuse and among these are more than 2500 shiva temples of great importance...
. The labyrinthine Meenakshi Temple, celebrating the love of the Meenakshi goddess and her groom Sundareswarar(the
Handsome God) is of world renown. The ancient city of Madurai was supposedly laid out in a lotus-like formation, with the temple at the center and the streets and main thoroughfares layered one after the other concentrically, outward from the center. One legend says that on the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people while divine nectar showered on the city from his matted locks. The city hence came to be known as
Madhurapuri meaning
The City of Divine Nectar. The legend is likely a late tale attempting to Sanskritise the otherwise-Dravidian derivative of
Madurai. This is the place where Lord Natarajar performed the dance raising his right leg . (Kal maariya Aadiya natarajar). Lord shiva was very happy with the temple construction and performed a different dance. This is the temple which survived after
KannagiKannagi or , a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram. Legend has it that Kannagi took revenge on the king of Madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband Kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster.-The Story:Kovalan, the son of a...
burnt the complete city. All of the towers are currently draped in scaffolding and opaque coverings obscuring the sculptures at least until the end of 2009.
Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
This palace complex was constructed in the Indo-Saracen style by Thirumalai Nayakar in 1636. It is a national monument and is now under the care of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department.
The original palace complex was four times bigger than the present structure. It was divided into two parts, Swarga-vilasa and Ranga-vilasa. In each of these there are royal residences, theater, shrines, apartments, armory, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, pond and garden. The ceilings are decorated with large paintings showing Shaivite and Vaishnavite themes.
The portico known as Swarga Vilasam is an arcaded octagon wholly constructed of bricks and mortar without the support of a single rafter or girder. The stucco work on its domes and arches is remarkable. The gigantic pillars and structures represent architectural mastery. The courtyard and the dancing hall are central attractions for visitors. There are 248 pillars, each 58 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter.
Furniture and utensils used by the kings is on exhibit inside the palace. The palace is equipped to perform "Light and Sound" shows depicting the story of "Silappathikaram", in both Tamil and English languages.
The palace is in Indian films such as
Bombay,
Iruvar,
Guru and
Jodi.
Kazimar Big Mosque (Periya Pallivasal)and Maqbara
This famous
mosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
(masjid) is located at the heart of Madurai city, within 500 metres of the
PeriyarPeriyar may refer to*Periyar River, a major river in Kerala*Periyar District, the erstwhile name for Erode district in Tamil Nadu*Periyar National Park*Periyar University*Periyar Maniammai University...
(Central) bus stand and within 1 kilometre South East of the Madurai Railway Junction. Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin, who came from
OmanOman , officially the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west and Yemen on the southwest....
during 13th century, received this land from the then Panidiya king, Koo(n) Pandiyan, and constructed the
mosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
which is the first
Muslim:A Muslim , , is an adherent of the religion of Islam. The feminine form is Muslimah . Literally, the word means "one who submits ". Muslim is the participle of the same verb of which Islam is the infinitive. Muslims believe that there is only one God, translated in Arabic as Allah...
s' place of worship in Madurai.
MaqbaraThe Arabic word Maqbara is derived form the word Qabr that means grave. Though this means all graves of Muslims, it refers especially to the holy graves of sacred human beings or Waliyullahs who spend their entire life for the sake of Islam and to be a true Muslim and train others to follow Islam...
the dargah of famous Madurai Hazrats (Hazrat Meer Ahamad Ibrahim, Hazrat Meer Amjad Ibrahim and Hazrat Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Rahmatullahi Alaihim) is also located inside the
mosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
premises. All of Kazi Syed Thajuddheen's descendants (Huqdars - shareholders of this
mosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
called as Syeds) have lived in the same locality (Kazimar street) for more than 700 years, and have managed the
mosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, —...
since then. Syed Tajuddin was appointed as Kazi of the sultans, and still his descendants who live at Kazimar street, Madurai, are appointed as Kazis to the
Government of Tamil Nadu. All Syeds belong to the Sunni sect of
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
, its
HanafiThe Hanafi school is one of the four schools of law or jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , and his legal views were preserved primarily by his two most...
school. Most of the descendants of Kazi Syed Tajuddin are
shadhiliThe Shadhili Tariqa is a Sufi order founded by Abu-l-Hassan ash-Shadhili. Followers of the Shadhiliya are often known as Shadhilis....
s (shazuli) and follow the Sufi order
Fassiyatush Shadhiliya.
Apart from Kazimar big mosque, madurai city houses a few traditional mosques like the Kazimae Edgah Mosque, West masi street, Nelpettai Sungam pallivasal pattairaikara mosque, South gate Muhaiddeen Aandavar mosque, Mahaboob palayam mosque and also several other mosques like Katrapalayam (Centralised A/C), Madhina Palli, Kaziyar thoppu mosque, Mina Noordeen Dargah Mosque, Sivakasi Shafi masjidh, Palanganatham mosque, Khan Sahib Marudhanayagam Sammattipuram mosque, Bethaniyapuram mosque, Railway colony masjid, Sandaipettai mosque, Karim Sha mosque, Munichalai mosque, Jami'at Ali Sait masjidh, Town hall Road mosque, Anna nagar masjidh A/C, Sadasiva nagar masjidh, Tahsildar nagar mosque, DRO Colony masjidh, Pudur masjidh, Sangar nagar mosque, LKB nagar mosque, Wakf Board College Suliman masjidh, Vapsons masjidh, Gorippalaym Dargah masjid, Abdur rahman masjid, Pettai masjid, Subramaniyapuram masjid, Jeeva nagar mosque, Beebi Kulam mosque etc.,
Gandhi Museum
The museum displays information about
Mahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, and most importantly it showcases the original blood-stained garment of Gandhi when he was assassinated by
Nathuram GodseNathuram Vinayak Godse is best known for being the man who assassinated Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi.-Early life:...
. The other piece of the garment is kept at the Gandhi Museum in Delhi. This museum, is one of the 5 museums in India (others in Mumbai, Barrackpore, Sabarmati and Patna) known as Gandhi Sanghralayas.
Also lot of pictures taken during the Life time of Gandhi with various leaders all around the world and also during various incidents of freedom struggle is kept. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the museum during his tour of India in 1959 and is said to have got his inspiration to launch a series of peaceful agitations against racial discrimination .No entry fee for museum visitors.
Thiruparankundram
Thiruparankundram is 8 km or 5 miles from the Madurai city center.Thiruparakundram temple has become a symbol of the religious harmony as of the people of Madurai. The traditional legend is that Lord Murugan married Deivanai at Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, which also is the first among the Six Holy
AbodeAbode may refer to:*House, a human-built dwelling with enclosing walls, a floor, and a roof**Right of abode*World of Two Moons aka Abode, a fictional Earth-type planet featured in the comic book Elfquest...
s of Murugan (Arupadai Veedu, literally "Six Battle Camps").
This evocative cave temple is much older and has a more sacred atmosphere than the Meenakshi temple, particularly on Fridays, when women place candles or sit around the temple floor and create
kolams or
rangoli patterns on the ground using coloured powders, ash and flowers as an offering to goddess Durga.
An Islamic Durgah (shrine) is located at the top of the hill, where the grave of an
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
ic saint Hazrat Sultan Sikandhar Badushah shaheed Radiyallah Ta'al anhu, who came from
JeddahJeddah is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh...
along with Hazrat Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badushah of Madinah (now in
ErwadiErvadi or Erwadi is a village where the grave and shrine of Qutbus sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha Radiyallh Ta'ala anhu, the ruler of Madinah Al Munawwara is found. Erwadi is in Ramanathapuram district belonging to Kadaladi Taluk and Keelakarai Town panchayat...
,
Ramanathapuram districtRamanathapuram District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Ramanathapuram is the district headquarters.Ramanthapuram District has an area of 4123 km²...
) during the early 13th century, is found. Irrespective of
religionA religion is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth...
, people from all parts of
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
and from
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
visit this durgah. People who visit the
Ervadi Durgah in
Ramanathapuram districtRamanathapuram District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Ramanathapuram is the district headquarters.Ramanthapuram District has an area of 4123 km²...
are supposed to visit this durgah. Many poems were written in praise of Hazrat Sultan Sikandhar Badhusha, by Syed Abdussalam Ibrahim Saalim Hazrat,the third in the list of
Madurai Hazrats and his Maternal grandson Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Saahib Hazrat. It is seen that people who come here with a wish see it answered in a very short time, and so He is also called
Mustajab ad Du'aa Sikandhar Badhushah.
Mustajab Ad Du'aa in Arabic means A saint whose
SupplicationSupplication is the most common form of prayer, wherein a person asks a supernatural deity to provide something, either for the person who is praying or for someone else on whose behalf a prayer of supplication is being made....
s are immediately answered by
AllahAllah is the standard Arabic word for God. While the term is best known in the West for its use by Muslims as a reference to God, it is used by Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, in reference to "God"...
. The Anniversary urus festival of Hazrat Sulthan Sikandar badusha Shaheed is commomerated on 17th Night of the islamic Month of
RajabRajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a deritive.This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited...
every Hijri year.
Goripalayam Dargah
The name Gorippalayam comes from the
PersianPersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is widely spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and to some extent in Iraq and Bahrain, and has a status of official language in the first three countries under different names...
word
Gor which means
Grave. This area is called as Goripalayam because the Graves of the two famous saints of
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
and rulers of Madurai Hazrat Sulthan Alauddin Badusha (Radiyallah) and Hazrat Sulthan Shamsuddin Badhusha (Radiyallah) are located here. A beautiful green coloured tomb can be seen from the A.V.Bridge madurai, which is the Gorippalayam Dargah located in the northern banks of
vaigai RiverThe Vaigai is a river in Madurai,Tamil Nadu state of southern India. The actual name is Vaiyai in Tamil and the name has been referred as vaigai. It originates in the Periyar Plateau of the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley, which lies between the Palni Hills to...
. It is amazing to see that, the domb which is 70 feet in diameter and 20 feet in height is made of a single block of stone which was brought from the Azhaga Hills. People from all over
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
come here to seek blessings and go back fruitfully. The two rulers were brothers who ruled the northern part of madurai after coming from
omanOman , officially the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west and Yemen on the southwest....
during 13th century to spread
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
. Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin Radiyallah of Kazimar street was Govt. Kazi (Islamic Legal advisor and jury) to them. An ancient
TamilTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius and Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world...
inscription, can be found planted on the outer campus of the
MaqbaraThe Arabic word Maqbara is derived form the word Qabr that means grave. Though this means all graves of Muslims, it refers especially to the holy graves of sacred human beings or Waliyullahs who spend their entire life for the sake of Islam and to be a true Muslim and train others to follow Islam...
of the dargah campus. The information found in that inscription is,
"The descendants of Sulthan Alauddin Badusha, and Sulthan Shamsuddin Badusha (called as Sultans of
DelhiDelhi, known locally as Dilli , and also by the official name National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India...
) purchased from the then King Koo(n) Pandiyan the land of Gorippalayam Dargah for a Feet of Gold piece and other six villages (namely Bibi Kulam, Chokkikulam, Cholikudi, Chirudoor, Kannanendal, Thiruppalai) at the rate of 14,000
GoldGold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. It has been a highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewelry, and other arts since the beginning of recorded history. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold is...
pieces for the maintenance of Gorippalayam Dargah. During the reign of King Veerappa nayakkar a dispute arose between the Huqdars of the Durgah and the employees of the Nayakkar Government regarding the six villages. The case was taken to King Veerappa Nayakkar, who inquired and verified the documents written by King Koo(n) Pandiyan and gave his verdict in the year 1573 A.D. as the Six villages and the Dargah land belongs to the Descendants of Sultans and it should be in their enjoyment till the existence of Sun and Moon and who violates this will be liable for the sin of slaughtering a cow in the bank of river Ganga."
This inscription is considered as one of the evidences to prove the existence of the Dargah since 13th century.
The anniversary urus festival of this dargah is held on 15th night of the Islamic month of Rabi al-awwal on every hijri year.
Koodal Azhagar Koil
A beautiful vishnu temple which has Navagraham also(Usually Navagraham is found only in shivan temple). There is a hayagrivar temple close to this temple where hayagrivar (Horse/"haya"griva avataram) is the main deity. Most of the students do their regular prayer here as hayagrivar is the one who brought the epic fallen into water back to the earth. This is one of the temple found in center of city. This is located 100 mtrs north to the Kazimar Big Mosque (Periya pallivasal) and to the south of Sunnambukara street.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Church
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Madurai is the seat of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of MaduraiThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai is an archdiocese located in the city of Madurai in India.-History:* January 8, 1938: Established as the Diocese of Madura from the Diocese of Trichinopoly* October 21, 1950: Renamed as Diocese of Madurai...
. It is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
and is situated 2 km South East of Madurai Railway station and 200 meters from the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal.
Tourist attractions around Madurai
Madurai acts as a tourism hub of south
Tamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh...
because of its strategic location. There are various
tourist visiting places around madurai.
Azhagar Kovil, located about 25 km from the city, is a vishnu shrine. The location is surrounded by hills. The principal god of the shrine is that of Lord Kallazhagar. The Tamil new year festival called Chittirai Thiruvizha has been celebrated for centuries in this temple. In the entrance of the Azhagar kovil one can view the
Badhri Narayanan templeBadri Narayanan temple is a holy temple in the Madurai District in the entrance of Alagar Koil in the state of Tamil Nadu.The temple is built in the style of the Badrinath temple....
, built similar to Badrinath near Mount Kailash in northern India: the principal idol in this shrine represents Vishnu in a meditative posture, flanked by Nara-Narayan.
The Lord Kallalagar is said to visit the temple on the eve of the Chittirai festival, one of the famous festivals in Tamil Nadu. He starts the journey from the Alagar Koil, crossing the Badri Narayanan Shrine.[1] During this time, he visits Vandiyur, near the Vaigai River, on the eastern outskirts of Madurai. It is believed that he realizes he is too late for his sister's wedding, so refuses to cross the river, and returns disappointed to Alagar Koil. On the top of the hills, is a shrine of Lord Muruga, popularly known as
PazhamudircholaiPazhamudircholai is a Hindu temple located 10 miles north of Madurai, India atop a hill covered with dense forests. One of the six important abodes Arupadaiveedu of Lord Muruga, it is very close to the Vishnu temple of Azhagar Kovil....
. This is the last of Murugan's arupadai veedu and he is seen along with his consorts, Deivanai and Valli
- Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is a city in the hills of the taluk division of the Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hill stations" and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination...
Around 120 km away from Madurai is Kodaikanal, one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. It is also known as princess of Hills. Kodai is located 2,130 m above the sea level in the Western Ghats.
- Vaigai Dam
Vaigai Dam is built across the Vaigai River near Andipatti, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, southern India. It provides water for irrigation for the Madurai district and the Dindigul district as well as drinking water to Madurai and Andipatti...
About 70 km from Madurai on the way to Thekkady is Vaigai Dam. The dam offers a breathtaking sight on weekends when it is illuminated.
Situated amidst rich flora and fauna, Suruli Falls serve as a perfect picnic spot. They lie on the way to Thekkady, at a distance of 123 km from Madurai.
- Thekkady
Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.- Overview :...
/ Kumily
Thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 777 km², of which 360 km² is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. It lies 155 km from Madurai and is home to many animals and birds.
- Coutrallam (near Tirunelveli)
It lies 160 km from Madurai and is famous for its waterfalls. Popularly known as the 'Spa of the South', it is blessed with immense natural beauty.
- Rameswaram
Rameswaram is a town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is less than 40 kilometres from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Together with Kashi, it is considered to be one of the holiest...
A holy town located on the
Pamban islandPamban Island , also known as Rameswaram island, is an island located in the Palk Strait between peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The island is a part of India and is governed by the administration of Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu...
in the
Gulf of MannarThe Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay that is an arm of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka with widths between 160 and 200 km...
, Rameswaram is connected to the mainland by the Indira Gandhi (Pamban) Bridge, which is regarded as one of India’s engineering wonders. Apart from the temples, the beaches of Rameswaram are also worth a visit. The town lies 160 km from Madurai and it is connected by rail and bus.
- Palani
Palani is a city and a municipality in Dindigul district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Palani is pronounced using the special 'L' used in Tamil and is also spelt as "Pazhani" in English. It is located about 60 km from the city of Dindigul...
Hills
Located at a distance of 122 km from Madurai, Palani Hills are of great religious importance for Hindus. The major attraction of the hills is a temple, dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
See also
- http://view360.in/virtualtour/madurai/ A 360degree Interactive Virtual Walk-Through of Meenakshi Amman Temple,Madurai
- Software companies in Madurai
Over the recent years the IT industry has made a big mark in the economy of Madurai. Software Technology Parks of India, an agency of the Government of India, has authorized several companies in Madurai to receive benefits under its national information technology development program. City houses...
- Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency)
Madurai is a Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu.-Assembly segments:Madurai Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments :#Madurai North#Madurai West#Madurai Central#Madurai East#Madurai South#Melur-Members of Parliament:...
- Madurai district
Madurai district is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the world famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple and is situated on the banks of river Vaigai...
- Madurai Dialect
Madurai Tamil is the dialect which is spoken in the city of Madurai, as well as over a vast geographical area of South Tamil Nadu, the area once ruled by the Pandiya Kings...
- List of colleges and institutes in Madurai district