Madurai

Madurai, city (1991 pop. 1,085,914), Tamil Nadu state, S India, on the Vaigai River. It is known as the "city of festivals and temples" and is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The Meenakshi temple (rebuilt 16th-17th cent.), which has 1,000 carved pillars, is especially famous. Madurai is also an educational and cultural center and a market for tea, coffee, and cardamom. Important industries are the weaving and dyeing of silk and muslin cloth. As Mathurai, the city was the capital of the Pandya kingdom (5th cent. B.C.-11th cent. A.D.). In the 14th cent. it was captured by Muslim invaders, who held it until 1378, when it became part of the Hindu Vijayanagar kingdom. From c.1550 until 1736 the city was the capital of the Nayak kingdom. The Carnatic Nawabs then gained control and in 1801 ceded it to the British (see India). The Nayak palace (17th cent.) is a notable building in Madurai.

Madurai (மதுரை, mɐd̪ɯrəj) is the second largest city and a municipal corporation situated on the banks of the River Vaigai in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city is also known as Madura. The city of Madurai, with a population of 922,913 according to the 2001 census, is the administrative capital of Madurai district.

Madurai was the capital city of the Pandya kings of South India. Madurai's cultural heritage goes back 2500 years, and the city has been an important commercial center since as early as 550 C.E.

In legend, the original town of Madurai was destroyed by a tsunami in ancient Lemuria (continent). 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 language pandit / teacher in Sethupathy High School during the early 20th century. There is a village town in the neighbouring district of Dindigul called Vada Madurai, and another in the neighbouring district of Sivagangai called Mana Madurai.

Geography

Madurai is second largest city in Tamil Nadu.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 rains during October-December. Temperatures during summer reach a maximum of 40 and a minimum of 26.3 degrees celsius. Winter temperatures range between 29.6 and 18 degrees celsius. The average annual rainfall is about 85 cm.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, the city of Madurai had a population of 922,913 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.

Language

Tamil is spoken, predominantly, in and around Madurai. The slang of "Madurai Tamil" differs from others such as "Kongu Tamil", "Nellai Tamil", "Ramnad Tamil" and "Chennai Tamil". Along with Tamil, other languages spoken are Telugu, Malayalam,Kannada and Sourashtra. However the words of these languages have Tamil words mixed in with them. Nowadays Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi also are heard in Madurai.

Population decline:

Year	Population	Type	Source
1991	940,989	census	official
2001	922,913	census	official
2007	1,300,998	calculation

Landmarks in the City

Meenakshi-Sundareswar Temple

Madurai's Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple, which stands today as one of India's great cultural and architectural landmarks, was originally built by the early Pandya King Kulasekara. The ancient city of Madurai supposedly was laid out in a lotus-like formation, with the temple at the center and 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.

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 has been featured in many films, such as Bombay, Iruvar, Guru and Jodi.

Azhagar Kovil(temple)

Azhagar Kovil, located about 25 km from the city, is a vishnu shrine. The location is surrounded by hills. The principal idol 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 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 Pazhamudircholai. This is the last of Murugan's arupadai veedu and he is seen along with his consorts, Deivanai and Valli

Gandhi Museum

The museum displays information about Mahatma Gandhi, and most importantly it showcases the original blood-stained garment of Gandhi when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. The other piece of the garment is kept at the Gandhi Museum in Delhi.

Kazimar Big Mosque (Periya Pallivasal)

This famous mosque (masjid) is located at the heart of Madurai city, within 500 metres of the Periyar(Central)bus stand and within 1 kilometre South East of the Madurai railway junction. Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin, who came from Oman during late 12th century, received this land from the king, Koon Pandiyan, and constructed the mosque which is the earliest Muslim place of worship in Madurai. All of his descendants (Huqdars - shareholders of that mosque are called Syeds) have lived in the same locality for 700 years, and have managed the mosque 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 Islam, its Hanafi school. Most of the descendants of Kazi Syed Tajuddin are shadhilis (shazuli) and follow the Sufi order Fassiyatush Shadhiliya

Thiruparankundram

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 Abodes of Murugan (Arupadai Veedu, literally "Six Battle Camps").

A famous Islamic Durgah (shrine) also is located at the top of the hill, where the grave of an Islamic saint Hazrat Sultan Sikandhar Badushah, who came from Jeddah during the mid 9th century, is found. Irrespective of religion, people from all parts of Tamil Nadu and from Kerala visit this durgah -- people who visit Ervadi Durgah in Ramnad district, particularly, 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 It is believed 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.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral in Madurai is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai. One of the oldest Roman Catholic church situated at 2 km South East of Madurai Railway station and only 200 meters from the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal.

Transport

Madurai is well-connected by air, rail and road. 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 Railway. The railway station code for Madurai junction is MDU.

Madurai has several major bus stands: the central bus terminus - the Periyar Bus Stand is one of the busiest bus terminals in South East Asia. The major bus stand for the city is at Maattuthavani, from which many buses to and from locations all over the country run round the clock. Some other bus stands are Arappalayam and Palanganatham.

Madurai is connected by the following major National Highways

NH 7 : (North-south Corridor Expressway) Bangalore – Salem – Dindigul – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Kanyakumari NH 45B : Tiruchy – Madurai – Tuticorin

NH 49 : Madurai – Rameswaram NH 49 Extn : Madurai – Theni – Bodi – 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. The Golden Quadrilateral and the four lane highway to Chennai make Madurai well-connected by road.

Madurai Airport is approximately 9 kilometers from the Madurai Railway station, and currently it offers flights to Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Paramount Airways and Indian Airlines are the airlines available. International flights from Madurai to Colombo, Singapore and Gulf countries are planned to begin service this year. The nearest international airport is in Coimbatore , which is 160km from Madurai.

Airline-From Madurai	Service to
Indian	Chennai, Mumbai
Paramount Airways	Chennai, Bangalore,ahmadabad
Jet Airways	Chennai
Air Deccan (Kingfisher)	Chennai, Bangalore

Entertainment

Apart from the fact that Madurai acts as a tourism hub of south Tamilnadu because of it's strategic location , the city houses the following weekend spots also.

• Athisayam water theme park:

The 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 mind-blowing experience to the visitors. The park is scientifically designed and just perfect during the summer heat.

• Eco park:

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.

• Rajaji children park

It hosts several radio stations like Radio mirchi ,Hello FM, Suryan FM,.

It also has several local T.v. stations.Now the city is going under a mass construction of shopping malls like Milenum mall, Vishal mall and Reliance fresh hypermarkets and big bazaars.

Software Technology

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.

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• Honey Well Technologies India (P) Ltd
• AJ Square Consultancy Services (P) Ltd
• Alfa Web Solutions
• A&T Network Systems (P) Ltd

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Education

Madurai Kamaraj University is situated in Madurai. The city has a Medical College (established in the year 1954), an Agricultural College and Research Institute, a Law College, and many Engineering and Arts & Science Colleges. Thiagarajar college of Engineering, Madurai (established in the year 1957) is one of the premier institutions in Tamilnadu and other reputed private engineering colleges in Madurai include Raja College of Engg and Technology and Velammal College of Engineering & Technology. Madurai has many well-reputed Schools, Polytechnics and Industrial training institutes (ITIs) as well. The American College in Madurai is one of the oldest colleges present in India. It was founded in 1881 by American Christian missionaries. Thiagarajar School of Management (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 and recently started Velammal College of Engineering and Technology.

Personalities from Madurai

• Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi
• Padma Shri T.M.Soundarajan
• Boaz Augustin, Entrepreneur
• Mani Rathnam, Film director, Film producer, Screenplay writer
• Vijayakanth, Tamil actor, Politician
• Vadivelu, Popular Tamil Cine Supporting Actor
• Ilaiyaraaja,Indian music composer, singer, and lyricist.
• P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan Politician.
• KaviPerarasu VAIRAMUTHU,lyricist.
• Peter Isaac, Educationist.
• Ramarajan, Actor.

Politics

Madurai has three assembly constituencies: Madurai West, Madurai Central and Madurai East, all of which are part of Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency).

References

External links

• Digital Guide of Madurai City
• Impressions of Madurai

See also

• Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Madurai district
• Madurai Dialect
• List of colleges and institutes in Madurai district