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Home > Travel Asia > Asia Destinations > Madurai
Madurai
India 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 liberal democracy in the world. India is a union of twenty-eight states and seven federally-governed union territories. New Delhi is the capital of India.
Madurai is a city and a municipal corporation with a population of more than 1.3 million people. It is situated on the banks of River Vaigai in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the third largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest major cities areSalem, Coimbatore and Trichy.
Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old, and has been an important commercial centre even as early as 550 AD, Anno Domino. Madurai was the capital city of the Pandya kings of South India. Madurai is the headquarters of Madurai district
The Pandya King Kulasekaran built a temple, which would later be known as the Meenakshi Temple, and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. Legend has it that on the day the city was to be named, as Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri, meaning the land of divine nectar. Also from very early times, the name Madurai has been evolved from the Tamil word Marudhai, again derived from Marudham which means a fertile agricultural land with alluvial soil. The natives continue to refer to the city as Marudhai. Madurai is also referred to as then Madurai or south Mathura, Vada Madurai being Mathura in North India.
But Madurai was to reach its heights of glory in the hands of the Cholas, and finally the Pandyas in the 13th century. After all, the Pandyas were the ones that made the city their capital, and built the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which has always been the greatest attraction of the city. The city flourished under Pandya rule when it was a major trading hub with trading contacts with Greece, Rome, and Middle Eastern countries.
A city known for its historic myths and traditions, scenic beauty, cooperative people and luxurious hotels and cottages, Madurai is one of the favorite holiday destinations for most of the vacation lovers.
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