Every day, the Meenakshi Temple, in Madurai, attracts pilgrims in their thousands from all over India. Its enormous gopuramas, covered with gaily coloured statues, dominate the landscape and are very visible from many of the roof tops in Madurai. Designed in 1560 by Vishwanath Nayak, the present temple was substantially built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak (1623-55 AD), but its history goes back 2000 years to the time when Madurai was the capital of the Pandya kings.

There are four entrances to the temple which occupies six hactares. It has 12 towers ranging in height from 45 to 50 meters, and four outer-rim nine-storey towers the tallest of which is the 50- meter-high southern tower. The hall of 1000 columns actually has 985.Depending on the time of the day, you can watch pilgrims bathing, listen to temple music in front of the Meenakshi Amman Shrine(the music is relayed through the whole complex on a PA system), or wander through the interesting Temple Art Museum. On most evenings at 9 p.m., temple music- mantras, fiddle, squeeze box, tabla and bells- is played outside the Meenakshi Amman Shrine. At 9.30 each evening, there’s a closing ceremony in which an image of Shiva is carried in procession to Meenakshi’s bedroom.

The temple is usually open between 5 am and 12.30pm and again between 4 and 9.30 p.m.. Photography is allowed on payment.