马杜赖

Madurai is a city in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, and it is known as an ancient temple city. Its best-known landmark is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a large temple complex that anchors the life of the old town and gives the city much of its character.

What a visit offers

• The Meenakshi Amman Temple, the centre of the city, where visitors can see the temple's architecture and its colourful sculpted towers.
• Cultural heritage, which runs through the city's streets, festivals and daily religious life.
• Old-town walks, where the lanes around the temple show how the city has grown up around its sacred core.

Planning your trip

Madurai suits travellers interested in history, religious architecture and Tamil culture. Set aside time to move slowly through the temple and the streets around it, and allow for the busy atmosphere that comes with a living place of worship. Visitors interested in the wider region of Tamil Nadu will find Madurai a useful base for exploring the surrounding area.