Destination South India: Tips for Visiting Meenakshi Temple from Madurai

The temple

Meenakshi Temple is located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the city of Madurai. It is a Hindu temple and was built in the 12th century and completed in the 16th century. It is built on an area of 2 hectares and consists of many porticoes, shrines, rooms, a temple pond and the 12 very high gate towers, the gopurams, richly decorated with colorful figures. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi or Parvati, the wife of the Indian god Shiva.

visitor

The most visited temple in Tami Nadu is visited by around 20,000 people every day. The majority of them are Indian pilgrims who visit the temple mainly because of its size and old age. Devotees walk around the temple in a fixed order, visiting first the Meeneakshi Shrine and then the famous Sundareshwara (Shiva) Shrine, always from the outside in. The number of visitors can easily double on public holidays. For foreign tourists, it is a must-see when traveling through South India.

Done in the temple

About 60 priests and 20 temple servants who live in the northern part of the temple work in the temple itself. The temple servants help the priests to prepare the meals and prepare the rituals. Furthermore, a large number of animals live in the temple, the temple elephant Parvati, cows, camels and also parrots, which can pronounce the name of the goddess Meenakshi.

There are at least 11 important temple festivals each year, during which the images of Meenakshi and Shiva are carried around the temple in magical processions on rathas (temple chariots). Sometimes they are also carried through the city.

In addition to the big festivals, there are many daily wedding ceremonies of poor and rich Indians (especially on Sundays), religious ceremonies, dedications and prayers, which can be seen up close. Many locals also use the temple for walking or picnicking. Everyone is very open and happy about the interest of foreign visitors. You can take photos and watch unabashedly for hours.

Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting the temple:

Shoes must be handed in at the entrance
Shoes can be handed in at the booths provided for a small fee
You should wear appropriate clothing
Accept privacy when taking photos and ask beforehand if necessary
take a lot of time
Also look up, there are wonderful decorations on the ceilings
The main part of Sundareshwara and Meenakshi Shrine is only accessible for Hindus
You should be prepared for the fact that it can sometimes be very noisy and cramped inside the temple

temple from the outside

There is the possibility to catch a beautiful view of the temple complex from the outside:

On the terraces of some shops: Here it is worth being persuaded to go into an antique shop. It is not a problem to leave the store after a friendly thank you without making a purchase.
In the morning or evening at a rooftop restaurant with a tasty Indian menu and a cool lime soda