"Sri Meenakshi Sundareshvara Temple - Part 1" Madurai Travelogue by Willettsworld

This huge temple complex is the main reason of coming to Madurai. It dominates the city centre and is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Sundareshvara (meaning the "Handsome One"), and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi (the "Fish-eyed Goddess", no less!). Originally built by the early Pandyas (7th-10th centuries), it was extensively added to be succeeding dynasties, especially between the 14th and 18th centuries where the bulk of the temple was built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak (1623-55).

The temple complex is within a high-walled enclosure measuring 254 by 237 meters, covering an area of 45 acres (180,000 m2), at the core of which are the two sanctums for Meenakshi and Sundareshvara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls such as the 1000-pillared hall. The temple can be seen from miles around thanks to its impressive 12 gopurams (towers) which rise to a height of more than 52 metres (170ft) and are immensely decorated with stucco figures of various deities, mythical animals and monsters, painted in vivid colours. If you're in Tamil Nadu or even in southern India then you can't miss not coming here and witness the daily pilgrimages and rituals that take place inside.