- Formerly (until 1949):
- Madura
- On the Web:
- Indianetzone - Madurai City, India (Nov. 07, 2026)
Madurai
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Where is Madurai located in India?
Madurai is located in the south-central Tamil Nadu state in southern India, on the Vaigai River, roughly 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Dindigul. Known as the third most populous and potentially oldest city in the state, Madurai has been associated with Pandya kings and was once the Pandya capital.
Madurai is a major transportation hub with road and rail lines and an airport providing domestic and international services. The city is known for cotton spinning and weaving, the manufacturing of transport equipment, and small-scale hand-loom weaving of silks and cottons.
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What is Madurai famous for?
Madurai, located in south-central Tamil Nadu, is one of the oldest and most populous cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The city is renowned for the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a temple complex dedicated to the union of Shiva and Parvati and said to date back to the 4th century CE. Madurai is also known for its jasmine flower plantations and hand-loom weaving of cotton and silk.
In ancient times, Madurai was the capital of the Pandya kings and was known for its Tamil sangam (literary society).
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What is the Meenakshi Temple, and why is it important to Madurai?
The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, India, is a temple complex that was built in its current form during the 16th and 17th centuries, though its origins may stretch back to the 4th century CE. Dedicated to the union of the god Shiva (as Sundareswarar) and the goddess Parvati (as Meenakshi), it stands as a testament to Hindu legend, which holds that Shiva came to Madurai to marry Meenakshi, the daughter of the Pandya ruler.
The temple is central to Madurai, historically and culturally. The city itself is said to be centered on the temple. It was rebuilt in the Vijayanagar period (16th–17th century) after the destruction of the city in 1310. The temple is a living temple where weekly rituals are carried out, such as seating golden figures of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar on a swing as hymns are sung.
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How old is the city of Madurai, and what is its historical significance?
Madurai, located in south-central Tamil Nadu, is possibly the oldest city in the state of India. Its ancient history is linked to the Pandya kings, serving as their capital from the 4th to 11th century CE. Later, it was ruled by the Chola, Vijayanagar, Muslim, Maratha, and British empires.
Madurai is known for its Tamil Sangam, a literary society from the early centuries CE, and a new Sangam was established in 1901. The city is centered around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which was rebuilt during the Vijayanagar period (16th–17th century) after the city's destruction in 1310.
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What are some cultural traditions or festivals unique to Madurai?
Madurai, the third most populous city in Tamil Nadu, India, is known for its ancient history and rich cultural traditions. The city's culture is deeply rooted in Hinduism, with numerous temples attracting devotees.
The Meenakshi Amman Temple is central to Madurai’s identity. The annual twelve-day wedding festival of the goddess Meenakshi (a manifestation of Parvati) and Shiva (as Sundareswarar) is celebrated in April/May.
Pongal, a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils worldwide, is also observed with great enthusiasm in Madurai. The third day, Mattu Pongal, involves honoring and worshiping cattle for their role in farming.
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How does Madurai contribute to Tamil Nadu's economy and education today?
Madurai is a major transportation hub in southern India with developing large-scale industry in the suburbs. The city is known for cotton spinning and weaving, the manufacture of transport equipment, tobacco, and sugar. Madurai is also known for its hand-loom weaving of silks and cottons. Madurai Kamaraj University (founded 1966) is located in the city, as well as medical and law colleges.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Madurai, city, south-central Tamil Nadu state, southern India. It is located on the Vaigai River, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Dindigul. Madurai is the third most populous, and probably the oldest, city in the state.
The ancient history of the region is associated with the Pandya kings, and Madurai was the site of the Pandya capital (4th–11th century ce). Later it was conquered by Chola, Vijayanagar, Muslim, Maratha, and British rulers. In the 1940s it became known as the centre of the civil disobedience movement against the British raj, and it remained an important seat of political leadership.
The compact old part of the city—enclosed by the Anai, Naga, and Pasu (Elephant, Snake, and Cow) hills—is centred on Meenakshi Amman (Minakshi-Sundareshwara) Temple. The temple, Tirumala Nayak palace, Teppakulam tank (an earthen embankment reservoir), and a 1,000-pillared hall were rebuilt in the Vijayanagar period (16th–17th century) after the total destruction of the city in 1310. The city walls were removed by the British in 1837 to enable Madurai to expand, and administrative and residential quarters were established north of the river.
Madurai is a major transportation hub for southern India, with road and rail lines radiating from the city. There is also an airport just south of the city, providing both domestic and international passenger and freight services. Large-scale industry has developed in the suburbs. Predominant are cotton spinning and weaving and the manufacture of transport equipment, tobacco, and sugar. Small-scale hand-loom weaving of silks and cottons, which have made Madurai famous throughout history, remains important.
In the early years ce, Madurai was well known for its Tamil sangam (literary society), and a new sangam was established in 1901. The city is home to Madurai Kamaraj University (founded 1966) as well as to medical and law colleges. In addition, the city has a bench of the Madras High Court in Chennai (Madras).
Lying southeast of the Eastern Ghats, the region surrounding Madurai occupies part of the plain of southern India and contains several mountain spurs, including the Palni and Sirumalai hills (north), the Cardamom Hills (west), and the Varushanad and Andipatti hills (south). Between those hills in the west lies the high Kambam Valley. Eastward, the plains drop to 300 feet (90 metres) above sea level but contain isolated hills. The chief river, the Vaigai, flows northeast through the Kambam Valley and then east across the centre of the state.
The region has never been self-sufficient in rice, despite the completion of irrigation projects on the Periyar (1895) and Vaigai (1960) rivers. Its chief cash crops are peanuts (groundnuts), cotton, sugarcane, coffee, cardamom, potatoes, and pears. The area is also renowned for its jasmine-flower plantations. Pop. (2001) city, 928,869; urban agglom., 1,203,095; (2011) city, 1,017,865; urban agglom., 1,465,625.
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