Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

The Meenakshi Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva.

The temple is at the centre of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature. The present structure was built between 1623 and 1655 CE by Tirumalai Nayak. It is known for its 14 towering gopurams (gateway towers), the tallest of which reaches 51.9 metres, covered with thousands of brightly painted stucco figures.

The temple attracts over 15,000 visitors a day, which increases to 25,000 on Fridays. The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival in April/May sees a million visitors.