Beautiful Temples in Madurai for a Sacred Pilgrimage

The historic Meenakshi Amman temple is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Built sometime between the year 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Meenakshi Temple is primarily dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her spouse, Shiva. What makes this temple unique is that both God and Goddess are worshipped together.

Timings: 5 AM - 12-30 PM, 4 PM - 9:30 PM
Darshan Tickets: INR 50, INR 100
Location: Venmani Rd, Sellur, Madura

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Koodal Azhagar Temple, is a unique and famous temple of historical significance, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and supposedly built by the Pandyas. Koodal is another name for the city of Madurai and Azghar in Tamil translates to 'beautiful one', referring to Vishnu as Koodal Alagar and his consort Lakshmi as Mathuravalli.

Timings: 5:30 AM - 12 PM, 4 PM - 9 PM
Location: Perumal Koil Sannathi Street Near Periyar Bus Stand, Periyar, Madura

Alagar Koil is an exquisite temple situated in the northeast of Madurai. The temple is the resting place of Lord Vishnu and is the sacred place for several followers of Lord Vishnu in the region. It is situated in the Alagar hills and is also known as Azhagarkovil. The statue of the lord is made entirely of stone and is a splendid masterpiece created from kallalgar.

Timings: 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 8 PM
Location: 63 staff qtrs, Alagar Kovil Main Rd, Madurai

Tirupparankundram Murugan temple is one of the important pilgrimage temples in southern India. The temple is an excellent masterpiece of art and is devoted to mother earth. The surrounding region has a hilly terrain and is also known as southern Himalayas of India. It is looked upon as a holy place for marriages and most of the marriages in the suburbs take place in this temple itself.

Timings: 5 AM - 11:30 AM, 4 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu. 10 kms from central Madurai

Constructed in the honour of Lord Vigneshwara, this divine temple is situated about 5 km from the Meenakshi temple. It has a huge tank in the compound of the temple and holds the record of being the biggest tank in the region of Tamil Nadu. Legends say that the idol of the temple too was obtained from the bottom of the tank, while it was dug in the olden times. So the tank gained its popularity since then and the temple too was constructed in its memory.

Timings: 8 AM - 7 PM
Location: Meenakshi Nagar, Madurai

Pazhamudhir Solai is a beautiful temple created in the memory of Lord Subramaniya. It has great sculptures of Lord Subramaniya carved in wood and marble and is a wonderful temple with giant steps in the front of it. People worship the temple by moving across the periphery of the temple several times, with the hope that their prayers would come true.

Timings: 5:30 AM - 6 PM (Wednesday to Monday), All day (Tuesday)
Location: Alagar Hills R.F, Tamil Nadu. 25 Km north of central Madurai

Situated in the Mani Nagaram Main Road in Madurai, ISKCON Madurai is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Goddess Radha. The temple reverberates with mantras and songs at all times and devotees are fed with prasad. The premises also has a pure veg tiny eatery for the devotees and other visitors.

Timings: 5 AM - 12:30 PM, 4:15 PM - 8:15 PM
Location: Sri Sri Radha Mathurapathi Temple, Mani Nagaram Main Rd, Madurai Main, Madurai

Built on the banks of the Vaigai River in the Madurai District of Tamil Nadu, the Edaganathar Temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva’s avatar - Edaganathar. This 5-acre temple complex houses two Gopurams or gateway towers that face the two shrines dedicated to Edaganathar and his consort, while the stone carvings describe his origin. It is believed that the original complex was built by the Pandyan Empire. Muthu Pandal celebrated around February - March is the main festival celebrated here.

Timings: 6 AM - 8:30 PM
Location: Middle St, Thiruvedagam, Tamil Nadu. 20 km northwest of Madurai via Melakkal Rd

The Immayilum Nanmai Tharuvar Temple in Madurai is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. While people visit this temple seeking pardon for their sins, this temple is also known for granting boons for roles of leadership or respectable jobs. Referred to as Bhooloka Kailash or Shiva’s abode on Earth, special poojas through the year are dedicated to Lord Bhairava. The main festivals celebrated here are Maha Shivratri and Brahmmotsavam around February - March.

Timings: 6:45 AM - 12 PM, 4:30 PM - 9 PM
Location: 15, Glasskara St, Periyar, Madurai Main, Madurai

The Sri Veeraraghava Perumal temple in the Madurai District of Tamil Nadu is a dedicated to Lord Vishnu. He has been commemorated in three idol forms - Lord Veera Raghava, Narsimha and Utsavar - with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Legend attributes an enthralling story of responsibility and security to the deities - Lord Veera Raghava and Kanakavalli. The gopurams and Dravidian art in sculptures are an education in mythology. This is why the tank near the temple-complex is known to grant blessings, security and healing from illnesses.

Timings: 6 AM - 11 AM, 4 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Periyar, Madurai Main, Madurai

The Draupadi Amman Temple in Madurai is dedicated to Mother Parvathi - wife of the Pandavas. Believed to have the powers to control the five elements of the Earth, this temple was built to heal the damage caused by a devastating fire in Madurai. Apart from the presiding deity Mother Draupadi, the temple also has 9 shrines dedicated to other deities including Saturn (Shani), Jupiter (Guru) and Mother Sri Santoshi Madha. Women especially worship Sri Santoshimadha here seeking child boons, family prosperity and happiness.

Location: S Marret St, Madurai Main, Panthadi