Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Temple, also referred to as Meenakshi Amman or Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.The presiding deities are Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th century CE texts.
The restored complex now houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 4550m in height, with the southern gopura tallest at 51.9 metres (170 ft). The complex has numerous sculpted pillared halls such as Ayirakkal (Thousand pillared hall), Kilikoondu-mandapam, Golu-mandapam and Pudu-mandapam.The temple attracts over a million pilgrims and visitors during the annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, celebrated with much festivities, fervour and a ratha (chariot) procession during the Tamil month of Chittirai (overlaps with April-May in Georgian calendar, Chaitra in North India). The Temple has been adjudged best Swachh Iconic Place in India as on October 1, 2017 under Prime Minister of India's Flagship Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
First have a look on various minor quadrangular complexes, 14 gopurams or towers or on out of which the tallest one, the southern tower, which stretches nearly 170 feet (52 meters) high. The temple which has five entrances, covers an area of 847 feet (254.1 meters) long and 792 feet (237.6 meters) wide in the North - South direction, the circumference of the Aadi Veedhi which is the path within the great walls is 830 feet (249 meters) on the east west and , measuring 730 feet (219 meters) from North - South direction.

Only Hindus can go into the inner sanctums to worship the deity of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. There is access for everyone to worship the deities without any payment and special entrance tickets are also available for those who wishes to have the darshan quickly. The cost of special entrance is Rs.50/- for a single shrine either goddess Meenakshi or lord Sundaresara and Rs.100/- for both the shrines.