Meenakshi Temple :  


 After breakfast we went to visit the Meenakshi Temple, one of the largest & most spectacular temples in India. Meenakshi Temple is simply breathtaking, colourful with the painted carvings on the outside and the painted ceilings inside. Meenakshi temple has a thousand pillared 'Mandapam', these pillars are carved out of a single granite rock with each of them delicately and exquisitely carved. Among these are the musical pillars, which produce music when tapped, this hall of nearly 1000 pillars gives the entrance and the whole place an amazing atmosphere. The blowing of the conch shells, the elephant whisks, incense, the silver palanquin and the priests make it a wonderful experience. 
   
 This magnificently carved temple with its huge Gopurams towers over the city is the abode of goddess Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva, the life of Madurai revolves around the Meenakshi temple. The temple has an art museum and is central to the Tamil culture which has been sponsoring literature, art, music and dance in the region, souvenirs can be bought in numerous shops within the temple and the city. I bought few handicraft carvings in bronze and I was pleased with my purchase.

       Lotus Shaped  "City of Nectar"

Madurai or the "city of nectar" is the oldest city of Tamil Nadu, this city is located on the river and was the capital of Pandyan rulers till the 14th century. The Pandyan king, Kulasekhara built this magnificent temple in centre, around the temple he created a lotus shaped city with the streets and main thoroughfares encircling the shrine one after the other in a concentric fashion. Mythology says when the city was being named that Lord Shiva blessed the city and its people, on the auspicious occasion some Divine nectar ("Madhu") fell from the matted locks of Lord Shiva and hence gave the town its name of Madurai or “City of Nectar”
The streets of Madurai were named after months in the Tamil calendar, this sacred town of south attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from India as well as abroad. The city has many shops, street markets and temples, hotels and restaurants, the city of Madurai is also famed for its traditional handicrafts in bronze and brass.
 

  I had one free day so I had two hour auvedic massage and then I took a rickshaw to see the city which is amazing with the streets and temple, I bought some really nice jewellery, key rings and pashminas from some of the shops at a good price then I went back to my hotel and ordered the room service lunch. They also brought me fresh coconut water then I had a beautician give me the full works, manicure pedicure and eyebrows etc,she even washed my hair and I felt like a queen for the day!!!. I was also pleased with my laundry done by the hotel all washed and ironed, all these was done at a nominal price compared to London. In the evening we had big banquet feast on the terrace with live sitar and Indian classical music.