Madurai
Meenakshi Temple. The Meenakshi temple covers a vast area and is an eclectic mix of architectural styles improved upon by different dynasties such as the Vijayanagara and Nayaka rulers. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple what it is today goes to Tirumalai Nayak who brought back glory to this magnificent structure. Located at the heart of the city, the temple is one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. People of the city wake up to the chant of hymns at the temple, which is the very centre of their cultural and religious life.
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal. There is no other building in Madurai that better illustrates the architectural style of the Nayaks. The palace of Tirumalai Nayak is about 1 km from Meenakshi temple. This Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1523 and was originally four times as large as it is today. The palace consists mainly of two parts, Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa, which house the royal residence, theatre, shrine, apartments, armoury, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, pond and gardens. The most remarkable part of the palace is the dome of Swarga Vilasam that lies beyond a huge courtyard and is a magnificent example of the engineering skills of its builders: it rises to a height of 20m without support of any kind.
The Gandhi Museum. The Gandhi Memorial Museum is an important part of Madurai. The museum is one of the rare memorials of 'The Father of India' and has an elaborate historical account of India's struggle for independence, and the cloth that Gandhi wore when he was murdered is on display.