Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
Madurai, Madurai district · Goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati, also called Angayarkanni) and Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva, also called Chokkanathar)
Fourteen painted gopurams, a golden lotus tank and the divine wedding at the heart of one of India's oldest living cities.
The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is the spiritual and physical centre of Madurai: the old city's streets are laid out in concentric squares around it. The complex covers about 14 acres (5.7 hectares) and has 14 gopurams (gateway towers), the tallest being the southern tower at about 52 m (170 ft). Unusually for a Shiva temple, the goddess comes first here. Meenakshi, the fish-eyed warrior queen of the Pandyas, is worshipped before her consort Sundareswarar, and the city's year turns on their wedding, celebrated every April–May in the Chithirai festival. The temple completed a Maha Kumbabhishekam (re-consecration) on 17 September 2026, its first in 17 years.
Timings
- Temple open (morning): 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Closed: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Temple open (evening): 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Special entrance tickets valid: 6:30 AM – 8:30 PM only
- Note: Pooja times can change during festivals (as stated by HR&CE).
Darshan types and costs
- Free (Dharma) darshan – Free
- Special entrance – Amman OR Swamy – ₹50 per person
- Special entrance – Amman AND Swamy – ₹100 per person
- Non-Hindu visitors – Free (outer areas)
Sevas and costs
- Arulmigu Amman Swamy Abishegam – ₹1,300 (Daily. The slot is set by the temple office (check at booking).)
- Ubaya Thirukalyanam (sponsored divine wedding) – ₹1,501 (Performed on request on available days (check with the temple office))
- Ubaya Thangaratham (golden chariot sponsorship) – ₹1,501 (Evenings, on available days (check with the temple office))
- Thiru Vilakku Poojai (lamp pooja) – ₹200 (Check with the temple office (often held on Fridays and auspicious days))
- Siddhar Pushpa Koodaram – ₹500 (Check with the temple office)
- Archanai – ₹5 per ticket (During darshan hours)
- Annai Tamil Archanai – ₹5 (During darshan hours)
- Abirami Anthadi – ₹10 (Check with the temple office)
- Kalyanam (wedding in the temple) – ₹100 (plus ₹10 application form; ₹50 kalyanam thambulam) (On auspicious muhurtham days, as allotted)
- Maavilakku – ₹2 (During darshan hours)
How to book darshan
Special entrance darshan (₹50/₹100), archanai, postal prasadam and the temple's guest rooms can be booked online on the official TN HR&CE temple portal. Abhishekam, Thirukalyanam, golden chariot and lamp pooja are booked at the temple office.
Dress code
Traditional, modest clothes are required (HR&CE rules ask devotees to come in traditional dress). Men: dhoti/veshti or full trousers with a shirt. Women: saree, half-saree or churidar/salwar with dupatta. Avoid shorts, sleeveless tops, short skirts and tight leggings without a long top. Footwear stays outside.
Best time to visit
October to March is the most comfortable. Go early (6:30–8 AM) or late evening for shorter queues, and stay until 9:30 PM for the Palliyarai pooja. The Chithirai festival (April–May) is spectacular but extremely crowded and hot. Avoid weekends and festival days if you want a quiet visit.
How to reach
- air: Madurai International Airport is about 12 km away (30–40 minutes by taxi). Flights to Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and abroad to Colombo, Dubai and Singapore.
- rail: Madurai Junction (MDU) is about 1.5 km from the temple, a 5-minute auto ride or a 20-minute walk. Direct trains from Chennai (Vaigai Express, Pandian Express, Vande Bharat), Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Rameswaram.
- road: Madurai is well connected by TNSTC and SETC government buses. Mattuthavani (MGR) bus stand is about 6 km away and Periyar bus stand about 1 km. Chennai is about 460 km (8–9 hours) and Rameswaram about 170 km.
Festivals
- Chithirai Thiruvizha (incl. Meenakshi Pattabishekam, Dig Vijayam and Thirukalyanam) – Tamil month of Chithirai (April–May), about 12 days. Check the HR&CE site for the year's dates.
- Azhagar entering the Vaigai (Kallazhagar festival) – Chithra Pournami (full moon), right after the wedding
- Teppa Thiruvizha (Float festival) – Thai month (January–February), on Thai Poosam
- Avani Moolam – Tamil month of Avani (August–September), about 10 days
- Navaratri – Purattasi (September–October), 9 nights
- Maha Shivaratri – Masi (February–March)
- Aadi Pooram and Aadi Fridays – Aadi (July–August)
- Karthigai Deepam – Karthigai (November–December)