Meenakshi Temple: The making of Madurai’s greatest landmarks

Goddess Meenakshi is revered by the people of Madurai as their queen ( Maduraiyin Rani or Arasi in Tamil), but what draws thousands of devotees from across the world to the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple each day is its audacious architecture. Far more than a place of worship, the sprawling complex is a marvel of sacred design. It boasts 14 gopurams, including four towering raja gopurams at its eastern, western, southern and northern entrances; gold-plated vimanas above the sanctums of Sundareswarar and Meenakshi; the famed Golden Lotus Tank; and a train of magnificent mandapams. Built of granite, these halls are grand edifices supported by massive pillars and adorned with life-size sculptures, intricate carvings, friezes, murals and, most importantly, inscriptions. Equally striking is the Indra Vimanam above Sundareswarar’s sanctum, held aloft by eight silver-coated elephant sculptures.