Cities
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Map of Southwestern Tamil Nadu
- 3 Kodaikanal — a popular hill resort
- 4 Madurai — the Athens of the East, a place of great historical and cultural importance, and the oldest city in Tamil Nadu
- 10 Srivilliputhur — a beautiful town with historical background and rich greeneries
Other destinations
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- Anjaneyar Temple in Anapatti is 5 km from Nilakottai Taluk is quite popular among residents of this area. Nilakottai is 11 km from Batlagundu bus stand and 35 km from Dindigul. This is said to be 300-year-old temple built by Queen of Madurai Rani Mangamma. The idol will be half buried when the water is in full flow here. This temple is near the Peranai bridge (see site below) and regulator constructed by the British.
- Bodinayakkanur — on the foothills of the West Ghats, west of Theni, this town is popular for cardamom mango and coffee market. Bodi Mettu, a hill resort situated at a height of 4500 feet, it is a most scenic place. It is 26 km from Bodinayakkanur
- Chinna suruli falls — 54 km from Theni near Kombaithozhu Village. These falls originate in the Megamalai - It is popularly known as Chinna Suruli.
- Devadanapatti — The main shrine in Devadanapatti is Kamatchi Amman Temple. It is situated on the banks of the Manjal river. This temple is 3 km from Devadanapatti in Theni District. In this temple, the doors to the sanctum sanctorum are never opened, and all the pujas are offered only to the portals.
- Tirumangalam — A town southwest of Madurai on the banks of river Gundar, a tributary of river Vaigai.
- Kodlambatti falls or Aruvi — This falls is on the Madurai-Kodaikanal hill route and is 36 km from Madurai city. It is 7 km from Kodalambatti and the height of the falls is approximately 87 feet. During the rainy season, travellers in this area throng to see and bathe in the gushing water. There is a 500-year-old Nachiamman temple here.
- Kunnuvarankottai Kasi Visalakshi Viswanathar temple — This 300-year-old temple is approximately 8 km from Batlagundu on the Batlagundu-Usilampatti road and is on the banks of river Vaigai. This village is locally known as Kannapatti. An added attraction is the point of confluence of the three rivers Vaigai, Manjalaru and Maruda. It is pertinent to note that the river Vaigai flows northward near this village. This is an important pilgrimage point where devotees take holy bath in the rivers during auspicious days.
- Lord siva and Draupadi temple — There is a famous Lord Siva and Draupadi amman temple in Melur taluk. It is approximately 30 km from Madurai city. The temple festival is held annually. There is a famous event related to an event in Mahabharata - Biman - Keesakan fight enacted here annually. There are many other festivals that are conducted here.
- Manjalar Dam — This is a reservoir that stores water from Manjalar river on the foothills of Kodiakanal hillstation. This is roughly 8-10 km away from Batlagundu bus stand. This is a place to visit during monsoons from October to March if the monsoon sets properly.
- Mavoothu — The main attraction in Mavoothu is the Vellappar Temple. This holy shrine is situated in the Varushanad hill ranges, southwest of Madurai, 20 km from Andipatti. Nestling among the hills, the temple is atop a peak, surrounded by natural vegetation. Transport is available up to the foothills only.
- Pandi Koil — This temple is famous for outings from Madurai city. Often, the school children are taken for Picnic to this scenic spot and also pray in the temple there. This is approximately an hour's drive from Madurai City.
- Peranai — It is a reservoir and a fine picnic spot from October to late February, provided the north-east monsoon sets properly and water is released from the Vaigai Dam. Peranai is a unique confluence of waters from several dams — the Vaigai Dam, the Marudanadi Dam in Dindigul, the Manjalar, and Varahanadi Dams in Theni. It is not a separate catchment area but collects and diverts water released from the Vaigai every year. It is in Nilakottai taluk of Dindigul district and approximately 35 km from Dindigul city. It is approximately 15 km from Nilakottai town on the Madurai-Kodaikanal road.
- Sendraya Perumal Temple — This is an ancient temple of Sri Sendraya Perumal situated in a hill near old Batlagundu. Mr Kannan is a priest in this temple. He is involved in developmental activities like Anna Thaanam (to provide free meals) in the temple. The people of all faiths and religions visit this temple.
- Siddharmalai — A hillock 2 km from Peranai and near the Vikkiramangalam village on the Usilampatti main road north of Dindigul city. There is a large natural cavern on the southern side of the hillock called the Pancha Pandava Padukkai (Bed of the Five Pandavas'). There are two rows of beds with raised pillows chiselled out of the rock inside. There is an inscription on the rock face that traces the origin of the name of Madurai city — `Mathirai' (City of Walls).
- Sindhupatti Thiru Venkatachalapthy Koil — This temple is called as "Then Thiruppathi" after the famous Thirupathi temple. This is approximately an hour's journey from Madurai in Thirumangalam district. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. There are festivals all the year for Lord Venkateswara.
- Solai amman temple — This is one of the six of the holiest of Murugan shrines referred to as the Aarupadai Veedugal. Unlike the other five temples, there is no grand edifice surrounding the central shrine of worship. However, this is a holy shrine venerated by the Skanda Puranam and by Nakkeerar's Thirumurugatrupadai of the Sangam period. Arunagirinathar's Thirupugazh also reveres this shrine.
- Thiruadavur Koil — This temple is 25 km from Madurai city and 5 km from Othakadai in Madurai district. This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and Parvathy. This is the birthplace of the great Shaivite saint Manickavasagar.
- Thirumangalam Meenakshi amman temple — In Thirumangalam which is 25 km approximately from Madurai city, there is an ancient centuries-old temple devoted for Chokkanathar and Meenakshi Goddess. It was believed that the town name “Thirumangalam“ was derived from the word “Thirumangalyam” which refers that the “Thirumangalyam“ (Sacred necklace worn by married Hindu women) of Goddess Meenakhi of Madurai was designed here at Thirumangalam.
- Thirumogur Koil — This temple is 20 km from Madurai City and 3 km from Othakadai in Madurai District. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Senbagavalli. This is a famous Vaishnavite temple in this district. The phone number of the temple office is 0452–2423227.
- Thiruvedagam — This is a famous historical place noryhwest of Madurai where the palm-leaf manuscript of Saivite Saint Thirunavakkarasar is believed to have washed ashore floating against the currents of vaigai river (upstream). In the Sekkilar's Periyapuranam, this event is described in detail.
- Vadipatti - Kulasekaran Kottai — This village is approximately 30 km away from Madurai city. This is an ancient village built by Pandya King (many centuries ago) had built the Meenakshi temple and this village. Kutlampatti falls is near this village.
- Yanamalai — A scenic beautiful mountain in the Melur taluk near Othakadai town northeast of Madurai . This resembles the shape of an elephant from a distance. There is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha in this place.
Do
[edit]- Jallikattu festival - The most popular sport in Tamil Nadu is part of the pongal celebrations. This game of valour is held in the villages like Alanganallur in Madurai district with great enthusiasm. People from the neighbouring villages throng the open grounds to watch man and beast pitting their strength against each other. This is held in January every year. This is like the Spanish bull fights.
Eat
[edit]Virudunagar parota Madura jigartanda Díñdugal biryani
Drink
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