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Festivals
Chithirai Festials:
The Chithirai Festival is held during April-May.
On this occasion the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar
is celebrated. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu as Azhagar rode on
a golden horse to Madurai to the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi
(Parvathi) with Lord Sundareswarar (Siva).
This celebrated every year on the full moon
day of the Tamil Month of Chithirai. Lord Azhagar entering River
Vaigai is a spectacular event.
On the occasion, a decorated chariot carrying
the two idols of the couple is taken around the town to the tumultuous
notes of Nadaswaram and beats of drums. A spiritual ambience descends
on Madurai. As the procession passes through the streets and in
the vicinity of the "devasthanam", offering of coconuts,
flowers, camphor and agarbathis are made by the devotees. A spirit
of devotion marked by pomp and gaiety prevades right through the
day. The festival draws a mammoth crowd. A trade exhibition and
fair organised here lends festivity to the occasion.
Govt. Chithirai Exhibition:
The Government Chithirai Exhibition is held
from April to June every year.
Avanimoola Festival:
This takes place in August- September and
is the Coronation festival of Lord Sundareswarar. An interesting
event during this festival occurs on the ninth day when Lord Sundareswarar
is dressed as a worker and taken to the banks of the river Vaigai.
Float Festival:
This festival takes place in January-February
in the Vandiyur Marriamman Teppakulam. A specially constructed raft
decorated with flowers and lights carries the deities around the
tank. This festival is a feast to the eyes.
Pongal Festival:
This Festival Takes Place in Middle of January
every year.
Places
of Worship
Temples: Meenakshi
Temple, Mariamman Temple, Nanmai Tharuvarkoil and Koodal Azhagar
Temple.
Arulmighu Maragathavalli Muktheeswarar Temple, Teppakkulam West
Street, Madurai-9,Immai Nanmai Tharuvar Thirukkoil, West Masi Street,
Madurai-1.
Lord Vishnu:
Arulmighu Koodalalagar Temple, Madurai-1, Arulmighu Kallalagar Temple,
Alagarkoil, Madurai, Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Munichalai, Madurai-1,
Prasanna Venkatajalapathi Temple, Tallakkulam, Madurai-2, Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal Temple, South Krishnan koil Street, Madurai-1.
Jain Temple:
Jain Temple, 4, Appavupillai Lane, Meenkshi Temple Street, Madurai-1.
Churches:
Roman Catholic:
St.Mary's Church, East Veli Street, Madurai-1, Holy Rosary Church,
West Gate, Town Hall Road, Madurai-1
Protestant:
Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Arasaradi, Madurai-16, CSI Cathedral
parish Council, 36, PTR Road, Narimedu, Madurai-2, CSI Webb memorial
Church, Ponnagaram, Madurai-10, American College Chapell, Goripalayam,
Madurai-2.
Assembly of God:
Assemblies of God, Tamilnadu Bible Colleage, Bye pass Road, Madurai-16.
Pentacostal Mission:
Tamil Bible Institute, Bye Pass Road, madurai-16.
Tamilnadu Evangelical
Lutheran:
TELC Holy Redeemer's Church, Periyar Bus Stand, Madurai-1.
Mosques:
Pallivasal, Kazimar Street, Pallivasal, South Gate, Sait Pallivasal,
South Masi Street, Sangam Pallivasal, Vaigai Brigde, Goripalayam
Pallivasal and Santhaipettai Pallivasal, Katrapalayam Jamath Pallivasal,
TPK Road, Madurai-1
Medical
Facilities
Hospitals:
1.Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Goripalayam, Madurtai-1. Phone: 532535-40
2. Bose Clinic, 45, CMR Road, Madurai-1. (Near Nadana Theatre) Phone:
337344-45
3. Christian Mission Hospital, East Veli Street, Madurai-1. Phone:
326012
4. Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Lake Area, Melur Road, Madurai Phone:
588741-55.
5. Appollo Hospital, Lake Area, Madurai. Phone: 580892-95
Shopping:
Fabrics and Sarees:
Ranee Sarees, 70, South Masi Street, Madurai-1, Phone:344888,
Nalli Silks Sales Depot, 3, Jadamuni Koil Street, Madurai-1,
Kadhi Emporium, Town Hall Road, Madurai-1.
Shopping Centre:
Chithirai, Avanimoola and Masi Streets, Pudumandapam and Thevangu
Chetty Choultry in and around Meenakshi Temple, Town Hall Road.
Handlooms:
Co-optex, West Tower Street, co-optex, South Chithirai Street, Phone:344795.
Handicrafts:
All India Handicrafts Emporium, Town Hall Road, Phone:340742.
Poompuhar Handicrafts, West Veli Street, Phone: 340571.
Khadi Krafts, Town Hall Road and Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, Town Hall
Road.
Poompuhar Sales Emporium, East Avani Moola Street, Madurai-1, Phone:
340517
Departmental Stores:
Pandiyan Co-operatibve Super Market, Palace Road
Pandiyan co-operative Mini Super Market, Dhanappa MudaliStreet
Recreation
Restaurant: Hotel Tamilnadu, Hotel
Madurai Ashok, Hotel Pandiyan, Taj Restaurant at Town Hall Road,
Mahal Restaurant, Town Hall Road, New Arya Bhavan, West Masi Street,
Taj Garden Retreat, Hotel Supreme, West Perumal Maistry Street.
There are also a few unclassified restaurants.
North Indian Foods:
1. Sri Ashapuri Bhojanalaya, Near Birla Visram, 6, Annakuli mandapam
Street, West Chithirai Street, Madurai-1. (Bombay, Gujarathi and
Rajasthani Meals).
2. Sree Mohan Bhojanalaya, 33, West Avani Moola Street, Madurai-1.
(Bombay, Gujarathi and Rajasthani Meals).
3. Ganga Cauvery Bhojanalaya, 39-A, West Avani Moola Street, Madurai-1.
(Marvadi Gujarathi and Bombay Meals).
4. Mahadev Bhavan, 22, Sourashtra Lane 1st Floor, West Masi Street,
Madurai-1.(Marvadi Gujarathi and Bombay Meals).
Clubs: Cosmopolitan Club, Chokikulam
Road and Union Club, Tamukkam, Tallakulam.
Auditorium: Lakshmi Sundaram Hall,
Tallakulam, Phone: 530858
Tamil Isai Sangam , Raja Sir Muthaih Mandram, Opp.District Court,
Madurai-2.Phone:650331
Libraries: District Central Library,
Simmakkal, Madurai-1, University Library, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai,
Gandhi Museum Library, Thallakulam, Madurai-2, Victoria Edward Hall
Library, West Veli Street, Madurai-1, Information Centre Library,
Government of Tamilnadu, 180, West Masi Street, Madurai-1.
Liquor Dealers: Pandiyan Co-operative
Super Market, East Veli Street, Madurai-1. Pandiyan Mini Super Market,
Dhanappa Mudali Street, Madurai-1, Plenty of licensed private liquor
shops available.
Yoga Centre: Maharishi Meditation
and Yoga Centre, Gandhi Museum Complex, Madurai-2.
Florists: Inside Meenakshi Temple
and at the entrance, Plenty of florists available in Dindigul Road,
Madurai-1.
Skating: Rollar Skatting, Indoor Games
facility available at Vandiyur Kanmai Tourist Complex run by Chakra
Skates Club, K.K.Nagar, Madurai-20. Phone: 429185 P.P.
ADHISYAM : A water Theme Park situated
at madurai - Dindigul Road at PARAVAI, matter of 15 kms from Madurai.
Entrance Fee : Rs.200/- for Adults and For Children : Rs.150/-
RAJAJI PARK : Childrens's Park situated
2kms from Central Bus Stand.
Cinema: Available.
Miscellaneous
Banks:
State Bank of India, West Veli Street, Phone 621161. Indian Overseas
Bank, 96-A, Palace Road, Phone: 621161.Indian Bank, 100-101, East
Avanimoola Street, Phone: 622543. Central Bank of Indian, 15, Meenakshi
Koil Street, Phone:601915. Union Bank of India, 114-D, South Masi
Street, Phone:743117. United Commercial Bank, 90/82, East Avani
Moola Street, Phone: 330335 and Canara Bank, Pandiyan House, Phone:
330337. Global Trust Bank, North Veli St., Madurai. Phone : 348183.
Money Changers:
State Bank of India. Exchange facilities are also available
with all Scheduled Banks transacting foreign exchange and Hotel
Tamilnadu, Hotel Madurai Ashok and Pandiyan Hotel.
Note: Foreigners are advised to get their
currency from endorsed by money changer at the time of exchanging
their currency.
Chemists: Available.
Tourist
Information
Tourist Office: Hotel Tamilnadu Complex,
West Veli Street, (Near Periyar Bus Stand), Phone:334757.
Tourist Information Centre: Railway Junction, Phone:342888. And
Tourist Information Centre, Madurai Airport.
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