MADURAI
General Information about Madhurai

Nearby Cities of Madurai

1]. Coimbatore - 227 km.

2]. Rameshwaram - 173 km.

3]. Kanyakumari - 253 km.

4]. Tekkadi - 137 km.

5]. Courtalam - 160 km.

6]. Kodaikanal - 121 km.

Tourist Information Centres about Madurai

● Tourist Office, Government of Tamil Nadu - Hotel Tamil Nadu Complex, West Veli Street (Near Periyar Bus Stand) Madurai, Tamil Nadu

● Tourist Information Center, Government Of Tamil Nadu - Railway Junction, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

● Department of Tourism, Government of India (DOTGOI) - 154, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

● Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) - 143, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

PLACES OF ATTRACTION

Courtallam

 Located 21 kms northwest of Madurai is a Vishnu Temple on a picturesque wooded hill.     Here 'Vishnu' presides as Meenakshi's brother 'Azhgar'. During the Chitrai festival in April/May, when the celestial marriage of Meenakshi to Sundareswarar is celebrated, Azhagar travels to Madurai. A gold processional icon called the Sundararajar is carried by devotees in procession from Azhagar Kovil to Madurai for wedding ritual.
Palamudhirsolai, one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya is on the same hill, about 4 kms. above. A natural spring called Nuburagangai where pilgrims bath, is located here.

Courtallam is a well-known bathing place and tourist attraction. Some ofits magnificent waterfalls (there are as many as seven) of the Chittarriver are said to have mineral properties. Bathing in these waterfallsis considered good for both mind and body. The best time to visit thishealth resort is during June-September. Courtallam is 58 Km by road fromTirunelveli and 6 Km from Tenkasi Railway Station. Courtallam has anothernames like Pithur Kanda Theerthapuram, Mukthiveli, Thirunagaram, Nannagaram,Vasanthaperur  and so. 

Other Places

Within a distance of 40 to 60 km from Tiruchendur are Tuticorin(port), Tirunelveli (railway junction), Krishnapuram (known for templesculptures) and Tenkasi (temple town). 

Thirukuttralanatha Swamy Temple
The templeis dedicated to Lord Thirukuttralanathar (Shiva). This temple containsmany inscriptions about Chola and Pandya Kings. Less than a furlong fromhere is a small temple called Chitra Sabha (Hall of Pictures) dedicatedto Lord Nataraja and decorated with paintings of rural deities and devotees,puranic stories and religious events. The sabha is one of the five Sabhaswhere Lord Nataraja performed the cosmic dance.  
Lord Thirukuttralanathar temple is sorrounded by mountains and rivers whichhas placed it's name in the famous Thaevaram. The Lord Shiva only calledas "Thirukuttralanathar"and the Amman is named as "Kuzhalal VaiMozhi". This pilgrimage centre has a famouswaterfalls in it known as Shivamathungai. This pilgrimage centre got itsname since the famous poet "Agathiyar" worshipped here. Also it was wellsung by almost all the community poet's. It has many sub-temples in Courtallamand they were maintained by the temple Devasthanam. The temples are asfollows 

● ShenbagaDevi Amman Temple 
● KootharKoil 
● ChithiraSabai 
● ThirugnanaSambandar Koil (Pillaiyar Koil) 
● CourtallaNangaiKoil 
● AdiyaetumParaipanri Madaswamy Koil 
● AavaranapPillaiyar Koil 
● NannagaramPillaiyar Koil 
● ThittaiPillaiyar Koil 
● PasupathaSastha Koil
● PaatapathuSastha Koil 
● SundaramoorthiKoil

It is a big tourist attraction and is visited by young and old alike, because of the herbal medicinal properties the water is believed to contain. The town is noted for its salubrious climate and natural scenery. There are 2 important temples here. One dedicated to Shiva is called as Thirukuttralanathar. The othr temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga (2 Kms from Courtallam). 
Another interesting place is Thirumalai - 15 Kms. from Courtallam, where there is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Muruga on the ranges of the Western ghats.

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