Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
4.5
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
About
Experience the culture of Madurai with this private tour of its ancient temples. Spend approximately 45 minutes visiting each of the Dravidian temples built by the Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings, earning the city its nickname Koil Maanagar, which means Temple City. Discover why Madurai, also called the City of Junctions or Koodal Nagaram, is one of India's most outstanding Hindu pilgrimage centers.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,307 reviews
Excellent
3,195
Very good
878
Average
167
Poor
34
Terrible
32
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Kuldeep Tripathi
Pune, India38 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Hi, we visited this temple on 29th Dec evening and believe me there was huge crowd for Darshan.
We bought special darshant (fast darshan) ticket for 100/- per head and it was total waste of money. The Q for special darshan was toooooo long, in fact free darshan & special darshan Q were same in length. The temple administration hardly bother about pilgrims as there were no proper signage in Hindi or English so it was very difficult to understand the instructions and crowd management was so poor that even with special ticket it was taking 4 hours (as I came to know thru one devotee, who was in special darshan Q for long time).
But I was not having so much time & patience with such pathetic management, so one tout came to us and asked Rs 1000/- per head for direct darshan (though I personally dont prefer such kind of approach but here I opted for this after lot of hesitation and seeing poor temple management) and he talked with some pujari & security people and we got Darshan in 30 mins.
The temple is really good with marvellous architecture.
(One more point to mention, If you book Auto thru Uber here, the Autowala will accept ur ride and will ask you additional money to drop you …before you step in or after step in the Auto)
We bought special darshant (fast darshan) ticket for 100/- per head and it was total waste of money. The Q for special darshan was toooooo long, in fact free darshan & special darshan Q were same in length. The temple administration hardly bother about pilgrims as there were no proper signage in Hindi or English so it was very difficult to understand the instructions and crowd management was so poor that even with special ticket it was taking 4 hours (as I came to know thru one devotee, who was in special darshan Q for long time).
But I was not having so much time & patience with such pathetic management, so one tout came to us and asked Rs 1000/- per head for direct darshan (though I personally dont prefer such kind of approach but here I opted for this after lot of hesitation and seeing poor temple management) and he talked with some pujari & security people and we got Darshan in 30 mins.
The temple is really good with marvellous architecture.
(One more point to mention, If you book Auto thru Uber here, the Autowala will accept ur ride and will ask you additional money to drop you …before you step in or after step in the Auto)
Written 29 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vaidyanathan B
Bengaluru, India188 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
The Meenakshi Amman Temple is a must-visit for anyone touring Madurai. The entire structure aisle very beautifully carved and maintained over all these years. Some renovation work is in progress now (Nov 2024) and the scaffolding is covering the beautiful structure.
We visited around 2pm and the temple was closed and it opened only after 3.30pm. The queues were also not allowed as the gates were closed. Even the footwear stand was closed and not accepting the footwear from the devotees. The crowd was thus building up and a big scramble began at 3.30pm when both the footwear stand and the entry gates opened. A eed for the management to look into this to ease the process.
The visit was complete by 6pm with great physical scramble through the queue and the time given in front of the Deity is only for a second to pray. The Management needs to do something about this too.
The two main deities are Lord Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswar.
The 1000 pillar temple too is a must visit place inside. Entry fee Rs.5.
Be prepared to get free physical massage in the crowd.
We visited around 2pm and the temple was closed and it opened only after 3.30pm. The queues were also not allowed as the gates were closed. Even the footwear stand was closed and not accepting the footwear from the devotees. The crowd was thus building up and a big scramble began at 3.30pm when both the footwear stand and the entry gates opened. A eed for the management to look into this to ease the process.
The visit was complete by 6pm with great physical scramble through the queue and the time given in front of the Deity is only for a second to pray. The Management needs to do something about this too.
The two main deities are Lord Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswar.
The 1000 pillar temple too is a must visit place inside. Entry fee Rs.5.
Be prepared to get free physical massage in the crowd.
Written 12 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna S
Malaysia859 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
However, on our last visit there (March 2024) we noticed that much of the former grandeur that we experienced here in the 90s has disappeared.
Ultimately, it is tourism that has collapsed here and as a result of which social conditions have changed dramatically.
The scheme is the same worldwide:
An early sign of this decline can be seen here on the ‘Chitirai’, the path surrounding the temple complex.
There are now numerous sales tables here and also a large number of street vendors who prey on visitors. Here, goods are offered at prices that are many times higher than what the objects on offer would fetch on the local open market.
However, the traders are successful because naive tourists compare the goods on offer with their local prices - and buy them. The consequences are clear: why should residents dutifully do a (poorly paid) job at a local company when they can earn many times as much in street trading in less time. Ultimately, this also means that regular working people become angry with tourists because it is the latter who are causing prices to rise through their naivety.
Ultimately, an unpleasant atmosphere arises here.
Ultimately, it is tourism that has collapsed here and as a result of which social conditions have changed dramatically.
The scheme is the same worldwide:
An early sign of this decline can be seen here on the ‘Chitirai’, the path surrounding the temple complex.
There are now numerous sales tables here and also a large number of street vendors who prey on visitors. Here, goods are offered at prices that are many times higher than what the objects on offer would fetch on the local open market.
However, the traders are successful because naive tourists compare the goods on offer with their local prices - and buy them. The consequences are clear: why should residents dutifully do a (poorly paid) job at a local company when they can earn many times as much in street trading in less time. Ultimately, this also means that regular working people become angry with tourists because it is the latter who are causing prices to rise through their naivety.
Ultimately, an unpleasant atmosphere arises here.
Written 19 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hemen
Boulder, CO1,003 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
A Divine Experience at Meenakshi Temple—Magnificent Architecture and Spiritual Bliss—What an experience we had —Such a beautiful temple but very busy - We went on a week day but wait was more then 1.5 hours but were able to do the Darshan of Goddess Meenakshi and God Shiva 🙏🙏 Visiting Meenakshi Temple was a mesmerizing experience. The intricate carvings, towering gopurams, and the devotion of the visitors made it truly special…The evening aarti was a soul-soothing experience, filling the temple with chants and devotion……Overall, Meenakshi Temple is a must-visit for anyone in Madurai, whether you seek spiritual solace or admire ancient architecture…. Rs 100/- Entry Fees for Darshan - Photography inside Temple Premises strictly prohibited- Mobile Phones , Cameras etc are not allowed and needs to deposited in Locker - Temple remains closed between 12.30 PM - 4 PM
Written 2 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MumbaiRiders
Mumbai, India2,028 contributions
Jan 2025 • Solo
Meenakshi Amman Temple, temple complex in Madurai said to originally date as far back as the 4th century CE but in its present form built in the 16th–17th centuries. According to Hindu legend, the god Shiva came to Madurai in the form of Sundareswarar to marry Meenakshi, the daughter of the Pandya ruler,Meenakshi was a manifestation of the goddess Parvati. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to their union.
The massive temple is enclosed by high walls entered through soaring gopuras, or gateway towers. Inside are colonnades, columned mandapas .
Non Hindu tourists are allowed inside the temple complex but have to deposit their phones and footwear at a reception counter before entering the temple.Photography inside the temple precincts is not allowed.There is a large museum at one end of the temple complex with a entrance fee of Rs 5 for Indian tourists.This historic music of sculptures and relics would itself require half a day for complete educational viewing.
The massive temple is enclosed by high walls entered through soaring gopuras, or gateway towers. Inside are colonnades, columned mandapas .
Non Hindu tourists are allowed inside the temple complex but have to deposit their phones and footwear at a reception counter before entering the temple.Photography inside the temple precincts is not allowed.There is a large museum at one end of the temple complex with a entrance fee of Rs 5 for Indian tourists.This historic music of sculptures and relics would itself require half a day for complete educational viewing.
Written 28 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prateek Gupta
Bengaluru, India5 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
We visited the Meenakshi Amman Temple on a Sunday, which is considered an especially auspicious day for worshipping Goddess Meenakshi. The temple was bustling with devotees, all eager to receive blessings on this holy day. However, our experience wasn’t as smooth as we had anticipated, particularly regarding the Speed Darshan ticket we had purchased.
We had opted for the Speed Darshan ticket at Rs. 100 per person, expecting it to expedite our access to the sanctum. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Despite paying for the ticket, the queue for the darshan was incredibly long, extending all the way back to the counter. The wait was so extensive that it would have taken us nearly four hours to reach the deity.
While we were still in the queue, a person approached us and shared that for Rs. 500 per person, we could get direct darshan without any wait. Intrigued, we decided to take this alternative route. The person introduced us to a pandit, who, after receiving the Rs. 500, escorted us inside the temple. Another pandit performed the pooja rituals for us, and we also gave an additional Rs. 1000 to him for his services. He was very kind and took the time to explain the significance of the rituals, answering all our queries with patience. This personalized attention made the experience more fulfilling.
After the darshan, we proceeded to the Sundareswarar Temple, which is part of the temple complex. Here, we were informed that the Abhishek ritual was ongoing, having started at 7:15 AM, and would end at 8:00 AM. The pandit explained that this was a significant ritual, and we could join once it was completed. As the bell rang signaling the end of the ritual, we were allowed to enter.
For this visit, we opted for the Speed Darshan again, but this time the pandit informed us that the procedure would be a bit more involved. We paid Rs. 1500 for the speed darshan, which allowed us quicker access. After the pooja rituals were completed, the pandit encouraged us to make a donation for the aarti, which would be shared among the other pandits involved in the temple's ceremonies. We donated Rs. 500, believing it would support the temple’s religious activities.
Overall, our visit to the Meenakshi Amman Temple was a mixed experience. While the temple itself is magnificent, with its grand architecture and spiritual ambiance, the logistical aspects of accessing the sanctum could have been better managed. The Speed Darshan ticket seemed ineffective, and we ended up spending more for the alternative route. Despite the inconveniences, the temple's divine energy and the rituals made the experience meaningful, and we left with a sense of peace and fulfillment.
We had opted for the Speed Darshan ticket at Rs. 100 per person, expecting it to expedite our access to the sanctum. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Despite paying for the ticket, the queue for the darshan was incredibly long, extending all the way back to the counter. The wait was so extensive that it would have taken us nearly four hours to reach the deity.
While we were still in the queue, a person approached us and shared that for Rs. 500 per person, we could get direct darshan without any wait. Intrigued, we decided to take this alternative route. The person introduced us to a pandit, who, after receiving the Rs. 500, escorted us inside the temple. Another pandit performed the pooja rituals for us, and we also gave an additional Rs. 1000 to him for his services. He was very kind and took the time to explain the significance of the rituals, answering all our queries with patience. This personalized attention made the experience more fulfilling.
After the darshan, we proceeded to the Sundareswarar Temple, which is part of the temple complex. Here, we were informed that the Abhishek ritual was ongoing, having started at 7:15 AM, and would end at 8:00 AM. The pandit explained that this was a significant ritual, and we could join once it was completed. As the bell rang signaling the end of the ritual, we were allowed to enter.
For this visit, we opted for the Speed Darshan again, but this time the pandit informed us that the procedure would be a bit more involved. We paid Rs. 1500 for the speed darshan, which allowed us quicker access. After the pooja rituals were completed, the pandit encouraged us to make a donation for the aarti, which would be shared among the other pandits involved in the temple's ceremonies. We donated Rs. 500, believing it would support the temple’s religious activities.
Overall, our visit to the Meenakshi Amman Temple was a mixed experience. While the temple itself is magnificent, with its grand architecture and spiritual ambiance, the logistical aspects of accessing the sanctum could have been better managed. The Speed Darshan ticket seemed ineffective, and we ended up spending more for the alternative route. Despite the inconveniences, the temple's divine energy and the rituals made the experience meaningful, and we left with a sense of peace and fulfillment.
Written 5 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BPB2012
Kolkata (Calcutta), India1,187 contributions
Mar 2025 • Friends
This Temple is a world famous Hindu Temple visited by thousands of devotees every day. Constructed over a large area gives an impression of a small town in itself. The art work on the walls and the nice architecture of the ceiling murals are very impressive. There is a large crowd and a long queue during the time of Aratis which are done at particular timings. Unless you can make special arrangements, you may have to spend a long time to get darshan
Written 13 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
19Eric57
Uccle, Belgium2,838 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
This temple is "THE" jewel of Dravidian architecture. Dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi and her husband Sundareswarar (Shiva), it is renowned for its colorful and finely carved gopurams. The complex is home to many shrines, halls and mandapams, including the famous “Aayiram Kaal Mandapam”. It is the 1000 pillar room (even if the account is not there...). This temple is a major place of worship and pilgrimage. As you will see, pilgrims wait for hours and hours to reach the holy of holies to which you will not have access. The fervor is palpable. The visit is barefoot and covered legs and shoulders. Groups must take a site guide. Worse, you can enter the temple with almost nothing (no lighter, no electronic equipment whatsoever. Of course, no pictures or videos.
Automatically translated
Written 5 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nitin K
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
Our visit to the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai was greatly enhanced by our guide, Rajesh (+91 99948 49453). He arranged a VIP Darshan, allowing us to perform Pooja close to the deities. Rajesh was knowledgeable, friendly, and provided fascinating insights into the temple's architecture and history, including key features like the Shiva Ling on the ceiling. His personal photographs added a special touch to the tour. We highly recommend Rajesh for anyone visiting the temple.
Written 13 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trail16696514438
2 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
Madurai Amman temple is one of the most important temples in Tamil Nadu both religiously and historically. It takes about one and a half hour approximately to see the entire temple complex including Meenakshi Amman and also Sundareshwar temple. You are not allowed to take mobile or cameras inside the temple complex. Temple has a rich history as well as mythological significance which can be better understood through a guide. We were lucky to get the services of Mr. Rajesh Babu, Mobile +91 99948 49453 who explained to us in detail about the temple. Overall a great experience.
Written 25 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Special Darshana are paid both for senior citizens or other for Rs 500/-
Written 26 February 2025
Please, does anyone know how long the painting or maintenance works at the gopurams Will last?
Written 22 November 2024
Sanathanan ks S
Ernakulam District, India
Iwish to visit Meenakshi Kovil madhurai
Recently with family
Can I get the guidance for hassle-free darsan
Written 13 September 2024
Sunil
Mumbai, India
What are the timings of walking tour of meenakshi amma by ttdc? What is the price? How to book online? I am informed that Darshan have to be done by self guide does not accompany.What is the duration of the walk.Thanks in advance
Written 11 July 2024
I suggest plan for 2 days visit temple and take information and also might be available on Google or you tube.
Written 14 September 2024
I have a train on 8 pm now I want to go for darshan how much time does it take
Written 1 July 2024
Passport39401406733
Bengaluru, India
We are four senior citizens visiting Madurai Meenakshi temple ? can someone recommend a guide for us to take us in and around the temple premises ?
Written 25 January 2024
Once you will reach temple they will approach you themselves.
Written 16 February 2024
Subramani B
Kochi (Cochin), India
What is the cost of ticket for pookudai and which are the days it is performed
What is the fee for
Written 3 May 2023
Sorry, I am not aware of details for your question.
Written 14 September 2024
When we are trying to book the abishekam tickets for madurai Meenakshi Amman through temple official website, not able to find the abishekam seva in the list. Please guide us.
Written 4 February 2023
Psi
Coimbatore District, India
i think it would be better for you if you book it at the temple itself as it is quick and hassle free.enlisting a local guide before going in will help you if you want a smooth ride
Written 1 April 2023
NandaKKumar
Bengaluru, India
Does the temple have options for elderly to use wheelchair? Are there too many stairs to climb for those who are elderly and have difficulty in walking?
Written 8 December 2022
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