In an effort to increase awareness about India’s heritage and culture, the Ministry of Tourism is holding the Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series. As part of it, the ministry organized its 82 webinar titled “Stories of Madurai” on Tuesday (30 March).

Earlier known as Madhurapuri and Thoonga Nagaram, meaning a city that never sleeps, Madurai grew around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which was constructed 2,500 years ago by Pandian king, Kulasekhara.

Madurai, one of the oldest living cities, holds the soul of Tamil Nadu in its magnificent and grand temples that are among the finest and most awe-inspiring specimens of architecture in the country, the Ministry of Tourism said in a statement.

One of the largest temple complexes in India, Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple is the most famous spiritual site in Madurai. An excellent example of Dravidian architecture, the temple is sprawled over a huge area, bordered by well-laid gardens and pristine fountains.

Two shrines, more than 10 gateways (gopurams), several halls (mandapas) and a giant temple tank, make up the structure of the temple, which is adorned with beautiful carvings inside and outside.

One of the halls of the temple is famous as the "Hall of a 1,000 pillars" though only 985 of them exist today. The highlight of the temple is the outermost corridor that comprises musical pillars. These produce different musical notes when tapped.

Madurai is also well known for its exquisite sarees to wooden toys and sculptures. It is also referred to as a hub of shopping, where visitors can find a fine selection of unique and handmade products.

Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series is an effort to showcase India’s rich diversity under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The sessions of webinar are now available on all social media handles of the Ministry of Tourism.