Madurai - Rameshwaram
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One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is known as the 'Athens of the East' and is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 4000 years ago. Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre- Christian era.
Madurai was the capital city for the great Pandya kings. The Pandyan King Kulasekhara built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. Going by legend, when Lord Shiva came here to marry Devi Meenakshi, a few drops of nectar fell from his matted locks and blessed the land and its people. The city was named Madhurapuri, from the Divine nectar (Madhu) which was showered on the city. Later shortened to Madurai, this city is also famous for its sweet-scented jasmine flowers.
Rameshwaram, 175 kilometers from Madurai, is a major pilgrim centre of India, located in the Gulf of Mannar. The gardens of coral reefs and the picturesque locales of the island are an attraction here. The Ramanathaswamy Temple is the popular place of pilgrimage here
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