No, this is not a public transport we are talking about where there are special seats reserved for the ladies.
meenakshi temple
Azhagar Temple
A visitor who enters the temple through the eastern gateway, first enters the Asha Shakti Mandapam(Hall). It was built by Thirumalai Nayakars wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. In this hall food was once distributed to the devotees who came from far off places. Next to this hall is the Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam, a spacious columned hall used for shops and stores. This hall has a votive lamp-holder with 1,008 lamps, which are lit on festive occasions and present a spectacular sight. The sculptures on the pillars here relate some of Lord Shivas Thiruvilayadals (miracles) and also the story of Meenakshi’s birth and her life as the princess of Madurai. Apart from this mandapam the Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam, the Oonjal Mandapam is worth a visit.
south tower
The hall of a thousand pillars is the wonder of the palace. Actually the number of pillars counts to 985 beautifully decorated columns. Each pillar is sculptured and is a monument of the Dravidan sculpture. There is a Temple Art Museum in this 1000 pillars hall where you can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history. There are so many other smaller and bigger mandapams in the temple.
Just outside this mandapam, towards the west, are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar when stuck produces a different musical note. The kalyana mandapam, to the south of the pillared hall, is where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year during the Chithirai Festival in mid- April.
madurai azghartemple
Azhagar Temple
Located 21 kms northwest of Madurai is a Vishnu Temple on a picturesque wooded hill. Here Vishnu presides as Meenakshis brother Azhgar. During the Chithirai 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.
