Population 928,869 (As per 2001 Census) Season Throughout the year
Altitude Latitude & Longitude 101 meters (330 ft) above sea level
Latitude : 9.58 N Longitude : 78.10 E (Click Here)
Clothing Tropical
Languages Spoken Tamil, English, Sourashtra
STD Code (Direct Dialing Code) 0452
Shopping Shopping Areas in Madurai city
(Books, Handlooms, Fabrics & Sarees, Departmental Stores)
Festivals Madurai Meenakshi temple has festivals in all twelve Tamil months.
Some of the popular festivals are
Chithirai Festival (April - May )
Avanimool Festival (Sep - Oct )
Navarathri Festival
Float Festival (January- February )
City Administration
District collector C.Kamaraj
Corporation Commissioner S. Sebastine
Commissioner of Police P. Balasubramanian
Postmaster General B. Selvakumar
Mayor G. Thenmozhi
Deputy Mayor P.M. Mannan,
Religious Heads in Madurai
Being the oldest inhabited city, madurai is famous for its diverse culture[27] and religious harmony. The three religious heads famously called as Mummadha Thalaivargal (Leaders of The Three religion) strive to keep madurai in peace.
The Aadheenam
This is one of the oldest mutt in India constituted during the period of Thirugnana Sambanthar.There are lot of immovable properties donated for this mutt, right from the day of its origin. The tradition of madurai Aadinam goes back to 1300 years and Thirugnana Sambanthar being the 1st Maga Sannidhaanam The Madurai Aadheenam. The mutt is headed by the Guru Maga Sannidaanam, The Aadinam of Madurai. Though being Saiva, the Aadheenam is considered as the religious head of all Saiva and Vaishnava Hindus of Madurai. The Guru maga sannidanam, Arunachalam Swamy is the present Aadinam and he is 292nd Aadinam in their genealogy. The present Aadeenam is very well versed in the Knowledge of Vedas. The aadinam takes parts in all major festivals of madurai connected with Hindu religion and also in religious harmony meetings. Kumbhabishekams, Meenkshi-Shokkar marriage, Azhagar's entry into Vaigai and other Hindu festivals in the city are headed by the Aadinam. The sitting Aadinam, during his life time appoints his junior, who succeeds him after his death.
The KaziyarKazi
The jury and religious head of Muslims, in Madurai is appointed by Govt. of Tamil Nadu. The tradition of Kazis in madurai goes back to 750 years. Syed Tajuddin was the 1st Kazi to the then Govt of Sultans. Till today, His descendants who live in the Kazimar street, Madurai are appointed as Kazis to the Govt. of Tamil Nadu in Madurai. Hazrat Moulana Moulvi, Meer Ahamad Ibrahim Rahmatullahi Alaihi (the first of Madurai Maqbara Hazrats), Moulana Syed Abdul Qadir Ibrahim, Moulvi, Syed Amjad Ahmad Ibrahim and Moulvi, Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim Saahib Hazrat are remarkable Kazis to the Govt. during their tenure.[28] Syed Abdus Salaam Ibrahim, Saahib Hazrat the 19th Kaziyar of Madurai, who was fondly called by the people as Town Kaziyar, Kazisaab, Town Kazisaab etc., is remembered for his simplicity and hardwork towards literal and economical empowerment of Muslims in the city. The present Kajiyar of Madurai Moulvi.A.Syed Kaja Mueenuddeen is 20th in the genealogy of Kaziyars in Madurai, who is well known for his hard work towards religious harmony in Madurai together with, The Aadinam, Kundrakkudi Ponnambala Adigal and the Arch Bishop. Apart from working for religious harmony, the present Kaziyar also strives for political empowerment of Muslims of the locality. Kaziyar heads the prayers in Arasaradi, Edgah grounds on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Also, the Kaziyar heads the 23 days congregation of Aashura with sunni faith, during the Islamic month of Muharram. Almost all Muslim marriages in madurai are solemnized by the Kaziyar and disputes arising if any thereafter are solved by him. Most of the zikr majlis and urus festivals in reliable darghas are headed by Kaziyar or any other Moulvi from the Kaziyars family.
The Archbishop
The tradition of the Archdiocese of Madura goes back 70 years and the Archbishop of Madurai is considered the head of Roman Catholic Christians in Madurai. The archdiocese of Madura was erected in the year 1938, and was renamed as the Archdiocese of Madurai in the year 1950. The Suffragan Dioceses of Dindigul, Kottar, Palayamkottai, Sivagangai, Tiruchirapalli and Tuticorin come under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Madurai.[29] Bishop John Peter Leonard was the 1st archbishop of Madurai with whom the genealogy of the Archdiocese of Madurai starts. Bishop Marianus Arokiasamy, the 4th Archbishop of Madurai, is well remembered for his works towards the religious harmony along with The Aadheenam and The Kaziyar to keep Madurai in peace when south Tamil Nadu was burning due to communal riots in late 1990s. Bishop Peter Fernanado is the 5th Archbishop of Madurai. Bishop Christopher Asir, who is the Archbishop of Madurai-Ramnad Diocese of CSI, is the head of C.S.I. Christians in Madurai
TRANSPORT
Madurai is well connected all over India through Road, rail and by Air.
RAIL
Madurai JunctionThe railway station is one of the busiest in the country and has computerized reservation counters. Madurai division has repeatedly received the award for being the best-maintained station in the Southern Railway.[30] The railway station code for Madurai junction is MDU. It is connected to most major Indian cities and towns.
Madurai Railway Division is the second largest revenue generating division in Tamil Nadu next only to Chennai.
As the TN's second largest City strucks daily with a single railway terminal unable to handle the heavy Passenger Crowds, Southern Railway has come-up with a plan of extension & modification of the City Junction. Works are going on in the same at fast pace.
The Railway Stations in Madurai area are :
Madurai Junction, Koodal Nagar, Samayanallur, Vadipatti, East Madurai, Tirupuvanam, Thiruparankundram, Tirumangalam, Chekanoorani, Usilampatti etc
ROAD
Ellis Nagar bridgeMadurai has several major bus stands: Madurai Integrated Bus Terminus (MIBT) at Mattuthavani (North), Palanganatham (South), Arappalayam (West), Periyar (Central) and Anna Bus stand (East). From MIBT, many buses to locations all over the south India operate round the clock. From Arapalayam bus stand, buses to places of western Tamil Nadu like Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem operate and Periyar bus stand is where only city buses and private buses to major cities operate. Anna bus stand and Palanganatham are not in operation currently.
Apart fom city buses, three-wheeled, black and yellow auto-rickshaws, referred to as autos, are available for travel with in the city. MIBT has pre-paid auto counter where commuters can pay fixed auto-fare depends on destination and hire.
Madurai is connected by the following major National Highways:
NH 7 : (North-south Corridor National Highway System) Bangalore – Salem – Dindigul – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Kanyakumari
NH 45B : Trichy – Madurai – Thoothukudi
NH 49 : Madurai – Rameswaram
NH 49 Extn : Madurai – Theni – Bodi – Kochi
Bridges have been constructed across the Vaigai river to connect Madurai at various points. Flyovers have been constructed within the city to overcome traffic congestion. Four lane national highways to Chennai, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Bangalore make Madurai well-connected by road.
AIR
Madurai airportMadurai Airport is located at 12 kilometers from Madurai city and it offers flights to major cities in southern,western and north India. Madurai airport has handled 3 lakhs passengers between the period Jan 2009 to Oct 2009.[31] Spice Jet, Jet Air Ways, Kingfisher Airlines, Air India operates flights from and to Madurai. Flight services to Chennai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai are available at Madurai Airport. International connectivity is expected shortly. Madurai Airport's state-of- the-art well built integrated terminal of 17,560 Sq.ms is open for Traffic. Recently the finance ministry has approved unloading and loading of only export and import baggage.[32] This is a great step as this will soon lead to start of international passenger traffic.