The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high. The soaring and exquisitely carved towers enclose the temple dedicated to Meenakashi. The gigantic temple complex, the statues exploring the entire range of human emotions, everything here is larger than life.
According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient. At every turn there is superb sculpture, magnificent architecture. There are the two main shrines, no less than twelve Gopuras, a pool and innumerable Mandapas. The structures that are standing today date mostly from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai City originated together. Legend has it that the divine nectar falling from Lord Shiva's locks gave the city its name - 'Madhurapuri', now known as "Madurai". It has been a center of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. The Pandyan king, Kulasekhara had built a gorgeous temple around which he created a lotus shaped city. This city is located on Vaigai River and was the capital of Pandyan rulers. Madurai or "the city of nectar" is the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu.
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