MADURAI, INDIA, August 17, 2020 (YouTube): Madurai, Tamil Nadu on the banks of the Vaigai River is Tamil Nadu’s second largest city and possibly the oldest. The Meenakshi Amman temple is a wonder of art and architecture and one of the largest temples in South India. The towering outer gopurams are Madurai’s distinctive landmarks–these pyramid shaped gateways are embellished with thousands of Hindu characters. The temple features richly decorated mandapams, or halls, thousands of carved pillars, corridors with painted ceilings and a staggering 33,000 intricate sculptures. The famed 1,000 pillared mandapam is a feat of artistic genius and geometric precision.
The excellent video at “source” takes you inside the famed temple, details its history and festivals, and much more.