India: Madurai – Meenakshi Amman Temple

And the last temple in Tamil Nadu – Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. It’s a very old temple by origin, with some reference claiming 6th century BC, while the 6th century AD is more documented and the current structures are mostly from the 16th century as the previous ancient structures were destroyed in wars. The temple is right in the heart of Madurai and spans approximately 45 acres, forming a massive complex with a square structure, enclosed by high walls with five entrances, accessible from all four cardinal directions. The temple features 14 gopurams (gateway towers), with heights ranging from 45–50m. The southern gopuram, at 52m is the tallest. These towers are adorned with thousands of colorful stucco figures of deities, mythical animals, and demons. Unfortunately, the temple is completely under restoration (happens every 12 years) and all the towers are covered with protective cloth and stuff, nothing is visible. To make it worse, non-Hindu are not even allowed to enter inside.