Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank o

f the Vaigai River[2] in the temple city[3] of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is
dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Su
ndareswarar. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2,500-year-old city[
4] of Madurai and is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, mentioned since
antiquity in Tamil literature. Though the present structure was built between 16
23 and 1655 CE.[5][6][7] It is said that the temple was actually built in the 6t
h century BC by survivors of the Kumari Kandam. In the 14th century, the Mughal
Muslim Commander Malik Kafur plundered the temple and looted it of its valuables
. It was rebuilt by the Nayak ruler Vishwanatha Nayakar around the 16th century.
It was Vishwanatha Nayak who rebuilt the temple in accordance to shilpa shastra
. It houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 45 50m in height. The talle
st is the southern tower, 51.9 metres (170 ft) high,[5] and two golden sculpture
d vimanas, the shrines over the garbhagrihas (sanctums) of the main deities. The
temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000 on Fridays,[8] and receive
s an annual revenue of ? 60 million. There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in
the temple.[8] It was on the list of top 30 nominees for the "New Seven Wonders
of the World". The temple is the most prominent landmark and most visited touri
st attraction in the city.[9] The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival,
celebrated during April and May, attracts 1 million visitors..[10]