Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India. Madurai is a major city and cultural headquarters in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Nestled on the banks of the river Vaigai, Madurai was constructed in the form of a lotus around the world renowned Meenakshi Sundareswar temple.
As early as 550 AD, Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre and engaged in trade with Rome and Greece. Not surprisingly, it finds mention in the works of Roman and Greek historians. Madurai was ruled by different dynasties throughout its long history – the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Empire and later came under the Nayak emperors. It occupied the pride of place during The Sangam Age or Golden Age of Tamil Literature. It also played a prominent role during the Indian Independence Movement. Madurai is bustling metropolis. It is very famous for its temples and attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. The mainstay of Madurai’s economy is textiles and it contributes a major chunk of Indian textile exports. Apart from textiles, there are a number of other small industries like spinning, weaving, and dyeing that contribute to the arts and crafts of the city. Its gold bordered sarees with zari embroidery and fabric painting are very famous.