Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

4.6

Location: Meenakshi Nagar, Tamil Nadu 625009, India.

Visiting time: 1-2 hours.

Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is affiliated with the Vandiyur Mariamman Temple and is a major tourist attraction in Madurai. It is mostly used for religious reasons. It is a temple pond complex with a man-made island in the center. It lures thousands of believers despite being barely 2 kilometers from the renowned Meenakshi Sundareswara Temple. This temple tank, which draws its water from the River Vaigai, is one of the largest temple tanks not only in Tamil Nadu but also in South India.

Attraction

There is a rich, bright garden adjacent to the Ganesha temple. Thousands of devotees come here every day to pay their respects, and the temple has been worshipping the same shrine since then. It is also believed across the state that the holy tank’s Abhisheka waters may heal a variety of ailments in believers, including Small Pox and bad luck.

History

Decorative statues on the compound wall of Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam.

This temple pond, built-in 1645 AD during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak, is ringed on all four sides by granite steps, with a Vigneshwara Temple in the center dedicated to Lord Vinayaka/ Lord Ganesha. King Thirumalai Nayak erected these lengthy stairs surrounding the pond as well as the shrine. According to mythology, the soil for the bricks used in the construction of the famed Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace was excavated from beneath this tank. An old statue of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu Almighty Shiva’s son, was discovered buried beneath the tank as the earth was being violently removed.

Inside/Outside Views

Vandiyur Mariamman Temple or Maariamman Kovil Teppakulam in Madurai city.

The temple tank’s characteristics include the fact that it is encircled on all sides by twelve magnificent granite steps, making it quite a royal sight to see. Through the sacred river of Vaigai, it is inextricably linked. The Nayak king himself is thought to have overseen the construction of the site. It is located next to the center of Maiya Mandapam, which is a beautiful holy place in this area.

Opening Hours

Timing is 6.00 am to 9.00 pm

Entry & Others Fees

No entry fee and other fees.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By Air: Madurai Airport is around 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the city center in Avaniyapuram. It provides domestic flights to a number of Indian cities. International flights and services are available at the airport to Colombo, Dubai, and Singapore. Air India, Air India Express, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Indigo, and Srilankan Airlines are among the airlines that fly from the airport.

By Rail: Madurai Junction is the district’s primary railway station. Madurai provides direct trains to New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Chennai, as well as other important cities and towns in India.

By Road: The National Highways NH 7, NH 45B, NH 208, and NH 49 all run through Madurai, making the district well-linked.

Tips for Travellers

Bringing a video camera into the temple will cost you INR 100 while bringing a still camera will cost you INR 50.
The dosa from the temple booth is quite tasty.
Lockers for your shoes and other items are available here.