Nestled on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, India, the sprawling and historic Meenakshi Temple is a burst of color on the landscape. Dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi Amman and her consort Sundareshwarar, this temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, a group of 275 temples revered in the verses of Tamil Siava Mayanars from the 6th to 9th centuries CE.

Originally built by Pandyan Emperor Sadayavarman Kulasekaran in the 6th century, the temple has undergone many transformations over the years. Despite being looted in the 14th century, it was restored between 1623 and 1655, and today, it attracts 15,000 visitors per day, with the number rising to 25,000 on Fridays.