This historic temple of Madurai is a must visit for tourists. The temple is dedicated to Parvati, also known as Meenakshi, along with her companion Shiva. The temple has a unique history, as it is said that the sacred Suyambulingam is housed here in Madurai. The temple is said to be dating back to the early AD. The temple still has its 14th century glory, and was constructed under the guidance of King Thirumalai Naicker. The temple houses close to 33, 000 sculptures, and is surrounded by four gopurams, or gateway towers. There are a total of 14 gopurams here, and each of them is multi-storied. The Hall of Thousand Pillars is a magnificent structure, the grandeur of which is unfounded.