Old Madurai (Mada Streets and Temple Town)

One of Indias oldest continuously inhabited urban cores, Old Madurai is built around the Meenakshi Temple in a rare concentric square street pattern named after Tamil months: Chithirai, Avani, Masi, and Adi. A walk through these mada streets reveals centuries-old temples, tailor lanes, brass lamp markets, pilgrims, street food, and living architecture that has changed little over millennia. The Chithirai festival chariot procession still moves through these streets today.