Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Photo: Kumar Appaiah, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Meenakshi Amman Temple Timings

Meenakshi Amman Temple is open 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, daily.

Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) with consort Sundareshwarar (Shiva) · Madurai, Tamil Nadu

ShivaFree entryHigh confidence
Darshan hours (as published)
5:00 AM - 12:30 PM · 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Open/closed status loads once the page finishes rendering.

Meenakshi Amman Temple, in Madurai in Tamil Nadu, is a shrine to Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) with consort Sundareshwarar (Shiva). It is also known as Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukkoil.

One of the most celebrated Dravidian temples in India; devotees flock especially for the nightly Palliarai Pooja procession in which Sundareshwarar is carried in a palanquin to Meenakshi's shrine. History records that Shiva was originally the primary deity here but significance later shifted to Goddess Meenakshi as the chief deity.

Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.

Darshan hours and daily worship

SessionTiming (as published)
Morning5:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Evening4:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Closed 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM. Confirmed directly on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE page (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, tid 31962): opens 5:00 AM, closes for the afternoon 12:30-4:00 PM, reopens at 4:00 PM and closes for the night at 10:00 PM - matching the previously listed hours exactly. That same HR&CE page also gives the full six-pooja daily schedule and the Special Entrance darshan fees (see ritualSchedule/darshanTiers). The Hall of 1000 Pillars is open 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Timings extend on festival days. IMPORTANT: the previously listed officialWebsite (maduraimeenakshi.org) is no longer the temple's live site - it now resolves to a generic parked-domain landing page (a GoDaddy 'parking-lander' script) and even briefly redirected to an unrelated Ujjain Mahakaleshwar temple site during testing; it has been replaced below with the verified Tamil Nadu HR&CE page.

Poojas and daily rituals

Six named daily poojas are performed: Thiruvanandal pooja (mahasodasi), Vilaa pooja (paalai), Kalasandhi pooja (Gowri), Maalai pooja (panjathasi), Ardhajama Pooja (madhangi) and Palliyarai Pooja (sodasi); see the ritual schedule below for exact times, confirmed directly on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE page.

Daily aarti and pooja schedule

RitualTime
Thiruvanandal pooja (mahasodasi)05:30 AM - 05:45 AM
Vilaa pooja (paalai)06:30 AM - 07:15 AM
Kalasandhi pooja (Gowri)10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
Maalai pooja (panjathasi)04:30 PM - 05:15 PM
Ardhajama Pooja (madhangi)07:30 PM - 08:15 PM
Palliyarai Pooja (sodasi)09:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Signature annual eventsThe 15-day Chithirai festival marking Meenakshi's celestial wedding; the annual Float Festival.

Festivals and special-day timings

Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.

FestivalPeriodWhat happens
Meenakshi Tirukalyanam (Chithirai Festival)AprilCelebrates the divine wedding and coronation of Goddess Meenakshi over about 15 days, with the Pattabhishekam and a grand car procession.
Theppotsavam (Float Festival)January-FebruaryDecorated floats bearing the deities are paraded on the water at the Vandiyur Mariamman Tank under lights and music.

History and architecture

Built or establishedAncient shrine praised in the 7th-century Tevaram; present structure largely built by the Nayak rulers (16th-17th century). The eastern tower dates to c. 1216-1238 and the tall southern tower was built in 1559.

Architecture

Dravidian style with four main gopurams facing each direction; the southern tower rises to about 170 ft. Includes the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam (Hall of nearly 1000 pillars, actually 985), musical pillars and the golden lotus pond.

History

History records that Shiva was originally the primary deity here but significance later shifted to Goddess Meenakshi as the chief deity. The temple has been adored in the 7th-century Tevaram, and Madurai grew as a city with boulevards radiating outward from the temple. Thirumalai Nayak (ruled 1623-1655) carried out much of the remaining construction.

Planning your visit

Entry feeFree general-queue darshan for all. A paid Special Entrance ticket is available: Rs 100 for combined Amman and Swamy darshan, or Rs 50 for either Amman or Swamy darshan alone (both confirmed on the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE fee schedule). Prior secondary-source reporting of a Rs 50 entry ticket for foreigners could not be re-confirmed on that fee schedule and is retained here only as an unverified note.
Dress codeDress conservatively with shoulders and legs covered; dresses with open shoulders/legs are not permitted. Footwear must be left at counters outside; mobile phones, cameras, bags and water bottles are not allowed inside (lockers around Rs 30).
Best time to visitCooler months are more comfortable; visit early morning (before 7 AM) for a less crowded darshan, and stay for the evening ceremony around 9:15 PM.
NearbyThirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum and the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam.

Darshan types and fees

TypePriceNotes
General Queue DarshanFreeStandard darshan queue
Special Entrance - Amman and Swamy Dharshan₹100Paid faster-entry ticket covering both Amman and Swamy sannidhis; confirmed on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE fee schedule
Special Entrance - Amman or Swamy Dharshan₹50Paid faster-entry ticket for a single sannidhi (Amman or Swamy); confirmed on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE fee schedule

How to reach

Madurai has an international airport connected to Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mumbai and Delhi (and Colombo, Dubai, Singapore). Madurai Junction is well connected by rail across India, and buses run to all major Tamil Nadu and neighbouring cities. Vehicles are prohibited near the temple, so visitors park about 1 km away and walk.

Open in Google Maps Official website

Where this information comes from

Confidence: High. The six-pooja daily schedule with exact clock times and the Special Entrance darshan fees (₹100 combined, ₹50 single-sannidhi) are now confirmed directly on the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE page, which also verifies the existing 5:00 AM-12:30 PM / 4:00 PM-10:00 PM darshan window is unchanged. The previously listed officialWebsite domain (maduraimeenakshi.org) was found to be dead/parked during this research pass and has been replaced with the verified HR&CE page.

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Frequently asked questions about Meenakshi Amman Temple

What is the timing of Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Meenakshi Amman Temple is open 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, daily. Closed 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM. Confirmed directly on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE page (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, tid 31962): opens 5:00 AM, closes for the afternoon 12:30-4:00 PM, reopens at 4:00 PM and closes for the night at 10:00 PM - matching the previously listed hours exactly. That same HR&CE page also gives the full six-pooja daily schedule and the Special Entrance darshan fees (see ritualSchedule/darshanTiers). The Hall of 1000 Pillars is open 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Timings extend on festival days. IMPORTANT: the previously listed officialWebsite (maduraimeenakshi.org) is no longer the temple's live site - it now resolves to a generic parked-domain landing page (a GoDaddy 'parking-lander' script) and even briefly redirected to an unrelated Ujjain Mahakaleshwar temple site during testing; it has been replaced below with the verified Tamil Nadu HR&CE page.

What are the darshan (visiting) hours at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

As published, morning darshan runs 5:00 AM - 12:30 PM and evening darshan runs 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Closed 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM. Confirmed directly on the temple's Tamil Nadu HR&CE page (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, tid 31962): opens 5:00 AM, closes for the afternoon 12:30-4:00 PM, reopens at 4:00 PM and closes for the night at 10:00 PM - matching the previously listed hours exactly. That same HR&CE page also gives the full six-pooja daily schedule and the Special Entrance darshan fees (see ritualSchedule/darshanTiers). The Hall of 1000 Pillars is open 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Timings extend on festival days. IMPORTANT: the previously listed officialWebsite (maduraimeenakshi.org) is no longer the temple's live site - it now resolves to a generic parked-domain landing page (a GoDaddy 'parking-lander' script) and even briefly redirected to an unrelated Ujjain Mahakaleshwar temple site during testing; it has been replaced below with the verified Tamil Nadu HR&CE page.

Is there an entry fee at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Free general-queue darshan for all. A paid Special Entrance ticket is available: Rs 100 for combined Amman and Swamy darshan, or Rs 50 for either Amman or Swamy darshan alone (both confirmed on the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE fee schedule). Prior secondary-source reporting of a Rs 50 entry ticket for foreigners could not be re-confirmed on that fee schedule and is retained here only as an unverified note.

What is the dress code at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Dress conservatively with shoulders and legs covered; dresses with open shoulders/legs are not permitted. Footwear must be left at counters outside; mobile phones, cameras, bags and water bottles are not allowed inside (lockers around Rs 30).

Is there a paid or VIP darshan option at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Yes. General Queue Darshan: Free; Special Entrance - Amman and Swamy Dharshan: ₹100; Special Entrance - Amman or Swamy Dharshan: ₹50.

What is the daily aarti and pooja schedule at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Thiruvanandal pooja (mahasodasi) at 05:30 AM - 05:45 AM, Vilaa pooja (paalai) at 06:30 AM - 07:15 AM, Kalasandhi pooja (Gowri) at 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM, Maalai pooja (panjathasi) at 04:30 PM - 05:15 PM, Ardhajama Pooja (madhangi) at 07:30 PM - 08:15 PM, Palliyarai Pooja (sodasi) at 09:30 PM - 10:00 PM.

Which festivals are celebrated at Meenakshi Amman Temple?

The main ones documented for this temple are Meenakshi Tirukalyanam (Chithirai Festival), Theppotsavam (Float Festival). See the festival table above for dates and what each involves.

What is the best time to visit Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Cooler months are more comfortable; visit early morning (before 7 AM) for a less crowded darshan, and stay for the evening ceremony around 9:15 PM.

How do I reach Meenakshi Amman Temple?

Madurai has an international airport connected to Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mumbai and Delhi (and Colombo, Dubai, Singapore). Madurai Junction is well connected by rail across India, and buses run to all major Tamil Nadu and neighbouring cities. Vehicles are prohibited near the temple, so visitors park about 1 km away and walk.

How reliable is the information on this Meenakshi Amman Temple page?

This listing's confidence is rated high. The six-pooja daily schedule with exact clock times and the Special Entrance darshan fees (₹100 combined, ₹50 single-sannidhi) are now confirmed directly on the temple's own Tamil Nadu HR&CE page, which also verifies the existing 5:00 AM-12:30 PM / 4:00 PM-10:00 PM darshan window is unchanged. The previously listed officialWebsite domain (maduraimeenakshi.org) was found to be dead/parked during this research pass and has been replaced with the verified HR&CE page.