The courtyard
Pillars and arches.
Chandrasekaran murugan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Swati1890 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vaidheeswaran — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Thamizhpparithi Maari — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France — CC BY 2.0
Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace is a palace in central Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in southern India, 2 km south-east of the Meenakshi Temple and about 1 km from the city centre in a straight line. It was built by Tirumala Nayaka, a king of the Nayak dynasty that ruled Madurai, and completed in 1636. What survives is the main palace, the king's living quarters, while the original complex was four times larger. It is now a protected national monument. The palace is known for its huge towering pillars and broad arches around a large open courtyard, and halls with domed ceilings decorated in stucco and colour, blending Dravidian style with Islamic elements. The pillars look enormous beside the people walking among them. You can walk through the courtyard and halls, and an evening sound and light show tells the palace's story. Mornings are best for photos, when light slips between the pillars, and the Meenakshi Temple is close by.
Pillars and arches.
Domed ceilings.
Sound and light.
Central Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
In the morning.
The Meenakshi Temple.