- Timings
- About 6 am to 9 pm
- Tank built
- 1646, by Thirumalai Nayak
- Tank area
- About 16 acres
- Festival
- Float festival, Thai month (January/February)
- Best time
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- Madurai
The temple
The main deity is Mariamman, and there are also shrines to Pechi Amman and to Ganesha beneath a peepul tree. Many devotees pray here for relief from illness, especially eye problems and poxes, and for marriage and children. Some offer salt and pepper for skin ailments, and on Tuesdays and Fridays women light lamps in hollowed lemons.
The Teppakulam
The tank covers about 16 acres and is connected to the Vaigai by underground channels. Granite steps line all four sides, and at the centre stands a mandapam with a Ganesha shrine set in a garden. Local tradition says the pit was first dug to supply earth for bricks for the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal and was later shaped into this tank.
The float festival
The tank comes alive during the Teppa Thiruvizha, or float festival, held on the Thai full moon, which falls in January or February, marking Thirumalai Nayak's birthday. Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are brought from the Meenakshi Temple and taken around the tank on a lit, decorated float. Crowds gather on the steps, so arrive early.
Timings and tips
The temple is generally open from about 6 am to 9 pm without a break. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Madurai is most pleasant from October to March, when daytime temperatures stay between about 20 and 30°C.
How to reach
The temple is a few kilometres east of the Meenakshi Temple. Buses run from Periyar bus stand, and Madurai Junction is roughly a 30-minute drive away. Madurai Airport is the nearest airport. Autos and taxis are easy to find. We can combine this with a full Madurai temple tour.
Also nearby
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