About Madurai Located on the banks of Vaigai River, Madurai is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The city, known as the Athens of the East, is globally famous for its "Jasmines". The city, 450 Km south of Chennai, is well connected by air, rail and road. Food Dosa, Idli, Sambar and Rasam are popular snacks and feature mainly on the breakfast menu. Cuisine from the Chettinad district available here includes delicacies like Appam, Idiyappam. (made with coconut milk and fermented rice), which are eaten with vegetables. Kal Dosai, a special variety of dosai from the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, and Kuzhipaniyaram, are some of the other unique specialities that a visitor can savour here. Culture According to a local myth, Drops of nectar (Mathuram) fell from Shiva's locks when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him. Hence called Madhurapuri, meaning the 'land of nectar', which got simplified to Madurai. The history of the city dates back to the 3rd century B.C, when as the prosperous capital of the Pandya dynasty, the city had trade contacts with Greece and Rome. Another school of thought believes this ancient city to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara in the 6th century B.C. For major part of the history, Madurai was ruled by the Pandyas during which period the local language, Tamil, was encouraged. A literary society called Sangam used to meet and decide the merit of the literary works on Tamil presented to them. Except for a brief period of Chola rule, Madurai was mostly under the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire and the appointed governors - the Nayaks, under the patronage of the art, learning and architecture, scaled new heights in Madurai and the Meenakshi Temple is a classic example of the same. Tamil and English are the languages spoken here. Spices Cardamom (Small), Chilly, Clove, Garlic, Ginger, Kokam, Nutmeg & Mace, Pepper, Turmeric, Vanilla are popular in these areas.