Madurai, India - March 12, 2008

We left Kodaikanal on March 12th. Our train back to Bangalore was leaving from Madurai at 7:30 pm. We hired a car for the day and headed down the mountain early in the morning. It was a 3 hour drive to Madurai. Jenn came down with us to spend the day, which was really great because we hadn't had much time to spend with her just the three of us.



We climbed 600 steps up to a small temple built on rocks, outside of Madurai city.










Below: View from the top of the temple steps. In the photo on the right, you can see the steps leading up.













Below: View of the Sri Meenakshi Temple from the rooftop of a shop.













Below: We went to the city's cloth market to look at silk fabric and scarves. Fabric stalls line one wall and the tailors line the opposite wall. Tailors can stitch garments for you in just a few hours. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time.
















Outside the East Gate of the Sri Meenakshi Temple.









Frank and Jenn eating a fresh coconut bought from the street vendor. Coconut juice was the perfect drink on a hot afternoon.










Inside the huge Sri Meenakshi Temple complex.
We had to remove our shoes at the entrance of the temple and walk around barefeet inside on stone floors.









I was blessed by the temple elephant, for Rs. 10.












Dinner and cold beer, at the rooftop restaurant with a view of the Sri Meenakshi Temple as the sun went down, was the perfect finish to a really enjoyable day.