Heritage Walk through the Temple Town
Madurai
“Do you not feel the southern breeze blowing from the city and bringing us the mixed fragrance of sacred black agarwood and sandalwood? The breeze is laden also with the smell of saffron, chives, and musk. On its way it may have wandered near newly opened buds of sweet water lilies; or trailed among champaks in bloom, or lost its way in groves of jasmine and madhavi, or caressed the buds of garden mullai".
So sang the bards in Silappadikaram, one of Tamil Nadu's major epics, describing Madurai, which already by 3 BC was a city of great renown, famous for its grand temples and bazaars.