Madurai was originally a forest known as Kadambavanam. One day, a farmer named Dhananjaya who was passing through the forest, saw Indra (The king of the gods), worshipping a self created Lingam, Swayambhu, under kadamba tree. He immediately reported this to King Kulasekara Pandya, who ruled this area at that time. The King then built a great temple around the Swayambu and developed a Lotus shaped city around this temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city, from his hair. The city was henceforth called Madhurapuri, 'Madhura' means 'Sweetness' in Tamil. Later the name evolved to MADURAI.

Madurai District is situated in the South of Tamil Nadu state. It is bounded on the North by the district of Dindigul, on the East by Sivagangai, on the West by Theni and South by Virudhunagar.

Madurai city has 3 hills as its city boundary viz., Yanaimalai, Nagamalai, Pasumalai named after Elephant, Snake and Cow respectively. [Madurai Map]