In Photos: Madurai’s 500-Year-Old Supermarket

Bang opposite the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is a 500 year old shopping mall. You’ll want to buy everything!

The Puthu Mandapam (New Pavilion) was built in the 1600s by Thirumalai Naicker, one of Madurai’s most famous kings. It was intended as a resting place for royalty and to celebrate the annual nuptials of Goddess Meenakshi and Sri Sundareshwara during the Chithirai festival in May, which brings together Saivites, Vaishnavites and Muslims.

After the king’s time, it gradually became a shopping complex manned by singular artists and artisans.