Which Indian city is known as the 'Athens of the East'?

Madurai, in Tamil Nadu, is known as the "Athens of the East" because of its ancient history, culture, learning and architecture, much like Athens in ancient Greece.

About Madurai:

• It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India, with a history of more than 2,500 years.
• It is located on the banks of the Vaigai river.
• It was the capital of the Pandya kings.
• According to Tamil tradition, the Tamil "Sangams" (academies of poets and scholars) were held in Madurai, which produced the Sangam literature.
• The Greek writer Megasthenes (about 3rd century BCE) mentioned the Pandya kingdom, and the city had trade links with Rome and Greece.
• Later, it was ruled by the Madurai Nayaks (16th-18th centuries).

Famous landmarks:

The Meenakshi Amman Temple: dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva). It has 14 tall gopurams (gateway towers) covered with colourful sculptures, the tallest being about 52 metres high. It was greatly expanded under the Nayak rulers, especially Thirumalai Nayak.

The Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal: a palace built in 1636 by Thirumalai Nayak, in a blend of Dravidian and Islamic styles.

The Gandhi Memorial Museum: Mahatma Gandhi decided to wear only a loincloth (dhoti) in Madurai in September 1921, after seeing the poverty of the people.

The Chithirai Festival, celebrating the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, is famous.

Other nicknames of Madurai:

• "City of Jasmine": "Madurai Malli" (jasmine) has a GI tag.
• "Thoonga Nagaram": "the city that never sleeps".
• "Temple City" (of Tamil Nadu).

Other city nicknames:

• Pune: "Oxford of the East".
• Varanasi: "Spiritual Capital of India".
• Thanjavur: "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu"; famous for the Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Pune is called the "Oxford of the East".
• ✗Varanasi is called the "Spiritual Capital of India".
• ✗Thanjavur is called the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu".