Families stream into the Masi streets around Meenakshi Temple at dusk, stopping to greet neighbors under the painted towers while jasmine sellers call out from the curb. Later the crowd simply shifts to the food stalls, where the clang of kothu parotta on a griddle carries on well past midnight and strangers share a bench like cousins.
Beyond the temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace hides a courtyard of giant white pillars, and the Vaigai River splits the city into two halves. The climate is hot and semi-arid, with fierce heat from March to July and milder days from November to February. A Local Friend walks the lanes at your side, matching your stride and stopping wherever you stop.
