Madurai
The 17th-century palace of King Thirumalai Nayakkar is a magnificent example of Dravidian and Baroque architecture — an unusual Indo-Italian hybrid with massive 12-metre stone columns, an enormous central octagonal courtyard, and stuccoed ceilings that give the space an almost Mediterranean grandeur. Less visited than the temple, it offers a quieter but equally impressive glimpse into Madurai's royal history.
The evening sound and light show at 6:45 PM in Tamil and 8 PM in English narrates the palace's history against the illuminated columns — a genuinely good production. The courtyard acoustics during the show are excellent.