History of Madurai

A prominent pilgrim site for the Hindus Madurai is the third largest city of Tamil Nadu. Madurai has a long and constant history since 3Rd BC. It has the references in the written history of Greek Ambassador Megesthenes and kautilya the minister in the Mauryan Empire. Madurai was a prominent cultural and administrative center during Pandyan rule till about 1311; afterwards rule of Ma’bar was established by Delhi Sultanate. Later it came to be known as Ma’bar sultanate which ruled till Vijaynagar Empire absorbed Madurai in 14Thcentury finally British East India Company ruled Madurai till India’s independence in 1947.George Procter was the first collector of Madurai.