Madurai was the capital of

Madurai served as the capital city of the Pandya dynasty, one of the three ancient Tamil kingdoms (Tamilakam) alongside the Cholas and Cheras. The Pandyas ruled from Madurai from approximately 6th century BCE to 16th century CE, with occasional interruptions. The city was famous for the Meenakshi Temple and was a major center of Tamil literature and culture, hosting the Tamil Sangam assemblies.